There are few institutions in Chilton County varsity athletics. The list of programs recognized state-wide for their success in a particular sport is relatively short.

Maplesville football is one of those institutions. The Red Devils won the state championship in 1996 under coach Jim Hubbert and now are a playoff fixture under Hubbert’s son, Brent.

Jemison tennis is one of those institutions, and so is Isabella volleyball.

Only one of those programs mentioned above owes its success entirely to one person, so you can see how the recent resignation of IHS coach Glen Graham is an epic revelation on the local sports scene.

Graham started the Isabella volleyball program in 1998, and the Mustangs have since won 364 matches in 500 tries, 14 area championships, four Chilton County Tournament titles, four regional titles and have advanced to the state tournament nine times. His last squad will be remembered for being the third consecutive from the school to earn a berth in the Elite 8 state tournament.

Back to the statement above about Graham being the only person responsible for Isabella’s success. He would disagree with that, and understandably so. Those teams would never have won a match were it not for a long list of talented players.

But Graham deserves a ton of credit for setting a standard and then helping player after player reach that standard—and even exceed it.

That’s what great coaches do: they get the most out of their players. Anyone familiar with Graham would say he did that as well as anyone.

One of the best coaches to ever lead a Chilton County sports team will be missed. The Isabella administration now has the unenviable task of finding someone who can fill Graham’s shoes and continue the momentum he helped build.

Anything less wouldn’t do justice to the legacy Graham has created.

–Dawkins is the assistant managing editor for The Clanton Advertiser.