BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Director of Athletics Mark Ingram has announced the hiring of A.J. Daugherty as new head coach of the UAB Softball program.
A lifelong Alabama native and the 2022 NJCAA National Coaching Staff of the Year, Daugherty comes to Birmingham after a tremendously successful six seasons at Wallace State Community College.
Daugherty coached Wallace State to an overall record of 260-58 (.818) in his six seasons, including a record of 111-10 over the last two. The team’s recent success resulted in Daugherty being named the back-to-back Alabama Community College Conference Coach of the Year and NFCA South Regional Coaching Staff of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
“I am humbled and honored to be selected to lead a program as special as UAB Softball,” Daugherty said. “The support from the administration, alumni, and fans and the opportunity to build on the foundation here is very exciting. I’d like to thank Dr. Ray Watts, Mark Ingram, Dan Carlson and the entire athletic department staff for entrusting me with this opportunity. We plan to get right to work creating an environment conducive to producing champions on and off of the field. Go Blazers!”
Daugherty led Wallace State to the NJCAA National Tournament four times in five seasons (excluding 2020 due to COVID). The Lions also won the Alabama Community College Conference/NJCAA Region XXII Championship four times in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022.
Under his guidance, Wallace State had the 2019 ACCC/NJCAA Region XXII Player of the Year, along with the 2021 and 2022 ACCC/NJCAA Region XXII Player and Pitcher of the Year.
“We had a great deal of interest in our position from a number of head coaches and top assistants from around the country,” Ingram said. “A.J.’s incredible track record of success and his vision for our program at UAB made him a clear and easy choice. I couldn’t be more excited for our team, alumni and fans, and look forward to the future under his leadership.”
Prior to his time at Wallace State, Daugherty started the James Clemens High School program and coached there from 2012-16. In his final season, James Clemens was the No. 1 ranked 7A team for the majority of the season and captured the program’s first Area and Regional Championship en route to finishing fourth overall in the state.
Daugherty spent two seasons as the head softball coach (2010-11) at American Christian Academy before serving as an assistant baseball coach at the same school in 2012. He was also the head softball coach at Holy Spirit Catholic High School in 2009.
Daugherty graduated from the University of Alabama in 2008 with a degree in secondary education – social sciences and served as a student manager for the Crimson Tide softball team from 2006-08.
He and his wife Allison have two kids, son Connor (10) and daughter Caroline (4).
