Softball

AMIE McDOUGAL

Varsity Head Coach

Coach McDougal is in her twelfth  year as part of the Golden Lion Softball program, sixth as head coach. She was a four year varsity starter at Chamblee Charter High School and was named All-American as a Junior and Senior. She continued her career at the collegiate level on a full softball scholarship to Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where she earned 1st team All-Conference honors as a junior. “Discipline and Consistency” are valuable lessons Coach McDougal has learned and wants to pass on to student athletes as a key to a successful life. Coach McDougal teaches Health and Physical Education at St. Pius X.

DON COLEMAN

Varsity Assistant Coach

Coach Coleman returns to the Golden Lions staff in 2022 for his nineteenth season. Coach Coleman is the Assistant Varsity Coach and Pitching Coach. He has coached fastpitch softball for twenty-six years. His experience includes coaching at Agnes Scott College, Chamblee High School and Decatur High School. He is a current board member and past president of Murphey Candler Girls Fastpitch Softball Association. He is a managing attorney with Atlanta Legal Aid Society. Coach Coleman and his wife of 41 years, Jean, are proud parents to two grown daughters, Tiffany and Andrea.

LOREN SOUTHWICK

Varsity Assistant Coach

The 2022 season is Coach Southwick’s twelfth year coaching the Golden Lions. A retired sales and marketing executive from the computer and data communications industries, Coach Southwick is now a substitute teacher at St. Pius X. A graduate of the University of South Florida, he also attended Georgia Tech for his undergrad studies and attended graduate school at Georgia State University. Coach Southwick has over 45 years of playing experience in baseball and softball including 20 years of Men’s Open Fastpitch. A multi-talented athlete, he ran cross-country while attending Georgia Tech and also spent time with the Minnesota Twins organization.

JORDYN PORTIS

Varsity Assistant Coach

Coach Portis (SPX ’15) returns to the Golden Lions softball program for her fifth season as an assistant coach. She was a four year starter while a student-athlete at St. Pius X. Coach Portis went on to play softball for one year at Agnes Scott College, where she was named to the Great South Athletic Conference All-Freshman team for helping the Scotties win a conference championship and advance to the NCAA regionals. Currently, Coach Portis is working on her master’s degree at Georgia State University.

MATTIE HAMILTON

JV Assistant Coach

CHAD McGEE

Middle School HEAD Coach

TODD MESSICK

Middle School Assistant Coach

This is Coach Messick’s first season as an assistant middle school coach for the Golden Lions. He has coached both baseball and softball at Murphey Candler for the past 4 years. He has also coached flag football at St. Pius for 6 years as well as basketball at Clairmont Presbyterian and Briarlake Baptist Church for over 10 years. Coach Messick was a 4 year letter winner in baseball at Wofford College (Class of ’93). He lives with his wife LeyAnna (Head Librarian at SPX) and their children Sarah Pruitt (SPX ’22), Porter (SPX ’24) and Loraley (12).

MELISSA SNIPES

Middle School Assistant Coach