JCS Coach Spotlight: Taylor Clemens

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

For Taylor Clemens, athletics has been an integral part of life ever since she was a high schooler herself. Playing for the Jefferson County High School (JCHS) Lady Tigers Varsity Softball team as well as participating on the volleyball team made a strong impact on Clemens as a young woman. During her high school sports involvement, she was awarded many honors, including being presented with Most Valuable Player and best Offensive Player awards. Upon graduation, she earned a softball scholarship, and attended Albany State University.
After college, Clemens pursued a career in education, pairing it with a position as coach for a softball team at the high school level. She taught and coached in Albany, Ga., for about three years. After the birth of her daughter, Clemens moved back to her hometown of Monticello, where she began teaching at the school she had attended in her youth, Jefferson County K-12. Currently, she teaches 5th Grade Science, and coaches softball and volleyball for grades 6-12 (JCS).
Clemens says that her history with the school she now teaches at has brought her experiences full-circle, and she is eager to contribute to a quality girl's sports program at JCS, as she knows first-hand the significance that sports played in her own life when she was a young student attending the school.
“It definitely feels good to be back here,” she says, “Some aspects are different, obviously. I'm on the other side of it now, as a teacher and coach, rather than a student and athlete. But, I know these halls. I know these desks, these classrooms. And I think it's important for these girls to have someone who has been exactly where they are, teaching them and connecting with them.”
It goes even deeper than the physical aspects of being at the school. Clemens also remembers being an adolescent, and knows the importance of being able to meet students where they are, in a nurturing, supportive environment. In fact, Clemens believes that one of the most important skills to have as a coach is the ability to connect with the students with understanding and compassion.
“You have to be understanding about what these kids might be going through,” she says. “As a coach, you need to listen first. Some of these girls have never played a sport before. A lot of them are afraid of the ball in the beginning. As a coach, I try not to be too hard on them, and let them learn.”
Clemens says one of her biggest strengths as a coach is that she has been through the program before. As a former student athlete, she knows how important it is to feel heard and respected.
“I can't stand a nagging coach,” says Clemens, chuckling. “I want to nurture these girls, teach them the sports, give them some life lessons, and encourage them not to give up. I want them to understand that they aren't supposed to be good at it right away, and that being bad at something isn't a reason to stop trying. Some of these girls haven't ever even watched volleyball or softball before, let alone tried to play it. A bad coach can take away the fun of learning something new, and can prevent them from falling in love with the sport. I don't want to scare them away.”
One of her coaching lessons incorporates feedback from her students.
“It's my job to listen to what they are telling me,” she says. “I teach them the lesson, and we run through the drills and practices. At the end of each week, I ask them what they feel their strengths and weaknesses are – what they got better at and what they need to work on. Then, I organize my next lesson and practice sessions to implement what they have told me. This enables them to do some self-reflection and recognize how to analyze their progress and adjust as they go, which is a valuable skill to have even outside of sports.”
Clemens is excited about the future girl's softball and volleyball programs, and what it could mean for the school and her students.
“They haven't had a program in five years,” says Clemens. “We need more girl's sports. Aside from learning about the game and how to play it, these students get significant life skills from these programs. They learn how to react when things don't go their way, and how to learn new things in a high-pressure environment. That plays a role later in life for them.”
In addition to providing a good foundation for learning life skills, Clemens also knows that the programs give the girls a healthy outlet for stress.
“Even the least outgoing person can still get something of value from playing a sport,” Clemens says. “Not only are they trying something new for the first time to see if they like it, but they are developing critical thinking skills and teamwork, all while working on fitness and being outside.”
Clemens has high hopes for the future of the girl's softball program, as most of her current students are in early high school grade levels, meaning that if they choose to stick with the program, Clemens could effectively coach them for years during their high school careers. Already, she has seen significant growth in her team, who not only have shown steady improvement, but are eager to practice often. Seeing their participation and excitement increase has been a very rewarding part of her coaching job, and Clemens wants to continue to encourage her team to stick with it and be the best they can be.
“Some people think you can change a program right away, but it's not as easy as it looks,” she admits. “You're trying to teach 14-plus girls how to play a sport they've never tried before, and to live up to the expectations people in the community have. It's important to develop a bond with these kids, and build a consistent program that they want to be a part of.”
The progress that Clemens has seen even in this first year that the district has reclaimed the school has been encouraging. “I've got girls who were terrified of the ball in the beginning, and now those same girls are coming to me asking for additional practice. It's very rewarding to see that in such a short amount of time.”
As a former Jefferson Tiger, Clemens is highly dedicated to restoring the respect for the JCS softball program, and providing the students with consistent, effective coaching. Coach Taylor Clemens, thank you for all that you do, and Go Tigers!