Josh Bumgarner, a former athlete at Alexander Central High who has been an assistant coach on two state championship softball teams at his alma mater, is looking forward to starting the women’s softball program at Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC). The Red Hawks’ first team takes the field this fall./CODY DALTON, CATAWBA VALLEY ATHLETICS
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Josh Bumgarner, a former athlete at Alexander Central High with an extensive background in coaching softball, is moving center stage with Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC).
Bumgarner has been named to lead the Red Hawks as they launch their women’s softball program.
CVCC will start play this fall and be immediately eligible for championship contention in the spring of 2020.
“I’m extremely humbled and blessed to have this opportunity,” Bumgarner said in a CVCC press release. “I’m a firm believer that the good Lord put me here. All the thanks and honor go to Him.
“I’m blown away to have this opportunity. Even just to get to build it from the ground up is something that blows my mind.”
CVCC Athletic Director Nick Schroeder is thrilled to have Bumgarner establish the Red Hawks softball program.
“We are excited for coach Bumgarner to start our program,” Schroeder said. “His excitement for the game of softball and the advancement of student athletes is infectious.
“Josh will bring hard work ethic to our program, and we are excited to see where he can take it.”
Bumgarner was taught the value of hard work by his father and grandfather, who both worked in the saw mill industry in Alexander County. He believes that trait will help him succeed at CVCC.
“Playing basketball and football in high school, I wasn’t the most athletic and not the most gifted as far as height goes so I had to outwork everybody to be successful,” Bumgarner said. “I’ve tried to carry that over into my coaching style and instill that into my players. So far it seems to be a pretty good combination. We’re just ready to go to work and outwork everybody else.”
Bumgarner’s extensive coaching pedigree includes two 3A state championship titles (2013, 2018) as an assistant coach at Alexander Central.
A graduate of Appalachian State, he also had a six-year coaching stint at South Iredell High.
Also not new to starting up softball programs, Bumgarner was the inaugural head coach of the Alexander Central Post 170 American Legion softball team last summer.
“I believe that I know what it takes to win and be successful,” Bumgarner said. “I am a firm believer that having a strong family-oriented environment for the team is the kind of foundation of that.
“That’s what I base everything on. I’m a player’s coach and are looking forward to finally getting some of those players around here and getting to work.”
Bumgarner believes there’s a lot of immediate value to potential athletes joining the Red Hawks’ softball program from both an athletic and academic standpoint.
“CVCC is a good outlet for people in this area to be able to take advantage of and still play a game that they love for a couple of years,” he said. “We’ll try to help them move on to the next phase of their career if that’s something that they want to pursue. I think this is a great opportunity for the kids that play softball in this area.”
- Reported by CVCC Sports Information