By Gary Lloyd
Clay-Chalkville has its new varsity girls basketball coach.
Courtney Payne was approved Thursday by the Jefferson County Board of Education.
Payne, a Scottsboro native, spent the past season at Jacksonville State University as an assistant coach. Prior to that, Payne was the varsity girls basketball coach at Shades Mountain Christian School in Birmingham.
A graduate of Scottsboro High School and Snead State Community College, Payne finished her undergraduate studies in 2007 at the University of Alabama. At Snead State, she ranked in the Top 20 of the National Junior College Athletic Association in field goal percentage.
While in Tuscaloosa, Payne assisted the women’s basketball program as a student assistant along with helping as a strength and conditioning assistant in 2006-2007 under the guidance of Melissa Moore. Payne moved on to her second Southeastern Conference program after graduating from UA, spending time at Louisiana State University as a strength and condition intern in 2007. While at LSU, she specifically worked day-to-day with the LSU women’s basketball program and was mentored by Michelle Diltz. That season, LSU advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
Clay-Chalkville Cougars
file photo
Payne was a member of the training staff at Fitness Together in Birmingham from 2008 to 2011 before moving on to Next Total Fitness.
Payne earned her undergraduate degree in human performance and nutrition in 2007.
Payne said she likes an up-tempo style of offense and an “aggressive defense,” though style depends on the team’s strengths. She described herself as a “very disciplined” coach.
“I require that my players are holding themselves accountable and use their strengths to the best of their abilities,” Payne said.
Payne will also be a physical education teacher at Clay-Chalkville High School, and she said the ultimate goal on the court is to advance as far as possible in the state tournament.
“First and foremost as a coach, my philosophy is developing the young woman that they’re going to be,” Payne said.
Former Clay-Chalkville girls basketball coach Todd Carlile resigned from the position last month to take a physical education position at Paine Intermediate School in Trussville. Carlile spent 13 years at Clay-Chalkville, serving the last three as the varsity girls basketball coach. He was the varsity boys basketball coach three years and served as an assistant for former girls coach Mike Chase. He then took over the girls’ team when Chase left for Spain Park.
Clay-Chalkville posted a 25-5 record last season.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
