The search for the next Wallace head softball coach continues, but in the meantime the school has hired a new assistant softball coach. Wade Hussey was officially introduced to the softball team Wednesday afternoon.

A 6th generation farmer by trade, Hussey brings with him a ton of softball experience. Among that experience, he was head softball coach at New Brockton high School for eight years and he served as a volunteer hitting coach at Troy University.

But probably most notable. Hussey is the founder of Alabama Fury, a premier softball travel team. The organization grew from one to 15 teams in just three years. In his 13 years with the group, he has sent over 250 athletes to play college softball through organizational and high school coaching.

How Hussey ended up at Wallace is a new unique story.

"I didn't know I as coming that day (the day he first met Athletic Director John Rushing)," Hussey said. "I came home, took a shower and drove over here (from Enterprise). We were going to have like a 10-minute meeting. But after like a 2 ½ to 3 hour conversation, ultimately there was a common ground that these girls need something in place."

That initial meeting led to Wednesday afternoon when Rushing introduced Hussey to the team as the new Wallace  assistant softball coach. So how does he feel about taking on this role not knowing who the head coach will be?

"It's always a challenge not knowing who you will be working with at any level in your life.," Hussey said. "When you walk through a door and you don't know what's on the other side of that door, there's always a thought in your mind of what might be. That thought is not there for me. I know what will be. I know we will have the right person in place because they will have the right person they need to work with. I know my strong points. I'm willing to give them. The maturity of having done this for so long, having done it at the high school level, having done it on the outside on the opposite side of the recruiting side, I think that will be beneficial to the person coming  in because those are the people I've been talking to for 12 years."

After meeting the team for the first time Wednesday afternoon, Hussey said there was a mutual feeling between the two.

"I walked in the room, and when the final girl walked in, I felt more at home than I thought I could ever dream about feeling. Within this group, I know every one of them. I have a connection to them. They know somebody who I've coached and helped develop. There was no negativity, It was all positive."

After speaking with those girls, I saw their faces light up. It was like, 'we have somebody. We have a beginning. We can start now.' In everyone's eyes, it was 'Let's go". I was very pleased with their acceptance of me."

For Hussey, the going starts Thursday afternoon. That's when he and the team will hold its first official practice.

Wallace AD John Rushing said he is excited about the hiring of Hussey and getting the softball program headed in the right direction.

"I'm excited about having Wade Hussey join our athletic department at Wallace Community College as an assistant softball coach. Coach Hussey has a strong reputation in softball- not only in the Wiregrass-but also throughout the Southeast. He will go to work immediately organizing our Lady Govs softball team as we continue to search for our next head coach."

Rushing continued, "Due to the timing of the head coach hire and with school having already started, Coach Hussey will get our ladies working for the fall season. We hope to have a head coach in place within the next week or two and Coach Hussey will be able to help him or her make the transition. Wallace-Dothan is very fortunate to have someone of Coach Hussey's caliber and reputation as a coach and, more importantly, as a person. I look forward to seeing where our new head coach and Coach Hussey take our softball program."