Pace to retire as Patriots' head coach

By Staff
Submitted to the FCT
Muscle Shoals – According to Athletic Administrator Charles Taylor, Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC) men's basketball coach Barry Pace informed college officials he would retire from coaching at the conclusion of the 2006-07 basketball season.
"In December, Coach Pace notified Dr. Lee and I of his plans to retire as men's basketball coach and concentrate all of his efforts in the classroom," Taylor said.
Pace will continue to fulfill his role as a full-time Biology Instructor for Northwest-Shoals Community College's Phil Campbell Campus. He has served as the Patriots' head coach for the past five seasons.
"It's been a joy to work with the players we've had over the past five years," Pace said. We've really had some great kids. However, I've reached the point in my career where I want to be able to spend more time with my family and I haven't been able to do that while focusing my efforts on coaching. All the traveling mixed with the ins and outs of the job have taken their toll on me. After 30 years of coaching, I'm ready to let that part of my life go."
According to Pace, he would be remiss if he did not mention the support he received from the NW-SCC administration.
"I truly appreciate the support of our administrators over the past five years," he said. "They have allowed me to embody what I feel community college basketball is all about; which is taking the exceptional athletes you have within the community and the state and getting the most out of them on and off the court."
Currently, the Northwest-Shoals administration is advertising for a Men's Head Basketball Coach/Athletic Advisor. The new coach is anticipated to be in place by March 5, 2007.