Troy McPherson can only hope his upcoming tenure at Reeds Spring proves as fulfilling as his seven years at Sparta.
Looking back, McPherson had no idea what was in store for him when he became an assistant for the Lady Trojans in 2017. He became their head coach two years later.
“Being here has changed me. When I came here, I was a baseball coach,” said McPherson, an Ozark grad. “I volunteer coached at Parkview while I was in college and coached one summer at Rogersville. Sparta had a softball opening for an assistant when I interviewed here. I jumped in and fell in love with the sport and the girls.
“Now, I am without a doubt a softball coach,” he added. “From start to finish, I'm going to be a softball coach. I have Sparta to thank for that.”
McPherson’s finale at Sparta was a Quarterfinal loss to eventual Class 2 state champion Mt. Vernon last month. The Lady Trojans were 26-5 and Class 2 District 5 champions this year. They were 22-3 a year ago and 15-6 in 2021.
McPherson feels blessed to have shared his experiences with the players he coached.
“Sparta has been a great community,” he said. “We’ve had great kids and great parents. It's been a phenomenal situation. It’s something that is very difficult to say good-bye to. I know I'm leaving this place better than when I found it. I'm going to reflect well on my time at Sparta.”
McPherson takes over for Scott Walker at Reeds Spring. The Lady Wolves’ program has tumbled in recent seasons, but posted a 26-win season in 2010 and was a consistent winner from 2009-2019.
“I’m excited about the opportunity at Reeds Spring,” he said.
