At the end of each school year, there are two things one can be certain of: a host of relieved teachers and coaching changes. It’s a ritual that stretches back as long as there have been sports in the Lone Star State, and 2023 is no exception.
Last week, while the teaching staff at Thrall High School was packing up their classrooms for their summer break, the Thrall Independent School District was putting the final touches on next year’s new hires. And, leading the way amongst those new hires, will be a familiar face to Taylor Duck fans.
Justin Adams has been officially named the new head coach of the Thrall Tigers baseball team.
Adams, and the Ducks, just completed one of the best seasons in recent memory, earning a spot in the Class 4A, Region 2 finals. The Ducks took the opening game of a best-of-three series with perennial powerhouse China Spring, before dropping the final two games and ending their season with a 31-5-1 record.
Taylor also captured the District 22-4A title along the way.
With such a stellar season in the books, and with a host of key players returning next season in Taylor, the question has to be asked, why would a coach choose to leave?
“It’s a fairly easy question to answer,” Adams said. “Being in the baseball world and having a young son that plays in the area, I have a different perspective of what’s to come on the baseball front. There is a tremendous amount of potential for the Thrall baseball program, and I had to jump at this opportunity.”
The Tigers posted an 18-10 record in 2023 and finished in a tie for fourth place with the Granger Lions. Granger edged the Tigers in a fourth-place playoff game, eliminating the Tigers from playoff contention, but Adams, and the Tiger faithful, have plenty of reasons to be optimistic for next season. Like Taylor, Thrall will welcome back most of their top hitters and pitchers next season.
Adams isn’t totally without knowledge of the returning Tigers. He said he had an opportunity to watch them early this past season and liked what he saw.
“I got to see them practice this past year when they were practicing at our facility, so I feel like I have some experience with the kids already. I saw a lot of hustle and ability,” he said. Adams isn’t the only one excited about his joining the Thrall staff.
Tiger Athletic Director Aaron Vanecek, who will begin his third year at the helm of the Thrall athletic department and football program next year, is equally excited about Adams’ arrival.
“Amongst a large group of applicants, Coach Adams stood out above the rest,” Vanecek said.
“And, it’s more than his experience and success at his previous school that makes this a great fit. He brings passion, confidence, energy and a next-level ability to motivate young people.”
Vanecek added, “Coach Adams has a long-term vision of the Thrall baseball program that aligns with our vision for our entire athletic program, and that is to compete at the highest level and win championships. I can see Coach Adams, and his family, being invested in our community for many years to come, and I’m very excited to see where he will take our baseball program.”
Adams did not hesitate when asked what his goals were for his new team. “Our immediate goal is to win the district championship next year,” he said. “We are going to compete for a championship next season and I see no reason why we can’t win it.”
As for challenges, like with any new job, there is a growing period.
Adams said one of his first priorities will be getting past the newness that a coaching change brings. “I want to get that newness out of the way as quickly as possible,” he said. “I want to establish some comfortability with the boys. We do that by being around the kids in camps during the summer, and get them playing the way we want them to play.”
Adams added that he feels the success he has had in his 15 years of coaching baseball, centered around his ability to relate the style of gameplay, to the players. “I want to play fast baseball, and not be afraid of mistakes,” he said. “Once the kids are successful with our style of play, they will buy into it. There won’t be any staleness in our style of baseball and, there should be a lot of excitement around our program.”
In addition to heading the Tiger baseball program, Adams will also serve as an assistant in football and will work as a special education teacher at Thrall High School.
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Being in the baseball world and having a young son that plays in the area, I have a different perspective of what’s to come on the baseball front. There is a tremendous amount of potential for the Thrall baseball program, and I had to jump at this opportunity.”
- Justin Adams, former Taylor High head varsity baseball coach on accepting a job with Thrall
