Don Green Inducted Into The Alabama Community College Conference Hall of Fame

Don Green grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from Jones Valley High School. While there, he lettered four years in baseball, three years in football, and two years in basketball. He was selected to play in the North-South All-Star Football and the East-West Baseball Games. Green attended Florida State University and Samford University on football scholarships, lettering three years at Samford, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. In 1965, he completed graduate work at the University of Alabama, received his Master of Arts degree, and married the former Mary Hartung. Later, he earned an additional thirty hours of graduate education, also at Alabama.

Green’s successful teaching and coaching career began at Banks High School. As the line coach, he was instrumental in Banks’ winning the 4A State Football Championship. After one year at Banks, he moved to Jefferson State Junior College as a Physical Education Instructor and Head Baseball Coach. In his twenty-eight years as baseball coach, Green’s teams compiled a record of 622-428. In 2004, the 622 wins rank him as the 27th winningest baseball coach among inactive National Junior College Athletic Association coaches nationwide. Impressive, is the fact that this was accomplished without a home field for nine seasons. Green’s teams won the Alabama Junior College Conference, Northern Division, ten times. In 1978 and 1979, his Pioneers won the Region XXII Championship. Green was named Northern Division Coach of the Year nine times. Twice, he was chosen Coach of the Year for Region XXII.

In addition to coaching, Green promoted baseball in the Alabama Conference. He served as President of the AJCCC Baseball Committee for three years and was First President Elect of the NJCAA Baseball Committee. From 1991 through 1996, he held the position of Athletic Director at Jefferson State Community College.

Outside the realm of Junior College athletics and despite a busy coaching schedule, Green coached his two sons, Derek and Chad, in the Youth YMCA Basketball Program for many years. In addition, he was a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, the United States Baseball Federation and the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. He coached in the Alabama Sports Festival Baseball Tournament and is a member of the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association.

Since his retirement in 1996, Green has continued his community involvement. He is currently a volunteer in the Interfaith Hospitality Network, a service for homeless families. Athletics continues to be a part of his life. In 1998, Green was elected Co-Tournament Director for the TimberCreek Men’s Golf Association serving in this position for two years. In 2000, he was elected president of the association. Also, he has served on the Eastern Shore Challenge Cup Committee which sponsors tournaments to raise college scholarship funds for golfing athletes. In 2001, a highlight of Green’s retirement was his induction into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

The ACCC wants to congratulate Coach Green on an outstanding career and for being part of the ACCC Hall of Fame Class of 2004.