When Kelsey Leggett graduated from Bryan County High School and headed off to Brewton-Parker College on a softball scholarship, her intention–she said at the time of her signing–was to become a pediatric nurse.
Teaching and coaching were nowhere on the horizon, but that’s where the former Redskins standout finds herself today.
Leggett, whose time at Brewton-Parker was interrupted by COVID, wound up transferring to Georgia Southern, switched majors and is now an assistant coach on first year softball coach Jessica Cooper’s staff while teaching kindergarten at Bryan County Elementary School.
Leggett will also be an assistant on Coach Mario Mincey’s girls’ basketball team this winter. She excelled for Mincey on the hardwood as a three-point shooting specialist and hard-nosed defender. Many thought basketball would be her sport of choice when it came to college but softball won out.
She played a year at Brewton-Parker and then COVID came along and, as with many others, it changed Leggett’s career path.
“Everything got messed up that year,” Leggett said. “I transferred to Georgia Southern and decided to change majors and I’m really happy I did.
“It’s good to be back,” Leggett said. “It feels great. It’s really special to be here and be part of the softball program. I knew from the day I left I would come back.”
Kelsey was the second of four Leggett siblings to play sports at Bryan County. Older sister Kaylin was a softball standout for Al Butler and Kelsey was followed by Kyndal, currently a junior at Georgia Southern, who played soccer and basketball and was also a cheerleader.
Konnor, the youngest of Tony and Katie’s children, was the Region 3A Player of the Year in baseball as a junior and senior while playing running back and linebacker in football. Konnor is currently playing baseball at East Georgia State College.
Former softball coach Jason Roundtree, who stepped down as the Redskins softball coach after last season, said Kelsey was the definitive team player.
Roundtree, who had coached Bryan County baseball for six years, took over the softball program in 2017 and soon learned he was bereft of pitching which is paramount to success in softball.
Going into her junior season, Leggett was hands down the best shortstop in the region but when it became obvious the Redskins needed help in the circle she volunteered to pitch. She took some beatings as Bryan County struggled to a 10-14 season but she never complained.
“Her only concern was doing what was best for the team,” Roundtree said after the season. “Any personal goals were put aside. It was all about the team. I can’t say enough about the individual sacrifice she made. Every decision she made was based on what was best for the team, not her.”
The following year marked the arrival of freshman Hayden Joyner and the rest was history. Leggett returned to the infield and the Redskins went 19-7.
Leggett said she saw a job posting for an assistant’s job in softball and she approached athletic director Blaine Ennis about it.
“I knew I was going to the elementary school as a teacher but I had no idea there was an assistant position available,” Leggett said. “I saw the posting and was at a baseball game and asked Blaine if it was still open.
“She told me it was and if I wanted to do it I had to send her a resume,” Leggett said. “I went home, got the resume done real quick and sent it to her. About two weeks later she emailed me back [saying] that I had got the job.”
Cooper, who was at Richmond Hill for 12 years before going to Bryan County, said the hire was a no-brainer as far as she was concerned.
“She’s a great asset,” Cooper said. “Mrs. Ennis sent me her resume and said this girl has been hired at the elementary school and is interested.
“I looked at it for about two seconds and said" put her on”. I didn’t know her (personally) but I knew of her. She’s been a great addition.”