By Daniel Evans
The Selma Times-Journal

Before softball coach Clint Myers interviewed for the Auburn coaching position in 2013, he had to ask what town Auburn University was in. That’s how much Myers, a west coast guy, knew about Auburn when he first found out the Tigers were interested in hiring him away from Arizona State.

“I was a Pac 12 guy, I said I was never going to coach in the cold, and I was never going to be east,” Myers said Monday night at the Selma Quarterback Club meeting. “Boy, the heck was I wrong.”

Myers was the guest speaker at the club’s meeting Monday night at the Selma Convention Center. He said the reason he decided to leave Arizona State, his alma mater, was all about family. Auburn gave him a chance to coach with two of his sons.

“I’m on the back nine of my coaching year,” Myers said.

“I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and I turn 65 in December. I just wanted to be a mentor one time to my own sons and Auburn gave me that opportunity.”

Since arriving at Auburn, he’s led the Tigers to two Women’s College World Series appearances. The team finished as the national runner-up last year.

“People want to know, ‘well how did you turn this program around?’” Myers said. “I didn’t. I haven’t taken a swing or thrown a ball in four years.”

Auburn’s softball team has two local ties to Selma. Kendall Veach was a freshman on last season’s team and her brother, Hunter Veach, was an assistant coach. Both graduated from Morgan Academy and both figure to factor into Auburn’s success in the next few years.

Hunter, an undergraduate assistant at Auburn, introduced Myers to the club on Monday night.

“Coach Myers, if ever asked, will tell you that he doesn’t think of himself as a great coach,” Hunter said.

“However, he does think of himself and the rest of his amazing staff as great leaders and great teachers. More than just teachers of the game of softball.”

Auburn just finished off its fall ball season and won’t practice again until January.

The quarterback club’s next meeting will be Nov. 21 when Mike” Captain Crunch” Kolen speaks.