Former Peru St. coach excited to lead Fairbury softball program
A coach with years of college coaching experience is taking over a high school program flush with recent success.
By News Channel NebraskaFAIRBURY, NE — A coach with years of college coaching experience is taking over a high school program flush with recent success.
Former Peru State women’s basketball coach Joan Albury takes over as Fairbury High softball coach this season, replacing longtime head coach Taylor Biehl. After leading the Bobcats for parts of three seasons, Albury says she’s ready to get back to teaching math.
“I’m affecting 150 kids a year trying to make a difference encouraging them to go out and do great things in mathematics and sports," Albury said. "Just kind of getting back into a bigger pool of people to help influence.”
Albury inherits a program that’s made the state tournament in three of the last four seasons and won the 2019 state championship. Senior Jami Mans has been the primary pitcher the past two seasons.
“It’s definitely a winning program," Mans said. "We definitely build a lot off of it and it’s definitely the sport down in Fairbury. I feel like it’s just a good culture to be around.”
It’s mostly new faces around Mans this season after the Lady Jeffs graduated eight seniors. Albury says the roster has impressed her so far.
“There’s several of the girls who substituted a bit, played a lot of JV last year," Albury said. "But when I look at them, I’m like, ‘they’re going to be ready to step in and take those roles over.’ I’m excited about it.”
In addition to her background coaching basketball, Albury has also coached volleyball and softball at the college level. She owns two conference softball coach of the year honors.
Fairbury starts its season on August 19 at Freeman.