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One of the leading figures in the club softball world, Jay Roberson, has made a change in his “day job” but will continue to have a strong presence in the world of fastpitch softball.
Roberson, who has been a successful travel ball coach in the Birmingham Thunderbolts organization for 15 years and produces top showcase events including 5-Star Showcase, announced on Friday that he is leaving his long-time position in medical device sales to become a full-time Scout at National Scouting Report (NSR) based in Alabaster, Alabama.
“I’ve been helping kids get recruited for 14 years and I enjoy that part of softball,” he told Extra Inning Softball this weekend. “And it’s what I’m best at.”
In December, 2020, Roberson was ranked as one of the Top 10 Club Coaches in the Extra Inning Softball Club Coach Rankings.
Coaching the Bolts younger age groups, including 14 and 16’s, to top national tournaments, the Alabama resident has developed more than five dozen softball standouts who have gone on to major programs across the country including: Alabama (6), Arizona State, Arkansas (3), Auburn (5), Florida (2), Florid State, Georgia (4), Kentucky, Louisville (2) LSU (3), Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi State (7), North Carolina State (2), Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Oregon, Samford (2), South Alabama, Troy (2) UAB (5), Virginia and Washington among others.
His wife, Amanda Roberson, is a former DI pitcher at South Alabama and has served as the pitching coach on his staffs with the Thunderbolts for the past nine years. Their daughter, O’Neil Roberson, also came through the Bolts program and played softball at Mississippi State and Samford.
Roberson was a two-sport athlete at the collegiate level, playing football at Jacksonville State and college basketball at the University of Montevallo, but says his greatest athletic achievements have been “making positive impacts on the lives of young athletes.”
“The thing I’ve enjoyed the most about coaching,” he adds, “is seeing kids’ dreams come true when they commit to a college. It’s something I’m good at and I want to help as many kids as I can. Most parents don’t fully understand the behind-the-scenes process of recruiting and I can help them navigate that.”
He adds that this year’s 16U team will be his last one he’ll coach personally but he will continue to “run 5-Star (events) forever.”
His former players speak highly of him including KB Sides, a Preseason All-SEC outfielder with Alabama.
“Coach Jay treated me like I was his own child,” the senior from Dora, Alabama explains. “He will always be one of the best coaches I have ever played for. I truly enjoyed my time playing for him. He always told me I was the best in the country and made me believe it no matter how I felt. He will go down as one of the best. He was fun and kept us light on our feet. I wish I could play one more game for him!”
MK Tedder, a senior infielder/outfielder with the Texas Longhorns, spoke to how Roberson was influential on and off the field in her career.
“Coach Jay taught me the fundamental skills of what it takes to be an outstanding softball player but most importantly he taught me what life is all about, having fun and embracing every moment!” the athlete from Hoover, Alabama told Extra Inning Softball.
“He truly loved every single one of us and made sure we all had everything we ever needed no matter the circumstance. He did everything in his power to make us the best team possible. He is the best coach I ever had but he is so much more than just a coach which is why everyone who has ever played for him loves him!”
Lilly Agan, a freshman outfielder for the Washington Huskies, singled in her first college at-bat this week and also speaks highly of how much Jay and Amanda Roberson impacted her development.
“Jay taught me so much as a coach both on and off the field,” the Newnan, Georgia native explains. “I think one of the best things he did at coaching was letting us have our freedom to figure out how to do things our own way. He pushed me like no other.”
“I was super close with him and coach Amanda so I feel like they expected a lot from me and if I wasn’t meeting those expectations they would make sure I knew. I miss Coach Jay so much he is so amazing!”
Roberson says that the people at NSR and how they approach scouting was a major reason for him making the full-time job change.
“One of the main reasons I accepted the position is the way Rusty (Rigney), our President & CEO, does things. He doesn’t want his scouts out trying to sign up anybody and everybody. We have to scout the kids interested in being a NSR athlete and they have to check all the boxes required to be a collegiate athlete.”
“College coaches trust that we are sending them kids that can play at that level so we have to make sure they can play at that level before taking them as a NSR athlete.”
Having been a club coach and getting to the SEC, he stresses he’s also been a long-time fan of former Ole Smith head coach Mike Smith, who is now the Executive Director of Scouting for NSR.
“Mike Smith is another reason I went to work for NSR,” explains Roberson. “I trust Mike, he is a good man, and look to learn a great deal from him.”
Smith, who joined NSR in early 2020, reciprocates the goodwill.
“We are thrilled to have Jay,” Smith states. “He ignites passion in his athletes and motivates them not just to be great athletes but great individuals. Jay’s energy is contagious and he knows exactly how to get his players ready for the next level, both in softball and in life.”
Rigney, who is the son of NSR founder Bob Rigney, adds:
“We are excited to have Jay join our already strong team of scouts lead by Coach Smith. Jay’s extensive background at the highest levels of travel softball and his experience in helping athletes make it to the next level make him a great resource for athletes and their families. Since 1980, NSR has had one mission: to aid qualified student-athletes in achieving their dream of playing at the next level. Jay shares that same mission and for that reason we are proud to have him on our team.”
Monday will be Roberson’s first day working with NSR; he can be reached at [email protected].