JC JETS COACHES

COACH TJ ORR starts his seventh season on the James Clemens coaching staff and will oversee the program pitching staff. Previously, he was the head coach at Hazel Green HS (2010-2014) and at Liberty Middle School (2006-2009), other coaching stops include four seasons as pitching coach for the University of Alabama-Huntsville (2003-2006), head coach in the Lawrence County school system (1999-2002) and assistant coach for Hartselle HS.

Coach Orr played high school baseball at Hartselle HS from 1989-1993, during which time Hartselle won three state championships. He played college ball for Calhoun Community College from 1994-1995 and at UAH, 1996-1997. He received the Team Player Award in 1994 and was named to the All-JUCO Tournament Team in 1995, Coach Orr has a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Athens State University and a Masters Degree in Education Leadership from Middle Tennessee State University. He has been a social studies and history teacher during his entire coaching career. From 2008 to 2013, he was the lead of the Developing Teachers as Historians Program, a professional development program at the local and district level.

Coach Orr and his wife Nicole were blessed with a baby girl, Ainslee and son, Freddie. He teaches World History and Macroeconomics at James Clemens and is happy to be part of the Jets family.

COACH BRETT BURGESS joined the Jets coaching staff for the 2021 season after coaching stints at Cherokee County High School (AL) and Pepperell High School (GA).  Coach Burgess will be over the programs hitters and work with the Varsity outfield.

Coach Burgess finished his playing career at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA in 2017 where he was an outfielder for the Hurricanes.  Prior to GSWU, he started his college playing career at Snead State Community College in Boaz, AL.

Cherokee County High School in Centre, AL is where Brett spent his high school career.  While at CCHS, he played football and baseball and was an All-State selection in both sports, and won a 4A football state championship in 2009.

Coach Burgess was married to Mrs. Lucy Burgess in April 2019.  He teaches Economics and US History I at JCHS.  He received his M.A. Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Alabama in 2020. He and his wife Lucy welcomed a daughter, Rosalie in January 2022.

COACH  PAYNE FRITZ enters his second year as a coach at James Clemens High School. He will serve as the Freshman Head Coach. He played at Hazel Green High School for Coach TJ Orr, and graduated in 2014. Payne walked on at Alabama A&M where he was an Academic All-American and graduated with his bachelors in Secondary Education (General Social Sciences). For the past two years he has been an assistant at New Hope High School and was part of the coaching staff that led New Hope to a playoff berth this past season. 

 COACH AUSTIN MARSH joined the James Clemens Baseball coaching staff in 2022, and took on the role of head Junior Varsity coach.  Coach Marsh comes to JC from Athens High School where he was a Varsity assistant football coach and head middle school baseball coach. 

Prior to coaching at Athens, Coach Marsh was an assistant football coach at Bob Jones from 2016 to 2019. During that time (2013-2019), he coached one of the top youth travel baseball teams in the southeast. 

His first coaching stop was at Tanner High school as he served in many different roles for the Rattlers.  He was the head baseball coach from 2002-2013, and received honors that included area coach of the year, multiple county coach of the year honors, and Decatur Daily coach of the year honors. He also led Tanner to a record breaking season in win totals. 

While at Tanner, Coach Marsh served as an assistant football coach from 2001-2016, and served as offensive coordinator from 2003-2016.  As OC he led Tanner to many scoring and win records, a state semi final appearance, and two coached state championship teams.

2001-2006 he also was the head basketball coach at middle school and freshman levels, and was an assistant for varsity basketball which won multiple regional championships and trips to the final 4. 

Marsh played three years of college baseball at Martin Methodist, and finished at the University of North Alabama with bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He earned a Master's degree in Physical education at UNA as well.

He currently teaches Drivers Ed/PE at James Clemens along with being running backs coach for the Varsity Football team.   He is married to Mrs. April Marsh, and they have two children, Ty (15) and Maggie (12)

COACH RHYS HARTUNG is entering his fifth year on the Jets coaching staff and will serve as an assistant on the Freshman team. He represented the United States Marine Corps as a catcher for the Marine Corps Pacific Northwest Baseball Team in 2001 and 2002. In 2002 he was selected to the All Marine West Coast All-Stars, leading all catchers with a. 296 batting average and 17 stolen bases. He made the Joint Services Military All-Star team in 2003 and 2004, playing against Division one college, Minor League and Major League teams.

After serving, Coach Hartung coached at his alma mater Costa Mesa HS in California for 3 years before re-entering the military. In 2016, Rhys coached at Newport Harbor HS in Newport Beach, California. Coach Hartung is currently on the board of directors for the Madison Baseball Association, coaches his two sons Kaeden and Konnor, and is still an active player, catching for the Huntsville Royals in the Southern Senior Baseball League.

COACH AUSTIN RICE begins his first season with the Jets, and his primary role will be as the JV assistant coach.  He is a graduate of the University of New Orleans with a degree in Human Performance and Health Promotion.  While at UNO, Coach Rice served as a student assistant with the baseball program.  After graduation, Coach Rice has been a strength and conditioning coach for baseball and softball players at all levels, while also coaching the sport in his free time.  He spent his high school playing career at Hahnville High School in Boutte, Louisiana.