BY WIL CREWS
SPORTSCREWS@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
Long time Opelika girls’ basketball coach Devin Booth is stepping down after 12 seasons.
As first reported by the Observer’s own D. Mark Mitchell, Booth is leaving Opelika High School to take an administrative position with the AHSAA. Newly appointed Executive Director of the AHSAA, Alvin Briggs, announced Tuesday that Booth would be joining as assistant director.
“I am truly excited to announce the addition of Devin Booth to the AHSAA Executive staff,” Briggs said. “She is an outstanding teacher and coach who has shown strong leadership throughout her career as a teacher, coach and administrator. She is an excellent addition to an already outstanding staff.”
Among her duties will be working with the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) as well as working directly with a number of championship sports including basketball, volleyball, softball, bowling and cheer.
Booth spent 21 years coaching and teaching at the high school level. She served as varsity girls’ basketball, volleyball and golf coach and assistant athletic director during her tenure at Opelika. Her overall record stands at 398-181, and she leaves OHS as the winningest coach in school history for both men’s and women’s basketball.
“I love coaching, but decided to look at administration when I was named assistant athletic director over Female Athletics,” Booth told Mitchell. “I saw the other side of athletics — the administration side. You must have both to have a successful program. I love coaching and will defiantly miss the kids, but at the same time, I look forward to being a part of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. I love Opelika. The people are wonderful and have been very supportive of me and OHS girls’ basketball.”
During her time as Opelika’s varsity girls’ basketball coach, Booth guided the Lady Bulldogs to numerous area championships and three state Final Four’s. The 2017-20 stretch was particularly fruitful, with Booth leading her team to the Class 6A State Tournament three straight years. The 2020 Lady Bulldogs finished 27-7 overall, and were eliminated by eventual state champion Hazel Green in the state semifinals.
Before coming to Opelika, Booth coached Samson High School from 2006-09, capturing three area titles in the process and the Class 2A state title in 2007.
Booth got her start in coaching in 2002-03 in the AISA with Macon-East Academy. There, she assisted in coaching the softball team to a state title (2001) and coached the junior high girls’ basketball team to the 2004 state crown. Prior to that, Booth served as an assistant coach at Huntingdon College in 2000-01.
Booth has also coached in the AHSAA North-South All-Star basketball game (2003) and the AISA All-Star game three times. She has served on multiple committees, received numerous awards on the regional and state level and is currently vice president of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association.
A 1996 graduate of Opp High School, Booth is completing her Master of Science degree in educational leadership at Auburn University this summer, earned her Bachelor of Science in human performance and kinesiology at Huntington College in 2000 and received an associate degree from Chattahoochee Valley Community College in 1998.
Booth was a member of the CVCC and Huntingdon College women’s basketball teams.