Phill Clemons has been named the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s 1A-5A Girls Bowling Coach of the Year, a prestigious recognition highlighting his exceptional leadership and commitment to his teams. With over 25 years of experience, Coach Clemons brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the coaching field. His extensive background spans across numerous collegiate programs within the SEC, ACC, Sun Belt, Gulf South Conference, Big South, SIAC, and Conference USA. In these roles, he has served as a motivational speaker, coach to coaches, and life coach to student-athletes, focusing on the development of both athletic skills and personal growth. 

2025 Season Performance of the Mako Bowling Team

Under Coach Clemons’s leadership, the OBHS Girls Bowling team made school history by reaching the state championship finals. The Makos finished the season with a 17–4 overall record, a remarkable feat for a program only in its early years. After an early setback at the state meet, Orange Beach fought through the loser’s bracket with three consecutive wins. The Orange Beach Makos rattled off three wins in a row from the consolation bracket to help earn a No. 3 seed and advance to the final stage. This resilience was a testament to the team’s grit and to Clemons’ motivational coaching.

Key Victories: The Makos defeated Indian Springs 1,228–1,128 and Horseshoe Bend 1,200–1,091 on the tournament’s second day, knocking out those contenders on their way to the title match. Each match tested the young team’s composure, and each time they rose to the occasion.

State Championship Final: Orange Beach faced Scottsboro High in the Class 1A–5A championship. Coming from the consolation side of the double-elimination bracket, the Makos needed to beat Scottsboro twice to claim the title. They ultimately fell short in a single-match finale – Scottsboro (16-1) clinched the championship with a 1,342–1,148 victory, handing Orange Beach the runner-up finish. Despite the loss, the Makos earned widespread respect for pushing through to the final.

Notably, Orange Beach’s bowling success was a true team effort. In a unique twist, a handful of players from Orange Beach’s four-time state champion softball squad (widely regarded as the No. 1 softball team in the nation) joined the bowling team in the winter offseason. In his mental performance work with Mako athletes, Clemons had worked with the softball team before the athletes made their bowling debut. These multi-sport athletes – already used to championship pressure – brought competitiveness and winning experience to Clemons’ roster. This crossover of talent paid off in spades during the 2025 season.

‘Coach of the Year’ Recognition and Impact

Phill Clemons’s leadership throughout the 2025 season earned him a well-deserved Girls Bowling Coach of the Year recognition. Coach Clemons’s impact on the Mako bowling program has been profound in his first year as head coach. His rich coaching background, motivational coaching style, and focus on building a winning culture were instrumental in the team’s impressive finish for the 2025 season. From establishing a resilient mindset that fueled comeback wins to skillfully managing multi-sport talent, Clemons showed why he earned the Girls Bowling Coach of the Year title.