Late assistant coach Newell Moss’ impact on powerhouse Gordo baseball still cherished
Gordo baseball coach Jonathan Pate saw his 3A No. 1-ranked Green Wave name its baseball field after him before the start of the season.
It's only a testament to the people who helped and played for him, he said. Perhaps no person played a bigger part in his state-championship-filled tenure than the late Newell Moss.
Moss, a Gordo volunteer coach for 33 years and 25 under Pate, died April 16 ahead of Gordo's sweep over Elkmont in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs.
His title was volunteer coach but Moss, 76, was much more. Until his health took a downturn in April, Moss never missed a practice or game unless for family emergencies or illness. Like all volunteers, he never earned a dollar for coaching.
All four of Gordo's state championships came under Pate with Moss as outfielders coach and first-base coach in games.
"There were guys at that funeral from every state championship team that I recognized from just those teams, not to mention guys on the other teams," Pate said.
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When he needed tough advice, Moss was "the guy" for Pate, who credits Moss for helping him learn how to run a program in his first years.
"I'd always go, 'What do you think, Moss?' " Pate said. "Whatever he said, we were going to go with it, and that was going to be the way we lose or that was going to be the way we win. I respected him that much, and I valued everything he said. There were times he'll tell me something and say just go with your gut. I still use this (saying) − your gut doesn't lie the vast majority of the times. A lot of that comes from Newell."
Moss had a day job at First National Bank of Central Alabama but coached as hard as every other assistant. Before retiring in 2016, Moss worked as early or late as needed to make practice and games.
He gave both Gordo and the bank the same level of commitment and attention to detail, said Ken Bailey, Moss' coworker and Gordo athletics alum.
"He had that quiet confidence about him back when we used to play ball," said Mike Driver, Gordo head coach before Pate and Moss' best friend. "He was like that coaching. When he said something, you might want to listen because he didn't say much."
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Moss was the most respected in the dugout because he coached Pate and every fellow assistant, except one who graduated before Moss joined.
Former Gordo baseball player and South Carolina football redshirt freshman quarterback Tanner Bailey described Moss' words as "spot-on."
"Great mentor to all the kids," Bailey said. "He played a huge impact in not only my on-the-field battles but also the mental state off the field with the mental battles you go through as an athlete."
Moss is a member of the Gordo High School Sports Hall of Fame and West Alabama Softball Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife Melba, daughter Wendy Wilson and three brothers.
Gordo (26-4) faces Hokes Bluff in the second round Friday and again Saturday, if necessary.
"The biggest motivation from coach Moss is you knew where you stood with him," said Gordo outfielder Kyson Pate, Jonathon Pate's son. "You knew how much time he put in to make you the player you developed to be. You got that feeling of knowing you have people behind you."
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: AHSAA baseball: Late assistant coach Newell Moss remembered by Gordo
