Scott Nickerson
Elmore Autauga News
Stanhope Elmore’s Austin Moncus recently won his 100th career game as a head coach. Moncus is in his 2nd season with the Mustangs, and 7th season overall. He was the head basketball coach for five seasons at Chilton County prior to coming to Stanhope Elmore. His career record is 103-79.
“Being a head coach is an extremely tough job,” said Moncus. “It’s something that is hard to explain to someone until they actually sit in that chair. There are so many decisions to be made, schedules to be made, and people to communicate with. Being a head coach is much less about the X’s and O’s and much more about organization, and relationships with your players.”
In 2023 Moncus led the Chilton County Tigers to the Sweet 16 in Class 6A. He cited the 1st round playoff victory over Helena as one of the most memorable victories of his career, in which the Tigers made 11 three point shots to go along with 4 lob dunks.
Moncus has also coached against several excellent teams during his 7 year-career to include a Benjamin Russell team that featured current Auburn wide receiver Malcom Simmons, UAB wide receiver Corri Milner, Cederian Morgan, an Alabama commit, and two other players that went on to play basketball in junior college. Chilton County’s basketball team also featured Demarcus Riddick, a current linebacker at Auburn University. Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze and Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart both came to watch the game featuring multiple elite athletes.
But being the head coach to a team full of teenagers is more than just wins and losses.
“My favorite part of being a head coach is the relationships with the guys. Winning games is a lot of fun, but the lifelong relationship with the players is the best part of it. Just to see them grow up and be good men and productive members of society. I have really enjoyed my time so far at Stanhope. I have loved living in the same town as I coach. I have had all the guys over to the house to eat and watch games.”
The Mustangs finished with a winning record at 14-13 in Moncus’ first season at Stanhope Elmore, and they currently have six wins on the season. He is hopeful that the Mustangs will develop into a program that consistently produces strong teams and strong young men.
“Millbrook does a pretty good job of getting kids ready to compete at an early age. Mr. Bill Myers at the YMCA does a really good job of running a youth basketball program. We also have a couple AAU teams that our guys play on so they are playing a lot of basketball. The Millbrook community also does a great job of supporting these kids every time we have a home game,” said Moncus.
Moncus also cited several goals he has as a head coach in addition to wins and losses. “My goal is to help guys become good, God fearing young men that can go out into the world and make it a better place. Guys that can go out and be good dads and good husbands. That’s the most important thing to us as a staff. But winning is hard and takes time to understand how.
