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James Moody was born Jan. 28, 1967 in Montgomery. Moody graduated from Trinity Presbyterian High School as a pitcher and led his team to the 1985 State Championship, while playing for Coach Ken Whittle. He was a two-time Class 1A Player of the Year with an overall record of 28-2.

He went on to pitch for Huntington College in Montgomery where he graduated in 1989. His senior year, he earned Second Team All-American (1989) and 1989 Southern States Conference Player of the Year. During his college career, he was first in career saves, second in career wins and strikeouts and was top five in career ERA and innings pitched. He was drafted in the 39th round in 1989 by the New York Yankees, ahead of notable players such as Jorge Posada.

James was named head baseball coach at Demopolis High School in 1994 and has been head coach for 24 years. Over that span he posted 444 career wins, 24 postseason appearances, 20 area championships, four elite eights, three final fours, a state runner-up and a state championship.

In 2005, his team won the Class 4A Baseball State Championship after finishing as the 2004 runner-up. He is a two-time Alabama Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year. He has had three players drafted in the MLB Draft and one player to play in the big leagues. Coach Moody had 28 players to be named All-State and 45 players signed college scholarships.

James Moody has not only had a great impact on the game of baseball itself, but on the lives of many young men who have played under his tutelage for almost three decades. Coach Moody has been more than a coach, he has been a mentor and friend, as well as a father figure to his players and assistant coaches.

Coach Moody’s philosophy was always grounded in the belief that “Humility is the Answer,” hence the wristband worn by his players, “HITA.” He taught his players to be humble in both losing and winning. Many coaches have their own version of “the process,” and over many years Moody has developed “his” process which the players are required to learn and repeat every year, which is: “Love every day, serve every day, compete every day, never quit, HITA.” Coach James Moody is a member of the Alabama High School Baseball Coaches Association and has served in various capacities over the years with the AlaBCA.

Coach Moody was also an assistant football coach for 27 years. The teams amassed an overall record of 271-90 and a 145-22 record in the Region. During his tenure as an assistant football coach Demopolis High School won two state championships, Class 4A in 2004, and Class 5A in 2009.

James is married to Kathy Bradley Moody and is blessed to have two stepdaughters, Elizabeth and Lauren and three grandchildren, Cole, Anna Bradley and Price. After serving Demopolis City Schools as a coach for 28 years, Coach Moody retired from coaching the game of baseball and all his other coaching duties and is a member of First Baptist Church in Demopolis.