Dwayne Suggs named to lead Deerfield-Windsor softball

LEESBURG — After nearly two decades leading one of Southwest Georgia’s most successful softball programs, Dwayne Suggs felt it was finally time for a new challenge.

Now, the longtime Lee County coach is heading across town.

Earlier this month, Suggs announced his retirement from the Lee County School System, and Deerfield-Windsor officially named him the new head coach of the Lady Knights softball program.

For Suggs, the move marks the beginning of a new chapter after spending 18 years in Leesburg building the Lee County program into a consistent winner.

“Sometimes you change and things around you change, so it is a good time to move,” Suggs said. “I will always be a Lee County Trojan at heart, but I am looking forward to this move.”

Suggs leaves Lee County after winning 270 games and spending the final 13 years as the Lady Trojans’ head coach. During his tenure, Lee County developed into one of the area’s premier softball programs while earning a reputation for discipline, competitiveness and player development.

Now, Suggs inherits a Deerfield-Windsor program looking to rebuild and regain momentum.

“I understand the Deerfield-Windsor team has been down recently, so I don’t expect to go in there and win every game to start,” Suggs said. “From what I know, there are a lot of young players that I will get a chance to work with and help guide and grow. I think the first goal should be to get to .500 and move on from there.”

Suggs said he is grateful for the opportunity to join the Deerfield-Windsor community.

“I am so thankful for this opportunity,” Suggs said. “I want to personally thank headmaster Allen Lowe, athletic director Rod Murray and the new lower school leader Kristen Pearce for giving me this opportunity. I can’t wait to be a part of the Deerfield-Windsor family.”

In announcing the hire, Deerfield-Windsor praised Suggs’ experience and long track record of developing athletes both on and off the field.

Coach Suggs brings nearly two decades of coaching experience in Southwest Georgia, including 19 years with the Lee County softball program and 17 years coaching baseball at multiple levels. He also previously served as head varsity baseball coach at Crisp Academy and Terrell Academy.

Off the field, Suggs’ ties to Deerfield-Windsor already run deep. His wife, Betty Suggs, is a Deerfield-Windsor graduate from the Class of 1986. The couple has two sons, Matthew and Andrew, along with three grandchildren — Olivia, Karter and Emma.

Meanwhile, Lee County quickly moved to fill the vacancy by naming former Lady Trojan standout Hannah Spencer as the school’s new head varsity softball coach.

Spencer, a Lee County graduate, played under legendary coach Lynn Avery before continuing her softball career at Darton College, where her team finished fifth nationally in the NJCAA National Championship tournament.

According to Lee County officials, Spencer brings more than 12 years of coaching experience and is known for emphasizing player development, discipline, teamwork and leadership.

“She is especially passionate about building female leaders and creating a positive team culture that empowers student-athletes both on and off the field,” the school said in a statement.

The coaching changes mark the end of one era for Lee County softball and the beginning of another — while also giving Deerfield-Windsor a veteran coach hoping to restore the Lady Knights program one step at a time.