Junior Bailey enters his fourth season as head softball coach at Chowan.
During the 2025 season, Bailey led the Hawks to a 20-28 overall record and a 10-14 record in league play. This season marks the first trip to the Conference Carolinas Championships and the highest win total since 2019. Outfielder Mckenzie Misenheimer, led the Hawks with the highest batting average (.354), home runs (8), RBI (31), and stolen bases (28). Hailey Boone had a historical season recording her 150th strike out and being the first ever to throw a no-hitter in the Conference Carolinas Softball Championship. Additionally, 5 players would receive CSC Academic All-District Honors, with 17 making Conference Carolinas Presidential Spring Honor Roll.
In his second season, Bailey had three players named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. Haleigh Reid received a Conference Carolinas recognition at the conclusion of the season being named to the league's All-Defensive team.
During his first season, Bailey improved the win total by six games while stealing over 100 bases for the first time since 2014.
Bailey comes to Murfreesboro after spending six seasons at Barton (2017-2022) leading the Bulldogs to 123 victories. During the 2022 season, Bailey led the Bulldogs to their best season since 1994 with a 29-12 overall record and 15-8 record in Conference Carolinas record leading to a Conference Carolinas Quarterfinals appearance.
During his time at Barton, eight Bulldogs earned Conference Carolinas All-Conference honors, with several also garnering NCCSIA All-State recognition. In the 2021 season, he celebrated a major career milestone by securing hs 400th win as a collegiate softball coach.
Prior to his tenure at Barton, Bailey spent 10 years as the Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach at Pitt Community College (PCC) (2005-16). As PCC’s athletic director, Bailey provided oversight to the department and Pitt’s four sports – baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball – as well as leadership to more than 20 personnel members and 100 student-athletes. He was instrumental in adding men’s basketball as a sport.
While with PCC, Bailey notched 316 victories leading to three NJCAA National Softball Tournament appearances and three NJCAA Region X Tournament Championships. His efforts led to him being named Region X Coach of the Year three times.
Bailey coached eight PCC Bulldogs to NJCAA National Player of the Week honors as well as numerous all-region selections. In addition to finding success on the field, Bailey’s student-athletes also performed well in the classroom, posting a team grade point average of 3.0 or greater every season of his tenure.
Prior to his stint at PCC, he spent a very successful decade teaching and coaching in the Pitt County Schools system. During that time, he achieved a high school softball record of 101-16 and a middle school record of 75-9. One of his high school teams reached the third round of the state playoffs, the best showing in that program’s history.
Before starting his coaching career, he served in the United States Naval Reserves as a hospital corpsman. Bailey has spent time as a part-time youth minister at Bethel Baptist Church.
Bailey has served as the coaches chair for the Conference Carolinas and Region X. On several occasions, Bailey has been the Tournament Director for Region X Softball and Volleyball. Bailey uses his knowledge of the game to lead softball skills clinics in Southeast Asia and umpiring showcase tournaments with the Amateur Softball Association (ASA).
The Raleigh, N.C. native holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from East Carolina University, and has taken part in Leadership Institutes through both PCC and the NJCAA. Bailey is married to Laurie with three sons: Walker, Matthew, Garrett and they reside in Stokes, N.C.
