Thorsby’s Corey Clements is the The Clanton Advertiser’s Coach of the Year after leading the Rebels to a successful season that included their first appearance in the county basketball tournament in 17 years, but Clements takes little, if any, of the credit.

“I want to give all the glory to God,” Clements said. “I’ve been blessed with the people in my life and with the opportunities.”

Clements then listed the people that have helped in his four years as Thorsby’s basketball coach:

de facto team doctor Kris Wood, who attends each practice and game.

Chilton County coach Donnie Hand, who was a childhood neighbor and who provides strategy suggestions.

former Thorsby coach Randy Kelley, the namesake of a drill the Rebels run each practice.

wife Erin, who runs the concession stand during games.

and, of course, the players themselves.

Clements has spent 17 years at Thorsby—six years as a player and 11 years as a coach—so he said he believes his teams have a responsibility to represent the school well.

“I never had to worry about the kind of effort we were going to get,” Clements said about the 2008 team.