CHULA – The past five baseball seasons at Tiftarea Academy has seen many different players that have taken the field under the same ball coach. This upcoming season, however, it will be under the direction of another coach.

 Brad Porter, who has led Tiftarea to the state playoffs in four of his five seasons as head coach in Chula, including a state runner-up finish in 2014 and two Region 3-AAA titles, resigned to accept the head coach position at Valdosta High School early last week.

 Porter will take over the Wildcats program from Bart Shuman, who is retiring after 20 years with the team.

 “It’s truly an honor — what a great opportunity — I appreciate that you think that I would be a great fit, but I’m happy at Tiftarea.” Porter said before accepting the Valdosta position.

 With no intentions to move anywhere, a whirlwind started to take place in a short period of time in the next few days when things started to take shape.

 From meetings with various board members to talking with baseball parents, Porter finally had to make a very difficult decision.

 “Tiftarea has truly been a blessing to me, and my family, especially my son who goes here,” Porter said, “I also want to thank (former headmaster) Diane Womack for believing in giving me an opportunity to coach and mentor kids in the classroom and on the field.”

 Taking over for a baseball coach of Shuman’s caliber will be tough.

Besides his long stint at Valdosta, Shuman won the 1988 Georgia High School Association Class AA championship with a Berrien squad that finished 31-0. With the Wildcats, Shuman won three region titles, according to the Valdosta Wildcat Baseball website, reaching the final four in 2008. Four teams of Shuman’s played in the final four.

Valdosta High was also home in 2017 to first round Major League draft pick D.L. Hall.

Porter said his coaching philosophy will not change at his new position, and that he just wants to continue to grow young men through the game of baseball.

Porter started his coaching career prior to being the Panthers head coach at Madison County (Fla.) where he spent four seasons, and a seven-year stay at Coffee High before taking the Tiftarea position.

Along the way, Porter has won 350 games as a head coach.

Establishing relationships with players is one of the most important things that Porter holds on to now.

“I don’t remember the teams that we beat for the 200th win or the 300th, but I do remember the players off of those teams, and remember the types of kids they are.” Porter said.

 Although Porter has brought many successes on and off the field at Tiftarea, he looks to continue to move the storied Valdosta club forward.

 It’s more than coaching for Porter. Being in a business of molding and growing young men through the game of baseball is of the most importance to him.

 Tiftarea has not named a replacement head baseball coach at this time. His successor will inherit Porter’s team that reached the Georgia Independent School Association elite eight in 2017 despite not having any seniors on the roster. All players are expected to return for 2018.