This is an opinion piece.

If you have followed high school sports in Alabama for any length of time, you likely know the name Rubin Grant.

Grant wrote high school sports stories for the Birmingham Post-Herald for 25 years and has continued to write in recent years as a freelance journalist.

Rubin was a mentor for me.

More than that, he was a friend.

He died unexpectedly earlier this week at the age of 67.

His stories were written with a genuine honesty and a desire to shine a positive light on young people in a world that too often can be challenging, cruel and critical for any age.

His stories affected people.

I witnessed that first hand on one humorous occasion.

Rubin and I were together probably three decades ago, both covering a regional basketball tournament at Jacksonville State. The Altamont boys were playing and leading big. I can’t recall the opponent.

During a timeout, one of the Altamont boys walked over to press row and spoke to Rubin. He said, “Mr. Grant, I really admire your work.”

I thought, “Wow. Now that is really something. A young man in the middle of a basketball game taking time to reach out to a high school sports writer and say something nice.”

That was a testament to Rubin and not just to his work. Even more, it was a testament to the person people knew behind the computer.

The story took a humorous turn almost immediately, but not for Altamont. The opponent started a big scoring run and ultimately won the game going away as I recall.

I made sure to remind Rubin frequently during the game that everything changed after he was complimented.

“10-0 run since he admired your work,” I would tell him.

“17-2 since the admiration,” I piled on.

It became a joke we shared for many years, greeting each other often with, “I admire your work.”

Rubin was much more than a great journalist. He also was a licensed Baptist Minister unafraid to share the Gospel or his love for Jesus with anyone he encountered. I received his weekly devotionals and relished every word.

Rubin and I hadn’t talked a lot in recent years, but he texted me just last week to congratulate me on winning the Herby Kirby Award and express his condolences for my granddaughter. He told me he encountered some health problems in September and had missed my column on Baby Maxi’s death. Again, as always, he offered encouragement.

“She’s where we want to be – with Jesus,” he wrote me.

I didn’t know that less than two weeks later, Rubin would be with Jesus as well. I’m comforted in knowing his life was incredibly well lived and is being rewarded in Heaven even as I write this column.

After his initial text, Rubin came back with one more thought.

“And yes, I admire your work.”

That hits different about right now.

Rest easy, my friend. Thanks for the countless lives you impacted through your journalism, through your ministries and through your friendship.

New leader for Gators

Satsuma has promoted Thomas James to lead its varsity baseball program. The school announced the news on social media earlier this week.

James, a former University of Mobile player, spent the last two years as an assistant coach at Satsuma.

“I’m excited and blessed for this opportunity to continue the success that this program has traditionally seen,” James said in a release. “Continuing a culture of excellence is a top priority of mine. I am excited to develop these student athletes into great young men on and off the field. We will strive to hold a standard that our student athletes will carry with them throughout all aspects of their life.”

Other coaching News

Earlier this week, Foley High named Metta Christensen as the school’s first female athletic director. Christensen replaces Deric Scott in the role. Scott remains the school’s head football coach. Baldwin County Schools separated the roles of head football coach and AD into two positions. Christensen recently served as the Lions’ volleyball coach and assistant AD. She is a member of both the Foley High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Baldwin County High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Justin Whitsett is the new head football coach at Washington County High.

Ronnie Driver has been named head boys basketball coach at Oakman High.

Leeds hired John London as new girls basketball coach.

Former St. Paul’s star Jared Holloway has joined the Spanish Fort football staff as tight ends coach.

Former Gordo head coach Gus Smith has joined the Daphne High football staff to coach linebackers.

Former player Jett Smith has returned to Wellborn as an assistant football coach. The 2021 graduate also will be an assistant track coach.

Oak Mountain named Keegan McQueen as the school’s new boys head soccer coach.

Last chance

Football coaches, today is the deadline to fill out the survey we sent two weeks ago. Thanks to everyone who has filled it out already.

If you are a head football coach in Alabama and didn’t receive one, email me today at bthomas@al.com, and I’ll get you one.

May God continue to bless you all.

Thought for the Week

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” — Oswald Chambers.

Ben Thomas is the high school managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at bthomas@al.com.