Sellers Dubberley guided Montgomery Catholic to its first volleyball state championship in program history and earned a spot the championship match each of the past two seasons.

During a spring meeting with administration officials, Dubberly was told the school was looking “for a better fit” and he was fired.

“That’s all I was told,” said Dubberley, who moved across town to take over the Brewbaker Tech volleyball program.

A demanding coach, Dubberley’s methods ruffled feathers with some in the program.

“Obviously we went to the final four and won three out of the four years he was the coach,” said Montgomery Catholic athletic director Daniel Veres. “But you know, we just wanted to make a change in the way the program was being run and the relationship that our kids in our community had with the coaches.

“His time here ran its course. He’s a little harsh. He’s, well, he’s too harsh. It kind of got to the point where we just couldn’t. That’s not how we wanted our kids to be treated. Win or lose, winning is great, but you still got to do the things that we want.”

Dubberley coached the Knights four seasons and has a 193-52 career record in seven years, including three previous seasons at AISA Edgewood Academy. In addition to winning the Class 4A title last year, Montgomery Catholic lost the Class 3A title match in 2021, failed to make it out of the area tournament in 2020 and lost in the championship tournament semifinal round in 2019.

“I’m glad that he got what he got,” Veres said. “I helped him get another job and that’s great. I appreciate everything he did, but we just we just needed to go in a different direction.”

Dubberley, whose wife Sarah coaches at Trinity, is excited about the opportunity at Class 5A Brewbaker Tech. The couple have three young sons and the school is closer to home.

“The potential, as far as the athletes, they have the ability, and for me to push myself as a coach, moving up in classification,” Dubberley said. “I wanted to push myself and I knew Brew Tech has the talent to compete with a lot of the stronger schools in their classification. It seemed to have all the pieces that I could want. I thought it would make me better as a coach.

“If I can do my job, I think we can be successful early on.”

Dubberley is one of many changes at the head coaching position for state programs with Jenn Denham taking over at Montgomery Catholic. She was an assistant to her father David Fall at Missouri’s Sacred Heart where the team earned consecutive trips to the state finals. Fall will now assist his daughter at Montgomery Catholic.

Other notable changes include veteran coach Karen Atkins leaving Gulf Shores to take the Orange Beach job while former Northridge coach Ryan Gravlee moves to Gulf Shores. Northridge assistant Danielle Stephenson will assume the top spot.

Karie Striplin leaves her alma mater of Dale County to take over at Dothan while former Athens and Bob Jones coach April Marsh is new to Brooks this season.

In other volleyball news:

Veteran Pleasant Valley coach Dana Bryant plans to retire following this season. Bryant led the Raiders to the Class 2A championship match last season before losing to Donoho.

Bryant has coached for 24 seasons at Pleasant Valley, including the past 17 years as volleyball head coach with a career record of 519-265.

In addition to reaching last year’s championship, the Raiders also won to the 2010 Class 2A title match before falling to Cottage Hill. Pleasant Valley earned a spot in the Elite 8 championship tournament eight times in her career with four trips to the Final Four along with 15 area titles.

See the list below for this season’s new coaches.

Volleyball coaching changes (previous school)

Altamont: Sandreika Floyd (first year)

Ardmore: Callie Giles

Bayshore Christian: Brooke Beatty

Belgreen: Julianna Potts

Brewbaker Tech: Sellers Dubberley (Montgomery Catholic)

Briarwood: Carly Cline

Brooks: April Marsh

Cedar Bluff: Deidra Cox

Central-Clay County: Hayden Hodson

Citronelle: Carmen Byrd

Cullman: Katelyn Quigg

Curry: Anna Claire Harris (Curry assistant)

Davidson: Kaitlyn Brannon

Decatur Heritage: Kayla Miller

Dothan: Karie Striplin (Dale County)

Fairhope: Daniel Kalmar (Mary G. Montgomery assistant)

Faith Christian: Avery Gowens

Florala: David Bass

Foley: Metta Christensen (Foley assistant)

Gaylesville: Kaylee Brannon (Cedar Bluff assistant)

Gulf Shores: Ryan Gravlee (Northridge)

Hackleburg: Lanice White

Hayden: Anthony Reid

Helena: Amanda Livingston (Tuscaloosa County)

Hueytown: Jada Reese

James Clemens: Genesis Taylor

Leeds: Lynette Tidwell

Montgomery Catholic: Jenn Denham (Assistant, Sacred Heart, Mo.)

North Jackson: Melissa Brown

Northridge: Danielle Stephenson (Northridge assistant)

Orange Beach: Karen Atkins (Gulf Shores)

Phillips: Mitzi Hyde

Red Bay: Elizabeth Scott

Russell County: Alana Spiece

Russellville: Will White

Theodore: Anna Hanson

Thomasville: Chelsea Smoker

Tuscaloosa Academy: Hannah O’Barr

Weaver: Eboney Lewis (Weaver assistant)

White Plains: Jamie Clendenin (Sylacauga)