Jay’s new baseball coach is a familiar face.
Jorey Diamond, a longtime coach at Jay for multiple sports, will return to the diamond for the third time at the helm of the Royals’ baseball team, according to a press release that came from the school on June 23. Diamond takes over for Duane Raley, who left the position after three years, including a Class 1A state championship in 2024.
Diamond was last with the baseball team as head coach back in 2019, but did serve as an assistant in between head coaching stints. According to the release from Jay High, Diamond will stay on as the head coach of the girls basketball team in the winter. He’s also been an assistant coach for the football team under head coach Brian Watson.
“For the last three years or so, until last season, I’ve had three sports that I’ve coached. I took a break this past year. … It does keep you busy but it is rewarding, too, because you get to build a lot of close relationships with everybody. That’s really what coaching is all about, and that’s what gets me excited to get up and do it every day,” Diamond told the PNJ. “Jay’s home to me, and it’s an important part of my life. Anything I could do to help out and continue the legacy of Jay baseball, I’m more than happy to do it. I’m excited.”
Diamond is a “familiar and respected figure” in Jay athletics, bringing a “wealth of experience, passion and commitment to student-athlete development,” the release said. Diamond is a Jay alum who played sports while he was a Royal himself.
“We’re excited to have Coach Diamond back at the helm of our baseball team,” Jay High principal Benjie West said in the release. “His leadership on and off the field is invaluable, and we’re confident he’ll continue to build on our proud legacy.”
Jay’s baseball team is fresh off a 17-13 season that ended in the Region 1-Rural finals against Holmes County, falling in both Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-three series at the Blue Devils. The Royals claimed their second straight district title during the year, as well, topping rival Central, 14-2.
The Royals did graduate a good number of key players from this past season, including Brady Godwin, Hayden Morris and Grayson Shehan. The first two being utility players that were used all over the field, while Shehan was a mainstay outfielder.
Jay should have back a couple big returners, however, including Jax Lowery and Landon Golden, who was the 2024 PNJ Pitcher of the Year after the state championship run.
“The kids we have out there, they’re all good kids and have good parents. We have a good community behind them, so I’m just excited to be part of it again,” Diamond said. “I’ve back a background with some of the kids and I know their capabilities. I’ve watched them play and have seen the success they’ve had the last couple years.”
Diamond’s return to the baseball field marks at least the third known coaching change for Pensacola area baseball teams. Justin Raley crossed county lines and joined Northview, while Cory Middleton was promoted to head coach at Pensacola Catholic following the retirement of longtime bench boss Richard LaBounty.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Jay baseball brings back Jorey Diamond as head coach of Royals entering 2026 season
Reporting by Ben Grieco, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
