If you have the opportunity to speak with new Weston baseball coach Joey Kemp’s for just a few minutes it is easy to see that he is a traditional kind of guy. He will tell you that his decision to become a coach in the first place came from wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps. He will also explain his desire to be the baseball coach at Weston was because he relishes the opportunity to rekindle the school’s glory days of the past. What do you get when you combine a family tradition with a school’s tradition? The answer is a young man eager to begin a new tradition of excellence on the diamond at a place where traditional values are held in high esteem.
Kemp was a three-time all state infielder at Class 4A, Live Oak High School located just outside of Denham Springs, LA where he played for his father and legendary prep coach Warren “Fuzzy” Kemp. After playing for Baton Rouge Community College for two years he earned his college degree at the University of Louisiana-Monroe in 2005.
That led to a series of assistant baseball coaching jobs over the next nine years at some of the more prominent programs in north Louisiana such as St. Frederick’s High in Monroe, West Ouachita and Many High. His first head coaching job was in 2016 at fellow district 2B competitor Simsboro where he stayed until 2019. It was also there that he met his wife Haley, who is the daughter of Choudrant High School softball coach, Wayne Antley and niece of Choudrant head baseball coach, Tony Antley. Did anyone mention anything about family tradition?
“I was fortunate to be raised by a coach who preached traditional values of earning what you get through hard work and determination and to work under some great coaches who did the same,” said Kemp. “I am looking forward to teaching these same values to my players so that we will not only be a good baseball team but so they will be prepared for what is ahead of them after they graduate.”
Kemp is not only excited about coaching the Wolves next year he is especially looking forward to having his father, who is now retired after a legendary prep career, being alongside.
“It was special to be able to play for my father as not many can say they had that experience,” reflects Kemp. “To be able to coach with him is something I could have only dreamed of.”
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