Jeff Treadway

have a normal life. I shied away from publicity. In some ways I didn’ t feel comfortable with it. It never was that important to me.”

What was important, said Treadway, was being able to go home and wet a hook if he wanted. Playing in the World Series was a special time, said Treadway, and he never gets tired of people asking him about it. But it’ s in the past.

“ That was a short period of my life,” said Treadway,“ There are not that many people who recognize me or knew my career anymore now.”

It also helps, said Treadway, that he’ s doing what he loves, coaching softball( and formerly baseball) at Stratford. Treadway has led the Eagles to three state softball titles and their first baseball championship in 13 years. To his girls, he’ s not a dashing former Brave, but instead, he laughs,“ they look at you like

Treadway said he’ d rather be fishing or hunting than watching baseball these days.

you’ re an old man. But they’ re eager to learn.”

His faith also helps. A member of Ingleside Baptist Church, Treadway said he knows as a Christian that being famous doesn’ t mean that much.“ It shouldn’ t be and it’ s not what’ s most important.”

What is important, said Treadway, is family. He has two grown children, Ben, 23, who lives in Milledgeville, and Alden is a senior at Ole Miss. His wife Mollye, works at Stratford as well and has two daughters of her own.

Treadway said he really enjoys the outstanding families at Stratford. With his son out of school, Treadway was able to move closer to Stratford, building a home on Estes Road. He built the home himself, including a pond and an outdoor home theater system that acts as a sort of“ man cave” in the back.

While he doesn’ t dwell on the past, neither is Treadway done with Braves baseball. Last year he co-hosted about 70 post-game shows on the radio after home games with Lemke and former pitching coach Leo Mazzone.“ That about killed me,” joked Treadway.

While the schedule and travel were tough, he said he really enjoyed it and wouldn’ t mind doing it again. As for this year’ s Braves? Treadway said they still need a couple of dominant pitchers to have a chance, and with recent injuries it’ s not looking good.

But the Braves are not his focus( he only watches when he has time). Mostly, he enjoys coaching softball and being at home in Monroe County with his wife and step-daughters. Does he see himself coaching a long time? He hopes so, noting that at a small private school a coach can really make a difference in a kid’ s life.

“ I hope I’ m doing this until I retire,” said Treadway.“ I’ m home every night, spending good family time together. This is what I’ m going to be doing.”