Former Auburn University baseball coach Steve Renfroe has laid low in the baseball world since being let go by his alma mater in 2004. But last week, it was announced he will be back in the dugout as head coach of the Class 5A runner-up Briarwood Lions.

Renfroe, 51, replaces Lee Hall, who resigned on June 11 after six years with the school, five as head coach.

Hall, who led Briarwood to a school-record for most wins in a season in 2005 and 2009, said he plans to take the year off from coaching to spend time with his family.

Renfroe comes to the Lions from Houston, Texas, where he worked in sports ministry at Second Baptist Church for the past year.

“It’s been very emotional because these people are wonderful,” Renfroe said. “It’s been a tough decision … gut wrenching.”

Renfroe said he was contacted in recent weeks to see if he was interested in making the move back to Alabama. He moved to Houston last year from Auburn, where he’d lived the previous 32 years.

He said he was not looking to get back into full-time coaching, but the overall package offered by Briarwood Christian Superintendent Barrett Mosbacker was attractive. In addition to varsity baseball coach, Renfroe will serve as the assistant director of alumni development and the director of athletic outreach and coach development.

“I love teaching the game, getting to work with kids and high school guys and using baseball as a platform to share Christ and, hopefully, disciple,” Renfroe said. “We love Alabama and have always really liked Birmingham.”

Renfroe, who served 20 years as Auburn’s assistant coach and posted a 145-92 record in five seasons as head coach, said he will coach the Lions the same way he has always coached. He and his wife Pam have three dauthers: Katie Joy, Laura Grace and Ann.