As one of the most successful high school baseball programs in Texas, Georgetown High School is privileged to have these coaches as mentors for our Eagle Baseball players.

David Durell, Head Coach

Coach Durell is entering his 8th year coaching at Georgetown High School and his 17th year in teaching and coaching overall. He teaches math and is stepping into his first year as the head baseball coach.

Before joining the GHS staff, Coach Durell spent six years at East View High School. Prior to that, he was the Head Baseball Coach at Emory Rains High School. He holds a BS in Kinesiology and a Master’s in Education from Tarleton State University. While at Tarleton, he was a four-year letterman on the Texan football team. Coach Durell is a 2003 graduate of Odessa Permian High School, where he earned two letters each in both football and baseball.

Coach Durell is married to his beautiful wife, Emily.

Chad Payne, Assistant Coach

Coach Payne is in his fifth year with the Georgetown Eagle Baseball Program.  His primary role will be working with pitchers and catchers.  Coach Payne graduated from Portales HS, NM, and then received his BS in math at Eastern New Mexico University.

He has 31 years of experience coaching HS baseball, having head baseball coaching stops at Clovis NM, Houston Memorial, and Katy Seven Lakes, amassing a 300-224 career record as a head coach.  His last coaching stop was at Lubbock Monterey as the pitching program coordinator before moving to Georgetown to be closer to children and grandchildren.

He feels very blessed to be married to Amy.  He has a wonderful daughter Ashton, married to Trevor Moore with 2 grandsons, Latham and Levi.  He also has a son Cy that he is extremely proud of, married to Brittney with granddaughters Emrys and Quinnly.

James Key, Assistant Coach

Coach Key is in his second year with Georgetown baseball after spending four years coaching baseball and football at Cedar Ridge High School.  A proud alum of Round Rock High School, Coach Key attended Tarleton State University and majored in Kinesiology and History.  Coach Key played football and baseball at Round Rock High School and continued with football while at Tarleton.

Coach Key proudly calls Georgetown home and is excited for the baseball season.  Coach Key and his wife have two beautiful children, Enzo and Lexi, and share their home with two labs.

J.J. Slack, Assistant Coach

Coach J.J. Slack joins the Georgetown High School baseball staff after a multi-sport career at Liberty High School and collegiate playing experience at Southwestern University and Kansas State University. A four-year letterman in football, baseball, basketball, track, and golf, Slack earned multiple All-District honors and was recognized as both Defensive Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year in baseball.

His collegiate experience, including pitching at the Big 12 level, fuels his passion for player development, discipline, and teamwork. Coach Slack brings high energy and a competitive edge to the Eagles program, focusing on fundamentals, pitching, and leadership both on and off the field.