BIRMINGHAM — Danny Welborn may be a Good Hope High coach, but he’s in the stands every time the Cold Springs girls basketball team takes the floor.

The Raiders golf coach has rarely missed a game this decade.

Welborn sweats out every possession. Analyzes every move.

And whenever possible, the hall of famer gives the Eagles’ coach a little constructive criticism.

But he’s earned that right. Actually, the former Good Hope boys coach inherited it.

Eagles coach Tammy West is his daughter, after all.

Since West took over the girls basketball program at Cold Springs in the early 1990s, Welborn has watched his daughter become one of the most respected prep basketball coaches in the state.

Five Cullman County championships, a 372-117 overall record and a 67-2 mark during the last two seasons.

Two state titles since 1999, which includes last season’s Class 2A crown.

Four appearances in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Final 48 — formerly known as the Final Four.

And today, West will be playing for her third state championship this decade.

“She’s had more success than I ever thought about having,” said Welborn, who compiled 347 career wins at Good Hope and Meek. “Shoot, Tammy’s already won more games than me — in a lot less time.”

Welborn can’t say he didn’t see it coming. The former Raiders coach knew his daughter would be a success after she got her first gig.

How is that? Cold Springs had never won a county championship before 1996, much less a state title.

“It’s because she was willing to work hard at building a program,” Welborn said. “She just puts so much time into everything she does. It’s unbelievable.”

Well, that’s only part of the story. The rest begins at the Welborn house in 1992.

That’s when West — Tammy Welborn at the time — became the head girls basketball coach at Cold Springs.

Living under Welborn’s roof, West was constantly picking her dad’s brain about basketball. And when she finished with her father, it was time to talk roundball with little brother, John.

There was never a dull moment in the Welborn house — if you loved basketball, of course.

At the time, it just seemed like good conversation between father and daughter. West soaked up all the basketball knowledge possible, and her father enjoyed every second of it.

And that’s how a legend was born.

“She was always asking for my advice,” Welborn said. “We were always talking basketball.”

Welborn’s kids have moved out now, but talking basketball is still a big part of their lives — especially since Tammy and John have both pursued coaching careers.

“Oh yeah, we still do the same thing today,” Welborn said. “Tammy’s always coming to me, John or Patrick (West), asking us for our opinion.

“The way I see it, she’s the coach and we’re spectators. We’ll make observations and offer advice based on what we’ve seen. It’s her decision on whether or not to use that advice. Sometimes she will, and then there are times when she doesn’t. And more times than not, she makes the right decision.”

As a former coach, Welborn understands the magnitude of what his daughter has accomplished at Cold Springs.

And when the top-ranked Eagles play No. 2 Ider for the Class 2A state title today at 4 p.m., Welborn will probably be the most nervous person at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

“Shoot, I’m already a nervous wreck,” he said. “And I’ll be even worse (Thursday). But when it’s game time, I’ll be up there in stands yelling and screaming louder than anyone else.

“You can bet on that.”

‰ Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257 or by e-mail at jgraves@cullmantimes.com.