Tammy West knows there are moments in life when you simply have to take a leap of faith.

Arriving at those proverbial forks in the road can oftentimes be unexpected, and the burden of choosing which path to follow is rarely cut and dry, as the longtime Cold Springs coach found out when a recent opportunity — one that would mark substantial change — presented itself.

But after much thought, she ultimately decided to embrace that challenge.

West officially became the new varsity girls basketball coach at Cullman — that hiring met with unanimous approval from the Cullman City Schools Board of Education on Monday — and will now command a different program for the first time in her storied coaching career. She succeeds Jessica McBrayer, who stepped down this month following two seasons at the helm.

“I’m excited to get started and do something different,” West said in a phone interview with The Times on Sunday. “I read somewhere that the only way you can continue to grow is if you step out of your comfort zone. I felt it was time. It’s an exciting opportunity to take everything I’ve learned at Cold Springs and apply it at a new place with new people and new challenges.”

Blue and Gold no doubt fans had a front-row seat as West crafted her sensational résumé with the school.

In 33 seasons at Cold Springs, the three-time Class 2A Coach of the Year netted four state titles, 25 area championships and seven county crowns. She also reached eight Final Fours, 25 Sweet 16s and 14 Elite Eights on the way to a 754-249 record.

Perhaps West’s most praiseworthy attribute is her consistency in an ever-changing sport that demands evolution and versatility in the face of perpetual roster turnover.

There’s no doubt she’s handled those challenges well, as evidenced by 23 seasons of 20-plus victories — against just three below .500 — since her debutant 1992-93 campaign.

Those accomplishments, however, are easily outdone by the memories made along the way.

“Every one of my former players has played a part in my journey to where I am right now,” said West, who is sixth on the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s all-time varsity girls wins list, according to AHSFHS.org. “Hopefully, I played a small part in where they are right now, too. I know I’ve received some wonderful texts from them. It wasn’t about basketball or wins and losses … it was about the love and trust we all gained for each other. Those are lifelong relationships and I appreciate them for allowing me to be a small part of their lives.”

The final decision to depart Cold Springs, a place West coached all three of her daughters and has proudly called home for three-plus decades, is one she did not reach easily.

She fully admitted the days that followed her acceptance of the new gig were tough and emotional.

“It’s bittersweet because I’ve shared 33 years of my life with Cold Springs,” West said. “It’s the only teaching and coaching job I’ve ever had. It’s not easy to say goodbye to this place, because it’s shaped me as a coach and as a person. All the years have been filled with countless memories with former players, colleagues and members of the community — and that’s been a significant part of my life. This change brings a lot of excitement and it’s a great opportunity, but it also comes with a sense of loss with what I’m leaving behind.

“When I started at Cold Springs, I didn’t start with the intention of being a coach. I was a teacher, but I had to do what the principal said, and because my last name was Welborn (Tammy’s dad, Danny, coached Good Hope’s varsity boys from 1974-94), they made me a coach … and I just have to thank God for that. I couldn’t have imagined what that journey would be like at that time. So much of that has made me who I am today.”

And though West at one point thought she’d always remain at Cold Springs, she believes in her heart the decision to go to Cullman is the right move to make at this stage in life.

“There’s no good time to ever leave … and I always wondered what it would look like,” West said. “But I think everything we’ve done at Cold Springs is going to live on and continue. The culture there, and the passion and commitment to basketball is going to continue long after I step away. I’ve always told my girls, students and players to do things the right way and everything will come out the way it should be if you follow that simple concept and live by your integrity. I also told the girls I expected to see them in the Final Four next year, and if they are, I’ll be there.

“Even though I’m moving on to a new chapter, a piece of my heart is always going to be there. I’ll forever be a Cold Springs fan, but it’s time. I’m forever grateful our family got to be part of Cold Springs. I’m so proud that I got to coach my girls … I wouldn’t have wanted them anywhere else.”

West now takes over a Bearcats program that reached its first Sweet 16 since 2014 last season.

Cullman lost just three seniors off that team and will return several playmakers, including Molly Dorough, Molly Wilson, Kadence Hanback and Rachel Hoffman.

West knows it ultimately falls on her to continue shaping that talent, and she plans to accomplish that task the same way she has countless times throughout a Hall of Fame career.

“They are young student-athletes who are eager to work, and they want someone to push them, and they want to be successful,” West said. “A lot isn’t going to change for me. As soon as I can get started coaching them, we are going to work hard and pick up where they left off this past season. I want them to believe they can go any further (than the Sweet 16). For me, it’s about believing in each other, believing in yourself, and being coachable. It all goes back to being passionate about basketball and knowing that if it’s coming too easy, then you aren’t doing it right. Hopefully, the girls will buy in and see what they can accomplish if they believe in our staff and work hard.”

As far as adding more colors to the wardrobe, West is well-versed in that regard.

Look no further than a family — and coaching — tree with many, many branches.

Her brother, John Welborn, is the varsity girls coach at West Point, where her older daughter, Hayden, is an assistant to her uncle, and her son-in-law and Hayden’s husband, Mason Voce, is the varsity boys coach. Her middle child, Bailey, is the varsity girls coach at Addison, and West’s son-in-law and Bailey’s husband, Garrett Boland, is an assistant football coach at his alma mater, Vinemont. Toni, the youngest West daughter, just helped Wallace State’s women’s basketball program win the ACCC championship as an assistant.

Throw in West’s husband and stat-keeper, Patrick, her parents, Danny and Sheila Welborn, and her mother-in-law, Joyce West, and she couldn’t ask for a better support system to aid in this transition.

“Our closet is full, but at the end of the day, my family knows if something ever happens to me I’m going to be buried in a blue sweater and black pants,” West said with a laugh, referring to her tried-and-true attire on the bench. “We have several allegiances in our family, but we’re all eager to add one more. We all support each other, and I would have never, ever have been able to coach as long as I have without the support of my wonderful family.”