The Five: Mid-Season Coaching MVP’s
Most teams across the state have made it to the mid-way point of their 2021 season’s, so we are inching closer to region titles and postseason play. Several teams have not only surprised so far this season but have placed…
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Continue ReadingMost teams across the state have made it to the mid-way point of their 2021 season’s, so we are inching closer to region titles and postseason play.
Several teams have not only surprised so far this season but have placed themselves nicely for a spot in the playoffs. Games are won by players but are led by coaches and these five have done an outstanding job, leading their teams to great starts.
(Coaches are ranked in no specific order)
1. Brent Alexander – Station Camp (5-0)
– It’s been years since the Bison have been relevant in football but this season is different and it all starts with the leadership and guidance from Coach Alexander. He has his Bison squad playing with ultimate confidence right now as well as placing themselves as strong contenders to win the Class 5A-Region 5 title this season.
Coach Alexander is a long term, Middle Tennessee veteran that has been around the high school landscape for many years, so he knows the terrain and early returns say he has stepped into this role at Station Camp and done the right things to turn this program around. The team as a whole is playing good football right now, especially over on defense where they have only allowed a total of 44 points this season. The Bison defense has been salty while their offense has been efficient and opportunistic.
The collective belief of everyone on this Bison team right now can be thrown back to the teaching and motivational work of Coach Alexander and his Station Camp staff but the job is far from over. The biggest games of the season remain, including this coming Thursday vs. undefeated Mt. Juliet. No matter what happens by the end of the season, Coach Alexander has done wonders with this Bison program and brought them back to a competitive nature.
2. Joe Rocconi – Collierville (6-0)
– Going into the 2021 season, many around the state saw Collierville as a team that could be good enough to make a deep postseason run and by the looks at their 6-0 start, I’d say many were correct. This pre-season expectations was placed on the Dragons not just because of their talent but because of Coach Rocconi and the culture he has been able to build during his time at Collierville. His teams play hard for him and this year’s version is no different as the Dragons are poised for not only a possible deep postseason run but also a shot at the Class 6A title in Chattanooga.
This is a well balanced team that has the talent and veteran presence on both sides of the ball to do some special things this season. Coach Rocconi is pressing the right buttons currently with this team as the Dragons are not just beating good teams (wins over White Station & Whitehaven) but they are beating them by double digits and in commanding fashion. The defense has allowed only 25 points this season while the offense is averaging over 40 points a game. It’s been a dominating start thus far, led by Coach Rocconi but the job is far from finished and teams in the Class 6A ranks better watch out for these Dragons.
3. Mike Connor – Silverdale Academy (5-0)
– People would be lying to you if they told you prior to the 2021 season that Silverdale Academy would be 5-0 right now and possibly the team to beat from the D2-Class AA East Region. Led by head coach Mike Connor, the Seahawks are playing outstanding football right now and putting up a lot of points while doing so. They are coming off their best win of the season, defeating DCA, 48-28 and a Wildcats team that is viewed as a top championship contender.
Coach Connor has built this 2021 team over the past couple of years in lure for this football season as the Seahawks have a strong mix of veterans and youthful talent, that is led by star running back Connor Delashmitt. The Seahawks have the star power and talent overall to continue this special season into postseason play and go as far as they choose to go.
The one area of the team that Coach Connor and the rest of the Seahawks staff must continue to work on is the defense. Now they don’t have to work on much as the defense has had some strong moments but they have given up 31, 29 and 28 points over the past three games, so lower numbers are wanted for sure. If the defense can tighten up, the Seahawks have the juice on offense to continue their winning ways and take momentum into the playoffs.
4. John Olive – Tullahoma (5-0)
– The Wildcats were having to replace one of the best players in school history on top of many other key veterans that led Tullahoma to a region title and a deep playoff run last year but Coach Olive just keeps the train rolling as he has his 2021 team undefeated and poised for another postseason appearance. This year’s team is led by a senior quarterback Ryan Scott Ryan Scott 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Knox. West | 2024 State TN and stud O-lineman Ian Poe Ian Poe 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Tullahoma | 2022 State TN with a variety of youthful talent around them that has played very well so far this year and is coming off the best performance yet on the season.
Last week at home, Coach Olive and his Tullahoma team defeated a Nashville power in Pearl Cohn, 24-21 and basically sealed up a Class 4A-Region 5 title as the remainder of their schedule isn’t as tough as the early stretch. The Wildcats must continue their strong play down the stretch as the teams they face will be looking to give their best against a Tullahoma team that may have enough pieces this season to win a Class 4A state championship. Coach Olive has won a lot of games throughout his career and been dubbed as one of the best coaches in this state but this season he and his staff are doing a great job with a team adding new pieces into key roles and maintaining a championship level of play.
5. Josh Crouch – Green Hill (5-1)
– The Hawks are the lone team to make this list with a loss but that doesn’t matter because this is a great coaching job done thus far by Coach Crouch as this program is basically still in it’s infancy but yet he has his Green Hill team in contention for a Region title. The path to 5-1 hasn’t been easy, especially after starting the year 0-1 after a close home loss to Siegel but the Hawks have run off five wins in a row and are playing really good football headed into their final four regular season games.
The biggest thing that I feel Crouch has done for his Hawks team is build a culture, a sense of pride when you put on the Green and White. He has instilled confidence with his players and they compete hard every snap, every game. This program may still be young and may not have all the talent that others do but this team plays cohesive, efficient football that has led them to 5-1.
The final stretch will be tough but the Hawks appear ready for the challenge. Green Hill will face the two teams in their way towards a region title in both Station Camp and Mt. Juliet in back to back weeks. We shall see how things end up with Hawks but regardless, Coach Crouch has laid the first brick towards building a good football program for years to come.
The Next Five: Major Wright – Memp. Central (5-0), Scott Chandler – Tyner Academy (5-0), Brian Stewart – Briarcrest Chrst. (6-0), Eddie Spradlen – Greeneville (6-0), Damon Floyd – Bradley Central (5-0)
Others Considered: Roc Batten – Ensworth (5-1), Trent Dilfer – Lipscomb Academy (5-1), Ingle Martin – CPA (6-0), Will Kriesky – Riverdale (6-0), Ricky Rice – Rockvale (5-1), Trey Perry – Mt. Juliet (6-0), Charles Rathbone – Page (6-0), Jeffrey Tomlinson – Montgomery Central (6-0), Chris Smith – Haywood (5-0), Scott Branton – Seymour (5-1), Bart Stowe – Dyersburg (5-0), Drew Rice – Unicoi Co. (5-0), Jeff Harig – Loudon (6-0), Ryan Hamilton – White House (5-1), Frederick Copeland – Fairley (6-0), Dale Pruitt – Marion Co. (4-0), Jake Tyre – Cascade (6-0)