Chattanooga: Hensley joins Trojans staff

When he got his first ace a couple of weeks ago in Orlando, Jared Hensley thought the golfing accomplishment would be his summer highlight even though he shot a round of 102.

The accomplishment is all but forgotten, though, because Hensley has been hired at Soddy-Daisy to succeed Steve Garland, his mentor, as the Trojans’ baseball coach.

“I thought the hole-in-one would be the highlight of my summer,” Hensley said. Obviously I was very mistaken.”

Hensley was one of two Garland aides to receive head coaching appointments Thursday as Ted Mulder, Garland’s assistant the past four seasons, was hired at Hixson to replace Brian Bray. Garland resigned on Monday and Bray resigned last week.

“It’s a win-win situation for both schools," Soddy-Daisy principal John Maynard said of the hirings. "I feel Soddy-Daisy would have been blessed with either of those guys. There would have been a natural transition.”

Hensley, a Soddy-Daisy alumnus, either played for or coached with Garland for 10 years including three as his assistant coach. He moved to Red Bank three years ago to work under Red Bank coach Bumper Reese.

“I’ve had an opportunity to work with two of the best in Chattanooga and I will take things from each,” he said. “The experiences I have had with them are priceless, but this job is a dream come true. How many 27-year-olds are there who can say they have attained their careerl goal at such an early age? I thank God for the opportunity. I’m just really, really excited right now.”

Mulder followed Hensley at Soddy-Daisy and had been with Garland the past four seasons. Hixson represents the first head coaching opportunity for the former Tennessee Wesleyan player.

“Brian did a great job in the past and there is a great base for the program. I’m really excited about being there and continuing what Brian has been doing,” Mulder said. “The facilities are among the best in the area. There is great support with the booster club and the parents that are involved with the program and the youth program in the area is already pretty good. This is a step up for me and it is a good fit for me and a good place to start as a head coach. Hixson is a contender and I look forward to making a strong program even stronger.”

Mulder has been in the Hixson and Soddy-Daisy communities and currently teaches at Hixson elementary. His familiarity with the program and a recommendation from Brian Bray were both considerations for Hixson principal Christine Couch.

“We’re happy and excited,” she said. “Ted is committed to the Hixson community and he is excited about building this program.”

Both programs already have at least one assistant in place. Former Trojan Ben Parker will work with Hensley and Grant Sullivan, who has helped Bray since he went to Hixson, will stay on with Mulder.