Red Bank head coach Chad Grabowski congratulates his team after they kicked a field goal. The Red Bank Lions visited the Signal Mountain Eagles in TSSAA football action on Friday September 30, 2016.
Red Bank head coach Chad Grabowski talks with Derke Covin (4). The Red Bank Lions visited the Soddy-Daisy Trojans in TSSAA football action at Soddy-Daisy High School on August 18, 2017.Chad Grabowski admitted Monday afternoon that he was still in shock after being fired as Red Bank High School's football coach. He had been given the news by school principal Elaine Harper on Friday, but even after having the weekend to absorb the news Grabowski said he remained uncertain about the reasoning.
"It's been a long, tough last couple of days, and today was really tough," said Grabowski, who said he came to work Monday to be able to personally answer questions from players. "I probably shouldn't have come to school just yet because it was really difficult, but I wanted to be here for the kids since I knew there would be a lot of questions and wondering what's going on.
"I love the Red Bank community, the alumni, players, parents and supporters. Most of the people have been wonderful to me and my family, and I'm grateful for our time here. There are certain folks who made it clear they didn't want me here, so I won't be coaching here any longer."
During the meeting with Harper, Grabowski was asked to resign but declined, which led to his firing. The reason for so much confusion is that school administrators have not given an explanation for the decision.
The Lions are coming off a successful 2017 season in which they finished 11-3 overall, earned their second consecutive Region 3-3A championshp and advanced to the state semifinals. In 2016 they won eight games and reached the second round of the playoffs.
In four seasons Grabowski's teams compiled a 29-20 overall record and reached the playoffs all four years.
In a letter dated Feb. 5 and emailed to the Times Free Press, Harper said, "In a meeting with Coach Grabowski on Friday, we communicated with him that we have decided to make a change in our head football coaching position. We appreciate everything Coach Grabowski has done for the Red Bank High School football program, but we feel it is in the best interest of the program and Red Bank High to make a change at this time."
Harper did not return phone calls to the Times Free Press for further comment.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.