The search for Grundy County's new football coach didn't have to extend very far. Casey Tate, a former Yellow Jackets player, varsity assistant and middle school coach has been chosen to take over at his alma mater.
"It's exciting to get to help the kids of the county. I'm eager to get to work," Tate said. "The main objective now is to energize the kids and get our numbers up. We're only at about 18 or so kids right now, so obviously you can't be a healthy program with small numbers like that.
"We've got some kids coming in from the middle school program, but I'll need to recruit the halls and get the kids and parents and community in general behind us. I've got a good relationship with a lot of the kids. I can relate to them. I want to make them not just better athletes but better people. It's a big job, and I know we've got some work ahead of us."
Tate, 35, replaces Nick Bryant, who resigned last month after a 5-6 season that included a first-round playoff loss to McMinn Central. Bryant finished with a 31-35 overall record but led the Yellow Jackets to the playoffs each of his six seasons.
A 1998 Grundy County graduate and former two-way lineman, Tate was an assistant from 2011 to 2013, coaching both the offensive and defensive lines. Last year he coached the Grundy County middle school program to an undefeated season and its first Sequatchie Valley Conference championship in school history.
"He's a great motivator," said Grundy County principal Jamie Ruehling. "He's young and relates well to the kids, so I believe that will help in getting more kids to come out and improve our numbers.
"He's a hometown guy that we felt good about. He understands the community, and sometimes it's more difficult for an outsider to build things back. He has a definite plan that includes how to run the high school, middle school and even pee wee programs."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.