Patrick MacCoon

Patrick MacCoon is an avid sports lover who joined the Chattanooga Times Free Press January 2, 2019. He covers prep sports along with the Chattanooga Football Club and Chattanooga Lookouts. Patrick is a fan of Atlanta professional sports and began reading newspapers at an early age to analyze the MLB box scores. He is a graduate from Red Bank High School and the University of Tennessee (Knoxville).

Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311.

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Turnaround for Tyner girls’ basketball program is built on unity

by Patrick MacCoon ·February 19, 2025

The Tyner girls' basketball team has stuck together through tough times on and off the court to reach higher ground.

Staff file photo / Tyner senior point guard Shy Harrison (2) sustained a season-ending knee injury early in the Lady Rams' 2024-25 campaign, but she made a tremendous impact for the program on the court the past three years and has continued to be a leader this winter even while sidelined.

Heritage sets program record for scoring as Lady Generals advance to GHSA Class AAA Sweet 16

by Patrick MacCoon ·February 18, 2025

With a lights-out shooting performance, the Heritage girls' basketball program punched its ticket to the GHSA Class AAA Sweet 16 round with a program-best output on the offensive end in Tuesday's home victory over Cedar Grove.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Heritage's Macie Collins (23) gets by a Cedar Grove defender. Heritage hosted Cedar Grove in the first round of the GHSA girls basketball tournament on February 18, 2025.

Signal Mountain all-time leading scorer Chris Kennedy leads Eagles into postseason play

by Patrick MacCoon ·February 17, 2025

For the foreseeable future, Chris Kennedy will be able to return to Signal Mountain High Schol's gymnasium and see his name high up on the wall atop the list of all-time leading scorers for the Eagles.

Staff photo by Abby White / Signal Mountain's Chris Kennedy (5) set the all-time boys' scoring record for the Eagles and has also grown in his defense and leadership this season.

Baylor sweeps team state titles with 20th traditional championship

by Patrick MacCoon ·February 15, 2025

It's only been three years since Baylor's wrestling program swept the team state championships. It felt like "forever" to coach Rex Kendle.

Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Baylor senior Max Norman became a four-time TSSAA wrestling individual state champion as the Brown signee helped deliver the Red Raiders' 20th state traditional tournament team championship on Saturday at Nashville's Montgomery Bell Academy.

Notre Dame girls, Boyd Buchanan boys win district tourney titles

by Patrick MacCoon ·February 14, 2025

After missing the first half of her final prep basketball season, Notre Dame senior Violet Wright enjoyed a major triumph Friday night.

Staff photo by Abby White / Notre Dame senior forward Violet Wright, on her knees, tosses the ball after an attempt to get through host Silverdale Baptist's defense in the TSSAA Division II-A District 2 tournament title game Friday night.

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Signal Mountain senior wrestler works toward firefighting dream with lessons from the mat

by Patrick MacCoon ·February 14, 2025

Like a lot of successful student-athletes, Signal Mountain wrestler Mason Lillard has interests outside of school and sports.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Signal Mountain senior Mason Lillard stands next to a truck at Dallas Bay Fire and Rescue Station 2. Lillard competes for his high school's wrestling team, but he is also working toward what he hopes is a career as a firefighter with his involvement in the Explorers youth program at Dallas Bay since 2023.

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Chattanooga Christian makes team history with 11 state qualifiers

by Patrick MacCoon ·February 13, 2025

Ten years ago, Chattanooga Christian School had just three varsity wrestlers as the program flirted with complete collapse.

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Chattanooga Christian junior wrestler Ryder Smith, top, has a record of 79-1 over his past two seasons. Smith will try to repeat as an individual state champion at the TSSAA Division II traditional tournament this weekend in Nashville.

Chattanooga-area wrestlers pack TSSAA D-II state traditional field

by Patrick MacCoon ·February 13, 2025

The first portion of this winter's TSSAA wrestling postseason was a big success for the Chattanooga area.

Staff file photo by Patrick MacCoon / McCallie's Jaxon Lane, top, won a TSSAA state championship as an eighth grader last season for the Blue Tornado. He will look to win his second title this weekend in the Division II traditional tournament at Nashville's Montgomery Bell Academy.

Chattanooga area has three Tennessee Miss Basketball finalists, two Mr. Basketball contenders

by Patrick MacCoon ·February 13, 2025

For the second season in a row, the Chattanooga area has five total candidates for Tennessee's Mr. and Miss Basketball awards.

Staff file photo by Abby White / Tyner senior Rodney Henderson, left, is one of this season's three finalists for Tennessee Mr. Basketball in TSSAA Class 2A.

Prep notebook: Brainerd coach Levar Brown gets 300th career win

by Patrick MacCoon, Lindsey Young ·February 12, 2025

Brainerd High School boys' basketball coach Levar Brown did not foresee the celebration that ensued after Tuesday's victory over Bledsoe County.