After numerous delays and a lengthy wait on the hiring process within the Hamilton County school system, Bumper Reese has been hired as the baseball coach at Signal Mountain.
“I have recommended that we hire Bumper as an economics teacher, and I expect that recommendation will be approved,” Signal Mountain principal Tom McCullough said. “I expect that recommendation will be approved.”
McCullough confirmed that Reese’s coaching duties will include head baseball coach and assistant football coach.
Reese succeeds Bill Price as the Eagles’ baseball coach. Price, a former baseball coach at Red Bank, coached the team this year on an interim basis.
“Bumper has been very successful in Chattanooga, and I don’t think we could have picked a better person to run our baseball program,” Price said. “Bumper is a huge addition to our school academically and athletically. As far as football, it gives me another guy on the staff that I know and trust. He will be a plus. It’s a win-win situation for Signal Mountain.”
Reese was Red Bank’s baseball coach for 12 years and compiled a record of 276-196-1. They Lions finished as District 6-AAA runner-up in from 2001-2003 and 2005 and won the district in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and Region 3-AAA in 2008.
“Moving from Red Bank was the hardest decision I have ever made because of my ties. If you had asked me two years ago I would have told you I would retire at Red Bank,” Reese said. “However, Bill and I have been buddies forever and ever and he has always been good to me. I think this is a good opportunity, and for the first time my kids and I will get up every morning and go to school.”
Reese will be one of three football coaches on the faculty along with Price and Greg Ellis. He has not coached football since 2002 but coached running backs and defensive backs for 11 years at Red Bank and was part of the Tom Weathers staff that took the 2000 Lions to the Class AAA state championship.
Price also has added Chad Rogers, a former Lookout Valley running back, and Kevin Thomas, a former Red Bank quarterback, to his staff. Reese will coach defensive backs, Rogers the offensive line and Thomas wide receivers.
“All three of those are high-energy guys who will add a lot to our football program and also other sports,” Price said.
Red Bank principal Gail Chuy has not decided on a successor but the Lions have 10 seniors returning for the 2010-11 season.