For much of his coaching career, Tyrus Ward has earned a reputation for taking on rebuilding projects and turning around struggling programs.
Ward, who has guided two downtrodden high school football teams to the playoffs shortly after taking over, has now been given the chance to lead an established program. Tyner announced Friday afternoon that the 36-year old Ward will be the Rams’ head coach, replacing Wayne Turner.
“Tyner puts me in a football culture. It’s a place with a football-rich tradition,” Ward said. “Kudos to Coach Turner and all the players who built that. I love that there is already a standard in place. That’s what drew me to the job. I’m coming in on the shoulders of the people who laid the groundwork, so I have an obligation to continue that success.”
Turner had been Tyner’s coach for 30 years, winning 10 or more games 11 times, earning 16 region titles, reaching the playoffs 27 times, appearing in three state championship games and winning the 1997 2A title. Turner exited after last season and has since been hired as an assistant at East Hamilton.
“Tyrus is a local guy, a community guy and somebody who holds kids accountable and loves working with them and building boys into men,” Tyner principal Gerald Harris said. “I’ve had my eye on him for a while, even before he came back to Chattanooga, because I’ve just always liked the way he worked.