Since being named head coach of the baseball program at his high school alma mater more than a decade ago, Colton Green has helped lead Hixson to some of its best years on the diamond.
The Wildcats have been consistent contenders for TSSAA district championships with Green, winning five of them: in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021. They also made sub-state appearances in 2014 and 2021, and Hixson went 251-161 overall during Green’s tenure, which came to a close with the recent conclusion of the Wildcats’ 2025 season.
Green, who graduated from Hixson in 2008 and took over as head coach in November 2013, announced his decision to step down this week. He and his family are set to move to Arden, North Carolina, where his wife, Sam, will be the director of facilities at Christ School and he will teach math. The Greens will live on campus with their two children, Lucy and Cooper.
“Hixson has been everything to me,” said Green, the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories. “The only colors I have ever worn or wanted to wear are black and gold. I am proud to have carried on and advanced the legacy of Hixson baseball. I thank God every day that I had this opportunity, and I am so grateful to all the players, parents and coaches for everything they have done through the years.”
(READ MORE: Hixson fights back to beat Signal Mountain for District 6-AA baseball title)
Green’s 2019 and 2021 teams achieved 26-win seasons, but he impressed in a different way even earlier in his tenure. In his first spring, Green led the 2014 Wildcats to their district championship and sub-state appearance despite Hixson entering that year coming off four consecutive losing seasons.
“The biggest keys to our success were the effort, consistency and discipline we approached the game with every single day,” Green said. “We gave it everything we had and played the game the right way. We always played like we had something to prove. I wanted them to be proud to put that black-and-gold jersey on, to have a field they were proud of and to just get better every day.”
(SIGN UP: Get the daily sports newsletter in your email box by clicking here)
Hixson’s 2021 district title run was memorable as Kane Johnson hit a walk-off, three-run homer to beat Central in the losers bracket of the tournament before the Wildcats defeated Signal Mountain twice the following day to earn the championship.
Green was also able to coach the Wildcats with two of his best friends, Josh Coppinger and Andy Duncan, as assistants.
“The relationships are what I will hold on to the most,” Green said. “Seeing the successes of my players long after their playing days have ended means more than anything. Coaching, to me, was all about molding a group of kids into men and teaching them to do things the right way while preparing them to be husbands, fathers and leaders in the community.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.