Baylor School administrators confirmed assistant football coach Tim Daniels, a former Red Bank head coach, died Thursday evening of an apparent heart attack. He was 58.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family," Baylor athletic director Thad Lepcio said. "Tim was one of the finest men I've had the opportunity to work with.
Baylor assistant football coach Tim Daniels works with players."This is a tough loss for not only the Baylor community but Red Bank as well. He had a tremendous impact on so many young men."
Daniels had been an assistant at Baylor for five years and prior to that had coached for 10 years at Red Bank, where he compiled a 77-40 overall record.
At Red Bank, he had the unenviable task of taking over for a local legend by following Tom Weathers, who had guided the Lions for 28 years and led the program to its only state championship just two years before Daniels took over. With a roster loaded with younger players, Daniels went a combined 3-17 the first two years before turning things around, leading the Lions to eight consecutive playoff appearances, four region titles, a district championship and an average of nine wins a season the next eight years.
The 6-foot-8 Daniels, who played offensive line at the University of Tennessee, had three undefeated regular seasons before quarterfinal losses, twice to eventual state champion Maryville and the other time to state runner-up Greeneville.
"He was a giant of a man, but his love for kids was just as big," Baylor football coach Phil Massey said. "Tim was a dear friend who will be missed by everyone who knew him."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.