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There’s no denying that the 615 has some of the best football coaches in the entire state. Who are the best of the best though?
Our staff got together on a call one night in May and decided to do our own little draft of the top coaches in the area. Making sure no one had the same coaches on their lists, each guy was held to one selection each round. We were also required to draft at least one coach from a Large Class (6A and DII-AAA) team, a Medium Class (4A, 5A, DII-AA) team and a Small Class (1A-3A, DII-A) team.
Check out each of our top five coaches below and why we selected them.
TOP 20 ENTERING 2024: Ranking the area’s top 20 teams
TOP RETURNERS PER POSITION: QB / RB / WR / OL / DL / LB / DB / Specialists
Cam Reid
Charles Rathbone, Page: Coach Rathbone has the Patriots in a position the program has not seen
before. Rathbone and the Patriots have been to the state title game three years in a row. He has to
be one of the first names mentioned among best coaches in the 615.
Will Hester, Ravenwood: Coach Hester has done it all and his coaching journey has came back around full circle. From building the Ravenwood program to a state championship caliber team to starting
the Nolensville football program and now having the Raptors back in state title conversations.
Hester is an elite coach.
Marty Euverard, MBA: Coach Euverard is a staple among top coaches in the 615. The TFCA
(Tennessee Football Coaches Association) Hall of Famer has two state titles to his name as well
as several runner-up finishes with The Big Red.
Jeff Brothers, Nashville Christian: Coach Brothers knows how to build a program. He has made several stops around Middle Tennessee, but what he has done at Nashville Christian is remarkable. Taking the
Eagles to the highest possible level to coaching several elite Division 1 football players,
Brothers is quick to turn the spotlight off himself.
Dustin Wilson, Springfield: While Springfield’s win-loss record last season was not to Coach Wilson’s
expectations, one thing remains the same, whoever is playing the Yellow Jackets will know they
were in a fight and had to earn it. That is thanks mostly to the mindset Coach Wilson brings.
Coach Wilson is one of the elite defensive minds in our area.
Chris Brooks
Kevin Creasy, Oakland: There hasn’t been as consistent a winner in this state over the past decade than Kevin Creasy. And the 2024 team has additional motivation just by bringing up last year’s title game. Oh boy.
Anthony Crabtree, Beech: Speaking of consistency, there’s a lot of it in Shackle Island, too. You know what you’re going to get playing this bunch, and more often than not, you aren’t stopping it.
Chase Brooks, East Robertson: Brooks is quickly building a small class powerhouse in Cross Plains. They’re in their glow-up stage at East Robertson right now and it could glow golden in 2024.
Damien Harris, East Nashville: He learned under a winner at Pearl-Cohn, brought it to another winner at East Nashville and kept that train rolling. Now, what to do about that Alcoa problem?
Justin Geisinger, FRA: I don’t think Geisinger gets enough credit since he’s been at DIl programs that have flown under-the-radar. He finds a way to keep those teams in the mix, though.
Issac Leedham
Ingle Martin, CPA: Not much intro needed here. There’s something to be said about the consistency CPA has had under Coach Martin and looks to continue to have for years to come. If not for a resurgent Lipscomb in the past years, we would be talking about CPA as one of the premier dynasties in TN high school football.
Trey Perry, Mt. Juliet: Longevity and success are two words that describe Coach Perry’s career to a tee. Under his leadership, Mt Juliet has been the big dog more years than not in Wilson County. Leading Mt Juliet to incredible heights as well as maintaining that level of expectations through his school being split up earns Coach Perry a spot in the history books.
Kyle Shoulders, Macon County: Most people would bring up Macon’s recent rise when talking about Coach Shoulders. However, I would point back to his days at Red Boiling Springs. Taking a historically struggling Red Boiling program to the playoffs, as well as having what could be the best team in Macon County history is what makes Coach Shoulders one of the best in my eyes.
Stephen Jackson, Gordonsville: While he is a relatively newer head coach in our area, Coach Jackson has one of the most decorated résumés in the state. Winning four state championships as an assistant (one at Trousdale and three at Oakland) gives him more elite level experience than other coaches have in an entire career. Leading his historically great alma mater should be an interesting step in his coaching path.
Bill Alexander, Liberty Creek: There may be no coaching job harder than starting a program at a newly opened school. What Coach Alexander has been able to do at Liberty Creek is what most coaches in his position would dream of. Making such a deep run in the playoffs only shows the immense potential coach Alexander has at Liberty Creek. I also would be lying if I didn’t admit my bias for a former Watertown coach.
Joe Spears
John McNeal, Friendship Christian: McNeal’s name needs to be mentioned when there’s conversations about who the best coaches in the area are. On top of leading the Commanders to three baseball state titles, he’s led the football team to four including a pair of undefeated seasons in 2017 and 2022.
Jonathan Quinn, Davidson Academy: The Bears ruled Division II-A from 2018-2020 and that starts with their head man. Quinn’s one of the best coaches around and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Davidson Academy compete for the DII-AA title in the near future.
Jamaal Stewart, Centennial: Stewart’s a proven winner and his record at East Nashville and Centennial proves that. He led the Eagles to the Class 3A championship games before heading to Centennial and leading the Cougars to a 10-3 record last season.
Paul Wade, Brentwood Academy: Wade led Davidson Academy through its first dominant era from 2005-2008 before leading DCA to the DII-A title in 2021. Wade knows offense and he knows how to win which will be key for George MacIntyre and the Eagles’ offense in 2024.
Clint Finch, Brentwood: Finch was our Large Class Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading Brentwood to a 13-1 record and a semifinals appearance. The Bruins have gotten better and better during each of his years leading the program which is something I don’t expect to change anytime soon.
Scott Burton
Tony Brunetti, Pearl-Cohn: Brunetti’s the winningest coach in Metro history and current 4A championship coach. He’s consistently graduating players and molding men.
Isaac Shelby, Clarksville: Shelby’s Clarksville Wildcats own Montgomery County. He’s made the playoff 10 out of 12 years and been All-Area Coach of the Year four times.
Matt Dyer, Smith County: No coach has instilled more grit into a team other than Matt Dyer and it shows with two quarterfinal appearances in a row.
Josh Crouch, Green Hill: In a very short three-year span, Crouch has built a stout program that has competed at a high level, making the playoffs all three years and including a quarterfinal appearance in year one.
Chuck Gentry, Lebanon: They don’t come much tougher than Chuck Gentry. His teams never quit, and the Blue Devil program has been a tough out ever since he took over.
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