Randy Smith: Congratulations, Coach Ward - The Chattanoogan

I haven't seen Brainerd Coach Tyrus Ward in a few years.  We taught together at Brainerd High School in the 2012-2013 school year and I could tell right away that he was something special. He was an assistant coach for the Panthers that year and was one of the truly well-liked teachers in the building. He was always looking for opportunities to learn from coaches who had been there and done that before. So, one day I took him with me to Knoxville when I was doing Tennessee basketball games on television. I told him, " Just make yourself at home and look for anyone you want to talk to."

While I did the game, I figured Tyrus would sit  down, watch the game and would meet me when it was over. After all, being at a Tennessee basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena can be a bit intimidating. However, before the game ever started Tyrus had found some coaches to talk with and he even met Vols' Head Coach Cuonzo Martin. Now, I really don't know how much he got out of that trip, but I'm sure that he learned a few things that helped him in his career.

On the way home we talked about how much he wanted to be a head football coach and the job he especially wanted was at Brainerd, his alma mater. He had been an outstanding player for the Panthers in the late 1990's and early 2000's. Sure enough, that very year the job opened up and Tyrus applied for it. The Brainerd job was not exactly a high profile coaching position but nevertheless he wanted it.....badly.

He didn't get it. Principal Uras Agee chose someone else to lead the team and it was not a popular decision in the Chattanooga area. Tyrus accepted it however and became the Panthers girls basketball coach instead. In 2015 Tyrus Ward finally got his chance to be a head football coach. He left Brainerd and became the head coach at White's Creek High School in Nashville. After a couple of years in Nashville, he was called back home to be the head coach at Brainerd, the school where he wanted to coach all along. This time Mr. Agee made the right decision. 

The first couple of years was a struggle for Coach Ward and his Panthers but the hard work and dedication that Tyrus Ward shows every day is beginning to pay off. Brainerd has started the 2020 season 2-0 with a 39-16 win over Hixson followed by a 30-13 win at rival Howard. That win snapped a three-game losing skid to the Hustlin' Tigers. 

Congratulations, Coach Ward. I always knew you had the passion for coaching at Brainerd. Good luck the rest of the way, my friend. 

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Randy Smith can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.com

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Randy Smith: Congratulations, Coach Ward - The Chattanoogan
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