by Matt Wright
A Lakeland Prep athletic advisory committee, formed by Superintendent Dr. Ted Horrell, held their first meeting this morning at City Hall. Dr. Horrell hopes the committee members will help provide additional guidance as the school transitions to competitive high school sports. Lakeland middle school teams are having a very successful fall this season, with many of the Prep teams undefeated. Like academics though, having a plan in place to compete for championships is something the school system has its eye on and school officials know that doesn’t happen by accident.
Members of the 13 person committee were appointed based on their involvement in booster clubs or their background in sports the school currently offers. “I know how important athletics is for a school. For many, it fuels the high school experience,” Dr. Horrell told the committee.
Topics of discussion included everything from Prep’s expected TSSAA classification, to athletic facilities (both existing and under construction), plus schedules and coaches. Dr. Horrell told the group he hopes they will act as ambassadors for Lakeland Prep athletics and help communicate the goals of the athletic department to parents and the community. “If you hear rumors or questions from parents, please let me know so it can be addressed. You have a direct line to me,” Dr. Horrell said.
School Board Chairman Kevin Floyd was also in attendance and he told the group they have a rare chance to influence the future of Lakeland Prep athletics. “Creating something like this is a unique opportunity,” he said. Mr. Floyd said he wanted to attend today’s meeting so members understood how important athletics is to him personally and the school board as a whole. A message he hopes will get out to parents of Lakeland athletes.
Committee members expressed what they are excited about as well as perceived challenges for Lions athletics. Tony Brown, a former wide receiver for the University of Tennessee, who also has NFL experience, said his biggest concern was making sure we retain all the athletes currently in Lakeland as we transition to high school next year. Mr. Brown said our facilities would be outstanding, but adding additional staff, like a strength coach for the athletes, would help show parents Lakeland is serious about competing at a high level.
Scheduling was also a topic of conversation and Dr. Horrell made it clear scheduling and the strength of that schedule will be up to the high school coaches. Like any school, the Lions will have to play their conference games as determined by the TSSAA, however, individual coaches can add additional games and tournaments as they see fit. An example was given that next year, coaches can play a freshman schedule against other 9th grade teams, or they can play both a freshman schedule and a JV schedule against 9th and 10th grade teams. “It’s up to the coach to determine how they want to handle that,” Dr. Horrell said.
Dr. Horrell was asked when the high school coaches would be hired and he said those job postings would be made public in January. According to Dr. Horrell, that’s the best time of year to get the most applicants so interviews can be scheduled and hires made. Interest in the high school coaching jobs at Lakeland Prep is expected to be very high.
Another athletics advisory meeting is scheduled for October.
Members of the committee include:
Tiffany Dillon Maclin
Tony Brown
Monica Pitts
Stephanie Robertson
Matt Kerchoff
Kevin Madden
Matt Wright
Nicole Chauffe
Zack Cowell
Christopher Wood
Josh Roman
Kristen Boles
David Wade
