News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville High has named longtime assistant coach Matt Hill as the interim boys basketball head coach for the 24-25 season with the possibility of extension at the end of the season.
Former head coach Josh Heard resigned Monday after five seasons with the Cavaliers. Assistant Athletic Director Lance Kennedy said that losing a coach like Heard hurts, but that Hill’s 18 years experience both as a player and coach with the program make him right for the position.
“It’s been a family thing for him for a number of years,” Kennedy said. “So, his familiarity with the program, you know, his understanding of, you know, that we’re obviously going to be there to support him. You know, he knows what it take to be a Cavalier through and through.”
Hill became a volunteer basketball coach following his graduation from Cookeville in 2006. When the job search began, Kennedy said that there wasn’t much thought of an outside hire.
“I feel like coach Hill is the right move for us,” Kennedy said. “He was immediately interested, you know. Having been an assistant for a number of years, you know, I think it was one of those things that he, probably, in the back of his mind wondered when that opportunity would present itself.”
Kennedy said the goal of an athletic director during a coaching search is to hire a coach as fairly and as quickly as possible while still finding the right person for the job. He said the goal of the basketball program is heading back to the state tournament in March.
Last season marked the first state tournament appearance in over 70 years for the Cavaliers. With the program moving in the right direction, Kennedy said that Heard’s departure leaves behind the infrastructure of a successful program.
“Hearing the word that he was going to move, obviously wasn’t an easy one to accept, but one we have to respect,” Kennedy said. “Because we have so much continuity with our program. So many great things that has happened with it here recently, we obviously want to keep that momentum moving forward.”
