By
Jordan Johnson
Motlow
Buzz Reporter
SMYRNA Tenn--Two Rutherford county high school teams were
banned from postseason play this season but players and fans say that doesn’t
show the kind of person Smyrna Coach Shawn Middleton is.
Smyrna High School is known for a long tradition of
athletic excellence, whether it’s the two State Football titles, the softball
state title, or the many girls basketball appearances in sub- state and state
tournaments. With that tradition comes great pride from all who have been a
part of any sports team there. If there is one man who truly understands that,
it is Shawn Middleton, a coach at Smyrna for 19 years.
Middleton has coached football, baseball,
softball and girls basketball. He was an assistant football coach. They won two
state championships. While he helped coach baseball, they made an appearance in
the state tournament behind the golden arm of current major league rising star
Sonny Gray. The Coach had a special bond with Gray who lost his father at a
young age. Middleton was a father figure to him, often times inviting him and
his family over for dinner.
“I’ll always cherish that relationship with
Sonny not because of the player he is, but because of the man he has become
even from a tough situation he came up from,” said Middleton when I asked him
about Gray. “All those hours of hard work and practice aren’t what I remember.
What I remember are the times when I saw him take my advice and mature as a
man. He’s made me proud.”
Middleton never treated him any different than
the other players though. He treated them all alike because he thought of them
all like his own sons.
While coaching football at Smyrna he continued his
mentorship with Grey, but also sparked another with a tall athletic wide
receiver with a not, so, simple home life. His name was Rodriquez Wilkes, a
fantastic football player with a demanding work ethic, but not the best
attitude. Wilkes grew up playing football and basketball. He excelled in both,
with high dreams of becoming the next big thing.
Wilkes
had a loving family but sometimes struggled to get to places he needed to be to
succeed. Middleton saw that and took him under his wing. If he struggled in
class, he was there for help. He maintained a good enough GPA, and performed
well enough to receive a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee to
play football. Gray and Wilkes senior season, they won their second straight
state title, and they carried their mentor off the field like a champion.
 |
| Coach Shawn Middleton |
The coach had been coaching girls basketball, and helping
coach softball for Smyrna. Many girls have come through those hallways with
different problems. Recently, he has come under fire from ESPN and other
members of the news media.
“Coach Mid isn’t someone you have for a coach
for four years and then you are done,” said former Smyrna Softball state
champion Taylor Randolph, when asked about Middleton. “He is a lifelong mentor
and more importantly the best friend you could have.”
“I couldn’t think of a better person to have
as my coach, ,” says former girls basketball player Bre Patterson. “He helped
me through a lot. I will always be grateful to have Coach Mid in my life.”
When asked to do an interview, the coach immediately
accepted. When asked why he wanted to coach in the first place he responded,”
The kids… it wasn’t for me to get glory for winning. I love to win. You know
that, but I could care less as long as those kids are maturing to become
wonderful young adults.” I wanted to really change lives for the better, for
the kids to go home to their parents and be respectful, and tell them how much
fun it was to play for me.”
When
asked what really occurred during the incident that has put him under so much
fire, he responded with,” Smyrna High never came into that game with the
intentions not to win the game. Matter of fact, I probably have three seniors
who played the best start to a game of their careers. After the first quarter
it was obvious what Riverdale wanted to do. My girls knew they were getting
mocked. I took them out in the second quarter, and it got ugly. I put them back
in the third quarter, and we blew them out.” When asked how he felt about
public reaction to the incident, the coach said he was surprised to see the
national attention.
”The
saddest part was watching the same part of the game over and over on TV. “If
everyone watched the whole game it would change the public’s opinion.”
Players
and fans say that negative situation got national coverage, but all good he has
done hasn’t even gotten noticed county coverage, or recognition.
“Nobody
has heard of the kids I have helped. Nobody has heard the Sonny Gray story
because that’s too positive. The media only looks for negatives,” he said
later.
The TSAA suspended Shawn Middleton from coaching the
entire 2015 season. Smyrna High School hired a new head girls basketball a
couple of weeks ago. The suspension for a whole calendar year means he can’t
help coach softball this season either.
“Coach Mid is one of the greatest men I’ve ever been
associated with,” said Smyrna High Assistant Basketball Coach and P.E. Teacher
Chad Caldwell.” He’s taught me a lot about sports and more about life. He truly
cares for everyone he knows and tries his best to make everyone succeed. I am
blessed to know him and call him a friend.”
“Coach Mid is the most dedicated, caring
people I know, “said former Smyrna softball state champion and current MTSU
softball freshmen Makenzie Prince. “Hands down one of the greatest coaches on
the planet. He would go to the end of the world to make sure everyone is happy
and satisfied.”
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