Brad Wagoner loves the atmosphere of coaching soccer in a small town.
He enjoys the closeness of the community in Gatlinburg-Pitman and now seeks it elsewhere.
Brad Wagoner will step down as coach on Wednesday to become the new football coach and athletic director at Blountstown High School in Florida, he told Knox News.
“It's been an honor to be the head coach here and walk on the same sideline with Coach (Benny) Hammons, who's a Hall of Famer,” Wagoner said. “This has always been his program here and he’s just grateful to have had the opportunity to coach some great kids and have had some success.
“That's what I'll miss the most. I'm going to miss the coaches and I'm going to miss the players.”
Wagoner was hired by Gatlinburg-Pitman in April 2021 and led the program to a 29-9 overall record in three seasons.
Prior to coaching the Highlanders, he served as defensive coordinator at South Pittsburgh in 2020. He also served as head coach at Trousdale County in 2017 and 2018. In his final year, he led the team to the Class 2A state runner-up championship.
Wagoner has coaching experience outside of Tennessee, having coached at Georgia's Elbert County High School in 2019.
Gatlinburg-Pitman won Region 1 and 3A in 2023, finishing 11-2. They lost 31-7 to nine-time defending state champion Alcoa in the state quarterfinals.
Gatlinburg-Pitman football has linebacker Whitman Whaley signed with Wake Forest, wide receiver Carlos Orr signed with Illinois, and quarterback signed with Virginia Army Research Institute. They will be graduating some of their star players like Brady Hammons.
Asked whether the departure of several standout players and the possibility of a rebuild influenced his decision, Wagoner said no.
“I had no idea Blountstown would open this year,” Wagoner said. “That work didn't start until about three weeks ago () but things moved quickly in a way. We got a team here at GP and we got a chance to win in the region again. People will be surprised by the team that will come.”
Wagoner said his actions will be based primarily on how well Blountstown is a fit.
“I had my eye on that job in Florida for several years,” Wagoner said. “It's one of those small towns in the Panhandle that's really big on soccer, and it's an area I've always had my eye on. The opportunity just came up and I couldn't pass it up.”
Blountstown went 8-4 last season and lost in the state semifinals.
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Wagoner said Gatlinburg-Pitman is a great place and he's glad he was able to form bonds with the players.
“These are great kids and I have high hopes for their continued success. I look forward to watching them from afar,” Wagoner said.
Toyroy Brown III is a sports reporter for Knox News. Email toyloy.brown@knoxnews.com. He is @TJ3rd_ on X, formerly known as He on Twitter.
