Welcome to another edition of HSSS with Tate Mathews! Today Coach Pat Simpson covers the Johnny Drennan Memorial Invitational, while Coach Troy Crane reflects on the Brentwood Bruins' recent performances. To wrap things up, Tom Kreager joins the show to ring in the new year with a look at the "Super 25" football team, the top athletes to watch in 2026, and a preview of the FCS Championship game at Vanderbilt.

Welcome to another edition of HSSS with Tate Mathews! Today Coach Pat Simpson covers the Johnny Drennan Memorial Invitational, while Coach Troy Crane reflects on the Brentwood Bruins' recent performances. To wrap things up, Tom Kreager joins the show to ring in the new year with a look at the "Super 25" football team, the top athletes to watch in 2026, and a preview of the FCS Championship game at Vanderbilt.

Growing up in a coaching family and now the owner of Mathews Team Sports, Tate Mathews brings a unique perspective to High School Sports Saturday.

With over fifteen years in the sporting goods industry in Middle Tennessee working with and for high school administrators and coaches, Tate’s relationships provide insight into middle Tennessee high school athletics.

High School Sports Saturday covers each sport during their respective competitive seasons.  Coaches, administrators, TSSAA officials and student-athletes are interviewed each week at 8 AM on 104-5 The Zone.

High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews

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High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews 1- 3- 26

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 Tate Mathews is joined by Mike Voss, head coach of the Riverdale Warriors, who shares how his team is building momentum after crucial wins over Clarksville Northeast and Oakland. Voss highlights the standout play of Ryan Wilkerson and Braylen Burns, but also sheds light on the logistical "grind" of the new TSSAA district format, which has forced coaches to take on the massive task of independent scheduling for nearly 20 additional games.

The conversation also introduces Chad Broadrick, the new head coach at Centennial High School, who discusses his vision for building a culture of "connection and toughness". While Broadrick is focused on installing a versatile defensive front and maintaining offensive continuity, the broader coaching landscape is facing significant upheaval. The Tennessean’sTom Kreager joins the show to discuss a notable "changing of the guard" in the region, marked by the high-profile departures of Matt Kriesky from Blackman and Ben Caudill from Stewarts Creek, as well as the high-stakes return of Trent Dilfer to Lipscomb Academy.

Kreager suggests these shifts point to a new era of "professionalized" high school sports. With the introduction of NIL opportunities and TSSAA rules allowing one-time transfers, the role of a head coach has evolved into a 24/7 roster management position similar to the college level. As experienced mentors step away due to the grueling nature of this new culture and the constant pressure of the transfer portal, concerns are rising about a potential long-term coaching shortage in the state.

 

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&nbsp;Tate Mathews is joined by Mike Voss, head coach of the Riverdale Warriors, who shares how his team is building momentum after crucial wins over Clarksville Northeast and Oakland. Voss highlights the standout play of Ryan Wilkerson and Braylen Burns, but also sheds light on the logistical "grind" of the new TSSAA district format, which has forced coaches to take on the massive task of independent scheduling for nearly 20 additional games.
The conversation also introduces Chad Broadrick, the new head coach at Centennial High School, who discusses his vision for building a culture of "connection and toughness". While Broadrick is focused on installing a versatile defensive front and maintaining offensive continuity, the broader coaching landscape is facing significant upheaval. The Tennessean&rsquo;s Tom Kreager joins the show to discuss a notable "changing of the guard" in the region, marked by the high-profile departures of Matt Kriesky from Blackman and Ben Caudill from Stewarts Creek, as well as the high-stakes return of Trent Dilfer to Lipscomb Academy.
Kreager suggests these shifts point to a new era of "professionalized" high school sports. With the introduction of NIL opportunities and TSSAA rules allowing one-time transfers, the role of a head coach has evolved into a 24/7 roster management position similar to the college level. As experienced mentors step away due to the grueling nature of this new culture and the constant pressure of the transfer portal, concerns are rising about a potential long-term coaching shortage in the state.
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High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews 1- 10- 26

Tate Mathews and The Tennessean’s Tom Kreager examined the shifting landscape of Tennessee high school athletics. The discussion centered on a "changing of the guard" within the coaching ranks, highlighted by high-profile departures such as Matt Kriesky from Blackman and Ben Caudill from Stewarts Creek, as well as the return of Trent Dilfer to Lipscomb Academy. Kreager attributed this high turnover rate to the professionalization of the sport, noting that new TSSAA rules allowing one-time transfers and the emergence of NIL opportunities have transformed high school coaching into a grueling, 24/7 role focused on roster management. Concerns were also raised regarding a potential "coaching shortage" as experienced mentors step away due to the sport's evolving culture and the increasing influence of the transfer portal.

Tate Mathews and&nbsp;The Tennessean&rsquo;s Tom Kreager examined the shifting landscape of Tennessee high school athletics. The discussion centered on a "changing of the guard" within the coaching ranks, highlighted by high-profile departures such as Matt Kriesky from Blackman and Ben Caudill from Stewarts Creek, as well as the return of Trent Dilfer to Lipscomb Academy. Kreager attributed this high turnover rate to the professionalization of the sport, noting that new TSSAA rules allowing one-time transfers and the emergence of NIL opportunities have transformed high school coaching into a grueling, 24/7 role focused on roster management. Concerns were also raised regarding a potential "coaching shortage" as experienced mentors step away due to the sport's evolving culture and the increasing influence of the transfer portal.

HSSS - Tom Kreager

 

Tate is joined by Chad Broadrick, the newly appointed head football coach at Centennial High School. Broadrick, formerly the defensive coordinator at Pope John Paul II and a former head coach at East Robertson and White House Heritage, shares his excitement about joining the Centennial community. He highlights the "vertical alignment" and strong support system at the school, ranging from the administration to the quarterback club and parent base. Having already begun meeting the student-athletes, Broadrick notes the impressive, high-energy environment at Centennial, particularly praising the school's student section and atmosphere during recent basketball games against Franklin High.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Broadrick outlines a coaching philosophy centered on "connection" and "toughness." Offensively, he intends to maintain continuity by trusting returning staff to build upon last year's successful power-run and play-action schemes. Defensively, he plans to implement a versatile "build-a-bear" front that can shift between four-man and three-man looks to stop the run and attack pass protections. Broadrick is eager to lead the Cougars through a challenging schedule that includes rivals like Independence, Page, and Franklin, with the ultimate goal of establishing Centennial as a consistent state championship contender.

&nbsp;
Tate is joined by Chad Broadrick, the newly appointed head football coach at Centennial High School. Broadrick, formerly the defensive coordinator at Pope John Paul II and a former head coach at East Robertson and White House Heritage, shares his excitement about joining the Centennial community. He highlights the "vertical alignment" and strong support system at the school, ranging from the administration to the quarterback club and parent base. Having already begun meeting the student-athletes, Broadrick notes the impressive, high-energy environment at Centennial, particularly praising the school's student section and atmosphere during recent basketball games against Franklin High.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Broadrick outlines a coaching philosophy centered on "connection" and "toughness." Offensively, he intends to maintain continuity by trusting returning staff&nbsp;to build upon last year's successful power-run and play-action schemes. Defensively, he plans to implement a versatile "build-a-bear" front that can shift between four-man and three-man looks to stop the run and attack pass protections. Broadrick is eager to lead the Cougars through a challenging schedule that includes rivals like Independence, Page, and Franklin, with the ultimate goal of establishing Centennial as a consistent state championship contender.

High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews 1- 3- 26

High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews

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