We have a Special episode for you today This episode features a heartfelt conversation Alongside Recently announced Franklin Christian Academy Associate Athletics Director Darren Joines talks to to 2-time state champion David Pack about his return to coaching at Franklin Christian Academy, his coaching philosophy, and the importance of community, faith, and multi-sport participation in youth development. We also explore the legacy of coaching legends, the evolution of football strategy, and the role of sports in shaping character.

 

We have a Special episode for you today This episode features a heartfelt conversation Alongside Recently announced Franklin Christian Academy Associate Athletics Director Darren Joines talks to to 2-time state champion David Pack about his return to coaching at Franklin Christian Academy, his coaching philosophy, and the importance of community, faith, and multi-sport participation in youth development. We also explore the legacy of coaching legends, the evolution of football strategy, and the role of sports in shaping character.
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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 2-27-26

Tate Along with Darren Joines, the Associate Athletics Director at Franklin Christian Academy (FCA), introduces two-time state champion David Pack as the school's new head football coach. Pack, who has been away from coaching for 14 years, discusses his return to the sidelines, his coaching philosophy, and the growth of the FCA athletic program.

The Return of David Pack


The Hiring Process: Darren Joines immediately thought of David Pack for the position after former coach Casey Jorgenson departed following a successful 6-4 season.


A New Chapter: Pack had not actively looked to return to coaching for a decade, but he felt an "itch" to return over the last couple of years while watching games from a competitive perspective.


Leadership Alignment: Pack expressed high regard for FCA's leadership, including Joines, Director of Student Life Tim Johnson, and Head of School Noah Brink, noting that the environment felt "safe" and visionary.


Familiar Energy: Pack compared the current energy and stage of development at FCA to his early days at Christ Presbyterian Academy (CPA) in 1996.

Coaching Philosophy and Legacy


The "GOAT" Mentality: The participants discussed coaching legends, specifically naming Carlton Flatt of Brentwood Academy as the greatest of all time. Pack worked under Flatt for nine years before building the program at CPA.


Physicality on the Field: Pack emphasized that his teams will be defined by physicality and contact, a trait he believes defines the nature of football.


Multi-Sport Participation: Both Joines and Pack strongly advocate for multi-sport athletes. They argued that specialization leads to burnout and "adult-type" injuries in young athletes, whereas playing multiple sports refreshes a student's zeal for competition.


Building from Scratch: Pack is excited by the lack of traditional infrastructure at FCA—such as a stadium or weight room—viewing it as an opportunity to build a legacy from the ground up, similar to the beginnings of local powerhouse programs.

Character and Community


Mission-Tethered: Pack stated that the program will remain focused on its mission of spiritual development and authenticity, aiming to be a "beacon" of hope in sports culture.


Family Support: Pack highlighted the importance of his family's support, noting that his wife, Anne, and daughters were instrumental in his decision to return to the coaching profession.

Tate Along with Darren Joines, the Associate Athletics Director at Franklin Christian Academy (FCA), introduces two-time state champion David Pack as the school's new head football coach. Pack, who has been away from coaching for 14 years, discusses his return to the sidelines, his coaching philosophy, and the growth of the FCA athletic program.
The Return of David Pack
<ul data-path-to-node="2">
<li>
The Hiring Process: Darren Joines immediately thought of David Pack for the position after former coach Casey Jorgenson departed following a successful 6-4 season.
</li>
<li>
A New Chapter: Pack had not actively looked to return to coaching for a decade, but he felt an "itch" to return over the last couple of years while watching games from a competitive perspective.
</li>
<li>
Leadership Alignment: Pack expressed high regard for FCA's leadership, including Joines, Director of Student Life Tim Johnson, and Head of School Noah Brink, noting that the environment felt "safe" and visionary.
</li>
<li>
Familiar Energy: Pack compared the current energy and stage of development at FCA to his early days at Christ Presbyterian Academy (CPA) in 1996.
</li>
</ul>
Coaching Philosophy and Legacy
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
The "GOAT" Mentality: The participants discussed coaching legends, specifically naming Carlton Flatt of Brentwood Academy as the greatest of all time. Pack worked under Flatt for nine years before building the program at CPA.
</li>
<li>
Physicality on the Field: Pack emphasized that his teams will be defined by physicality and contact, a trait he believes defines the nature of football.
</li>
<li>
Multi-Sport Participation: Both Joines and Pack strongly advocate for multi-sport athletes. They argued that specialization leads to burnout and "adult-type" injuries in young athletes, whereas playing multiple sports refreshes a student's zeal for competition.
</li>
<li>
Building from Scratch: Pack is excited by the lack of traditional infrastructure at FCA&mdash;such as a stadium or weight room&mdash;viewing it as an opportunity to build a legacy from the ground up, similar to the beginnings of local powerhouse programs.
</li>
</ul>
Character and Community
<ul data-path-to-node="6">
<li>
Mission-Tethered: Pack stated that the program will remain focused on its mission of spiritual development and authenticity, aiming to be a "beacon" of hope in sports culture.
</li>
<li>
Family Support: Pack highlighted the importance of his family's support, noting that his wife, Anne, and daughters were instrumental in his decision to return to the coaching profession.
</li>
</ul>

HSSS- David Pack & Darrin Joines

Tate is joined by Tom Kreager, high school sports editor for The Tennessean, to discuss the final day of the Tennessee State Wrestling Tournament and the upcoming postseason for high school basketball.

The conversation covers several key topics:

Tennessee State Wrestling Tournament


D2 Dominance: The discussion highlights the impressive performance of Baylor and McCallie in the D1 AA classification, with McCallie wrapping up the team title before the finals even began.


Cheatham County's Finalist: Rogelio Gonzalez of Cheatham County made it to the 285 lb final in Class A, a rare feat for the school. He faced Tyson Click from the Samuel Everett School of Innovation in Maryville.


Blackman’s Strong Showing: Blackman High School had three wrestlers reach the finals, including Andrew Workman (120 lbs) and Landon McLean (144 lbs).


Venue Appreciation: Both Tate and Kreager express their appreciation for the Williamson County AgExpo Center as the tournament's home, despite some minor complaints about lighting and Wi-Fi.

High School Basketball Postseason


D2 Region Finals: The region finals for Division II basketball began on Friday night.


CPA vs. Lipscomb Academy: On the girls' side, CPA and Lipscomb Academy prepared to face each other again, while on the boys' side, Lipscomb Academy and J.P. II (Pope John Paul II) were set for a major matchup.


All-Murfreesboro Final: In D2 Class A, an all-Murfreesboro final in the girls' division featured MTCS (Middle Tennessee Christian School) vs. PCA (Providence Christian Academy).


Mr. Basketball Snubs: They discuss a recent article about "snubs" for the Mr. and Miss Basketball finalists, specifically highlighting Cam Blivens of Lipscomb Academy and Trey Pearson as talented players who missed out on the final list.

Tribute to Jaden Bailey


The segment concludes with a heartfelt tribute to Jaden Bailey, a 17-year-old student-athlete from Lebanon High School who passed away after a four-year battle with bone cancer.


Despite losing his left arm to the disease, Bailey continued to play basketball and was an inspiration to his teammates and the local community.


His team played a district semifinal game on the night of his passing, honoring his memory through competition.

Tate is joined by Tom Kreager, high school sports editor for The Tennessean, to discuss the final day of the Tennessee State Wrestling Tournament and the upcoming postseason for high school basketball.
The conversation covers several key topics:
Tennessee State Wrestling Tournament
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
D2 Dominance: The discussion highlights the impressive performance of Baylor and McCallie in the D1 AA classification, with McCallie wrapping up the team title before the finals even began.
</li>
<li>
Cheatham County's Finalist: Rogelio Gonzalez of Cheatham County made it to the 285 lb final in Class A, a rare feat for the school. He faced Tyson Click from the Samuel Everett School of Innovation in Maryville.
</li>
<li>
Blackman&rsquo;s Strong Showing: Blackman High School had three wrestlers reach the finals, including Andrew Workman (120 lbs) and Landon McLean (144 lbs).
</li>
<li>
Venue Appreciation: Both Tate and Kreager express their appreciation for the Williamson County AgExpo Center as the tournament's home, despite some minor complaints about lighting and Wi-Fi.
</li>
</ul>
High School Basketball Postseason
<ul data-path-to-node="6">
<li>
D2 Region Finals: The region finals for Division II basketball began on Friday night.
</li>
<li>
CPA vs. Lipscomb Academy: On the girls' side, CPA and Lipscomb Academy prepared to face each other again, while on the boys' side, Lipscomb Academy and J.P. II (Pope John Paul II) were set for a major matchup.
</li>
<li>
All-Murfreesboro Final: In D2 Class A, an all-Murfreesboro final in the girls' division featured MTCS (Middle Tennessee Christian School) vs. PCA (Providence Christian Academy).
</li>
<li>
Mr. Basketball Snubs: They discuss a recent article about "snubs" for the Mr. and Miss Basketball finalists, specifically highlighting Cam Blivens of Lipscomb Academy and Trey Pearson as talented players who missed out on the final list.
</li>
</ul>
Tribute to Jaden Bailey
<ul data-path-to-node="8">
<li>
The segment concludes with a heartfelt tribute to Jaden Bailey, a 17-year-old student-athlete from Lebanon High School who passed away after a four-year battle with bone cancer.
</li>
<li>
Despite losing his left arm to the disease, Bailey continued to play basketball and was an inspiration to his teammates and the local community.
</li>
<li>
His team played a district semifinal game on the night of his passing, honoring his memory through competition.
</li>
</ul>

HSSS - Tom Kreager 

Welcome to another episode of High School Sports Saturday! In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of high school sports with a focus on wrestling and basketball. Our host, along with guests Charles Pulliam and Tom Kreger, discuss the state wrestling tournaments, highlighting key matches and standout athletes from the mid-state region. We also explore the upcoming district and region basketball tournaments, featuring thrilling matchups and potential state champions. Special attention is given to the inspiring story of Jaden Bailey, a young athlete from Lebanon High School who recently passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Join us for an engaging and heartfelt discussion on the latest in high school sports.

Welcome to another episode of High School Sports Saturday! In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of high school sports with a focus on wrestling and basketball. Our host, along with guests Charles Pulliam and Tom Kreger, discuss the state wrestling tournaments, highlighting key matches and standout athletes from the mid-state region. We also explore the upcoming district and region basketball tournaments, featuring thrilling matchups and potential state champions. Special attention is given to the inspiring story of Jaden Bailey, a young athlete from Lebanon High School who recently passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Join us for an engaging and heartfelt discussion on the latest in high school sports.

High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews 2-27-26

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