Eric Shelton, Siegel girls soccer coach
Siegel girls soccer coach Eric Shelton has resigned and accepted the same position at Nolensville High.
MURFREESBORO — Eric Shelton began Siegel’s boys and girls soccer programs 13 years ago.
Shelton will get the opportunity to start a new soccer program next season.
Shelton announced his resignation on Friday from Siegel after accepting the Nolensville High School boys and girls soccer coaching positions. Nolensville is a new Williamson County school scheduled to open in the fall.
“For most coaches, starting a program is a once in a lifetime thing,” Shelton said. “When I first started looking into it, that’s the only situation I’d leave Siegel for — to get to start a program and put my fingerprint on it.
“That was definitely a pulling factor.”
Shelton, 42, began Siegel’s boys and girls soccer programs in 2003. He coached both teams for the first eight years before resigning as boys coach to concentrate on the girls team and have more time with his family. He and his wife have two children.
Shelton, an Oakland graduate, coached both Siegel teams again in 2015 after Clif Matlock’s departure to become a Cookeville assistant principal.
“It’s going to be tough,” Shelton said of coaching both teams. “I’m a little nervous about it. My wife has been very supportive of this.”
Shelton quickly developed one of the state’s top girls soccer programs at Siegel. The Lady Stars reached the TSSAA’s Class AAA state tournament eight times since it opened. He led Siegel to Rutherford County’s lone girls soccer state championship in 2008. The Lady Stars were Class AAA runner-up in 2012.
“We had some really high-skilled players,” Shelton said of the program’s early success. “I was a novice coach in those first years. Having some talent to balance out my mistakes I’m sure helped.”
No other Rutherford County soccer program has ever reached the TSSAA state finals.
Shelton had a record of 181-74-29 at Siegel, including a 19-4-1 season during the Lady Stars’ championship season. Siegel went 11-3-1 this year, reaching the District 7-AAA tournament semifinals.
Siegel was the District 7-AAA regular-season champion six times during Shelton’s tenure. The Lady Stars won seven 7-AAA tournament titles and eight Region 4-AAA championships.
The Siegel girls program was ranked nationally in the ESPN Fab 50 in 2008 and ranked sixth in the Southeast region by the NSCAA in 2008.
Shelton had 19 players receive all-state status in his tenure at Siegel.
“It’s not something easy to talk about on the phone,” said Shelton, fighting back tears. “It will take time to sink in. This has been a big part of my life for 13 years now.”
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.
