Advertisement

Kari Douglas steps down at Beech

Beech High School will be filling another head basketball coaching vacancy prior to next season.

Head coach Kari Douglas officially stepped down as the Lady Bucs’ coach on Monday after five seasons with program.

Beech High girls head basketball coach Kari Douglas (at left) resigned on Monday.

Beech High girls head basketball coach Kari Douglas (at left) resigned on Monday.

Douglas missed last season while on maternity leave, and assistant coach Troy Carnes assumed the interim head-coaching role.

“I missed it a lot when I wasn’t involved with it, while I was at home (on maternity leave),” Douglas said. “When I went to the games, I definitely missed it, and I’m going to miss the games. It’s just the extra time that’s demanding. It’s time-consuming. I’m not one to jump into something halfway. I’m going to want to go in the deep end for sure.”

Beech recently filled its boys head-coaching vacancy as former Pope John Paul II High head coach Kip Brown succeeded Darrin Joines, who resigned in February after 16 seasons.

Carnes recently accepted the girls head-coaching job at Davidson Academy, leaving Lauran Hudgins to serve as the interim head coach until a new coach is named.

Douglas, who will remain at the school as a teacher, felt that it was time to step away entirely to focus on her family after giving birth to her first child, Maddox, in December.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a month or so, ever since I’ve been back to school,” Douglas said. “I’ve been wavering on it for a while, and I just want to be a mom. With Maddox being so small, I don’t want to miss out on his first years. I’m just excited to be able to do that and step away on good terms.”

Douglas indicated that Beech principal Kenneth Powell was supportive of her decision.

“Kenneth Powell was very supportive of me and knowing that family comes first,” Douglas said. “He said that the coaching door’s always open for me there if I ever want to come back, whenever that may be. I just told him that I didn’t want to burn any bridges when it comes to coaching here.”

Douglas also did not rule out a return to coaching at some point in the future.

“I don’t want this to be the end all, be all,” Douglas said. “It’s just that right now, the timing’s not good for me. I’m just thinking about me personally and my family, and I think it’s just time to step away and kind of enjoy that time that I have with Maddox.”

Under Carnes, the Lady Bucs compiled an 11-21 record last season, advancing to the Region 5-AAA Tournament after victories against third-seeded Hendersonville and second-seeded Mt. Juliet en route to a runner-up finish in the District 9-AAA Tournament.

Beech suffered a 48-40, season-ending loss to visiting Clarksville in the Region 5-AAA quarterfinals.

Prior to last season, Beech went 75-50 over the previous four years, including a 25-9 record in the 2012-13 season that ended with a 55-50 loss to visiting Antioch in the Class AAA sectional round.

Douglas – who helped the Lady Buc program to back-to-back Class AAA State Tournaments in 2002 and 2003 (finishing as the state runner-up to Shelbyville in 2003) – had initially considered beginning last season with the team and coaching into December before her due date, but she elected to sit out the entire year upon her doctor’s recommendations.

“It’s hard for me not to do it, but I knew if I did do it, I’d miss a lot of things at home,” Douglas said. “I’d be home late and traveling, and it’s a lot. With Maddox being so little, I don’t want to be a gym rat right now. I want to be able to do things outside of that.”

The Lady Buccaneers graduated three seniors – two-time Sumner County Player of the Year Deja Smith, Lauren Crowley and Lexi Cook.

Rising seniors McCall Decker and Joslyn Brinkley, rising juniors Reese Taylor and Savannah Jarratt and rising sophomore Kendra Mueller played extensively last season.

“I think they’re in a great spot, because they had so many people play early,” Douglas said. “They’re still going to be young, but they’ll have more experience than they did this past year.

“The girls were the main part for me. I hated to leave them, but I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family. I’m excited to be a mom and be able to have a summer off. I don’t ever want to close that door and hopefully have that opportunity (to coach) again in the future.”

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

MOST POPULAR STORIES


Federal officials: Rutherford County sheriff pocketed over $66K

Tennessee lawmakers call for resignation of Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold

Whistling Vanderbilt fan, ESPN differ over incident

Vanderbilt’s policies pull campus away from Christianity

15 things to do Memorial Day weekend in Nashville

More News