Judd dismissed as soccer coach at Chester

Over the past few years, Jason Judd has helped to build the Chester County boys and girls soccer programs into two of the best in West Tennessee.

But both teams will be under new head coaches for the 2016-17 season as Judd was dismissed on a violation of the athletic handbook.

“I am proud of the program I have built at Chester County,” Judd said. “I leave the program with two straight district runner-up finishes with the boys and three straight district championships with the girls along with three region runner-up finishes and a region championship, three sectional appearances, two sectional championships and two trips to state.

“I will miss being a part of something that has grown so near and dear to me. I hope that the athletes I coached are better people for having played under me. I appreciate all the support shown me and my family as I go through this time of transition.”

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Assistant Staci Irwin will take over the girls program, while middle school coach Bobby Helton will take over the boys.

Helton has been the middle school coach for the last three seasons, and he has coached all of the boys on the team, except the three rising seniors.

“I am super excited and grateful to [Chester County principal Ricky] Catlett for the opportunity,” Helton said. “We are going to miss Coach Judd, and becoming the head coach wasn’t my original intention. Circumstances changed though.”

The transition for the players should be easier after losing Judd unexpectedly.

“They know me,” Helton said. “They know what I expect. I have a son that will be a junior, and a son that will be a freshman, so these kids have been to my house. They have swim in my pool. I think that we have a great relationship, so this creates a great opportunity to transition the program easier to my expectations.”

Helton has seen what Judd has done at Chester County, and he hopes to build on the foundation that has been laid.

“There is no doubt about Coach Judd’s success,” Helton said. “You just have to look at where the program was to where it is now. I want to continue what he was doing to an extent. We have a different philosophy on some things, but we are similar-minded as well.”

Judd will remain as a teacher at Chester County High School. He said that he is not actively looking for a new coaching position, but he is not ruling out coaching again.

Michael Odom, 425-9754