Former Riverdale coach Hillary Hodges named girls basketball assistant at MTCS

Middle Tennessee Christian School will be adding a state champion coach to its staff.

Former Riverdale coach Hillary Hodges will join the Lady Cougar basketball program this summer and work as a non-faculty assistant under veteran coach Lynn Burkey.

Hodges was the head coach at Riverdale for three seasons (2008-10), and her Lady Warriors won the 2010 Class AAA state. She then resigned her post when her husband, former MTSU assistant Tom Hodges, was hired at Morehead State.

“The opportunity to return to coaching is something that I have been very selective about while we made the transition back to Tennessee and continued to grow our family," Hodges said.

"We knew it would have to be a special place to entice me back to the sidelines, and Middle Tennessee Christian School is just that place — it is a school that values faith, education and athletics, all things that are important to our family. The opportunity to coach at MTCS and work alongside Coach Burkey and Dr. (Robert) Sain (secondary school principal) is exciting and a true honor."

Hodges was 91-10 in her three seasons at Riverdale. She was named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year in 2009-10.

MTCS finished 11-17 this past season, losing to BGA in the DII-A Middle District 1 quarterfinals. The Lady Cougars return several key players, including one of the area's top eighth-graders in guard Mary Mackie.

“Hillary Hodges is a major addition to the Lady Cougar staff," Burkey said. "Her experience at the highest level, dedication to the players, motivational skills, knowledge of the game and positive attitude will not only benefit our varsity team but every part of our program. 

"Having worked with her before, I am excited to be back on the same bench with her.”

Hodges was also formerly a head coach at Independence and has been an assistant at Siegel and Harpeth Hall.

Blackman girls, Christiana boys win county middle school track championships

Blackman Middle's girls and Christiana's boys each won the Rutherford County Middle School Track & Field Championships last week.

The Lady Blaze edged Siegel 92.5-91.5. The Cougars scored 86 points, bettering Blackman Middle (77.5).

Boys winners included:

100 hurdles: Elijah Herring (Rockvale); 100 dash: Charles Ingram (Rocky Fork); 4x200 relay: La Vergne (Elijah Steadman, John Sherman, Dontavious Ervin, Azonte Berry); 1600 run: Dylan Bennet (Siegel); 4x100 relay: Blackman (Aaron Green, Gabe Brown, Dariel Munoz, Grayson Smith); 400 dash: Guyon Young (Blackman); 800 run: Dylan Bennet (Siegel); 200 dash: Azonte Berry (La Vergne); 4x400 relay: Blackman (Collin Smith, Isaiah Sembiring, Gabe Brown, Guyon Young); High jump: Lamarious Nelson (Rockvale); Long jump: John Sherman (La Vergne); Discus: Richy Cathey (Christiana); Shot put: Richy Cathey (Christiana).

Girls winners included: 

100 hurdles: Reghan Bandy (Siegel); 100 dash: Erica Douglas (Rocky Fork); 4x200 relay: Siegel (Sloan Ledford, Reghan Bandy, Serenity Lillard, Gracie Spoon); 1600 run: Samantha Oulette (Central Magnet); 4x100 relay: Rocky Fork (Karina Combs, Erica Douglas, Cineka Fields, Trinity Jackson); 400 dash: Sloan Ledford (Siegel); 800 run: Samantha Oulette (Central Magnet); 200 dash: Erica Douglas (Rocky Fork); 4x400 relay: Central Magnet (Rayna Taylor, Samantha Oulette, Claudia Mitchell, Zoe London); High jump: Mary Prince (Blackman); Long jump: Zyion Shannon (Stewarts Creek); Discus: Zoe Patton (Blackman); Shot put: Zoe Patton (Blackman).

Eagleville grappler signs

Eagleville wrestler Blaine Fussell recently signed with Cumberland University.

Fussell went 122-49 in his career, reaching the Class A-AA individual state tournament his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

This past season was his best, finishing third in the 120-pound division. That came after winning the Region 3 A-AA title.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.