Collierville High School fires boys and girls basketball coaches in controversial move

Collierville High School recently fired both of its varsity basketball coaches, a school district official confirmed to The Commercial Appeal on Tuesday, and the decision has led one person involved to question the motives behind the decision.

Boys basketball coach Shawn Taggart and girls basketball coach Pattie Gardner were each informed last month that they would not continue in their roles after what appeared to be successful tenures leading the Dragons. Collierville Schools indicated that both coaches did not have their contracts renewed, a move that left both coaches miffed.

“Collierville High School has made the decision to part ways with the head coaches of both the boys and girls basketball programs,” Collierville Schools athletic director Jeff Curtis wrote in an email. “Both coaches successfully fulfilled their coaching agreements, which are offered on an annual basis. Collierville Schools will immediately begin the search process for coaches for both programs, with a strong preference for full-time, certified classroom educators. Interested candidates should apply via the district’s website.”

Gardner, hired in August 2022, led the Collierville girls’ team to the second-most wins in program history (25) this season, falling one game shy of the school’s first state tournament appearance since 1989. Gardner was listed as a non-faculty coach on the TSSAA website. She had an overall record of 41-28 in two seasons. 

Though Gardner said in an interview Tuesday she was given no official explanation by the school system, she believes complaints by parents associated with students from West Collierville Middle School led to her exit.

Gardner said Collierville High School principal Roger L. Jones III told her immediately after the season ended that he "wanted me to continue to build the program and bring strong basketball players into the school." Gardner said she was then told that one of her assistants, Deborah Moody, could not return before eventually being informed she would no longer serve as head coach.

"Now you’re saying it’s not good enough because these white parents are complaining because they know their kids may or may not get playing time," said Gardner, who previously coached at Schilling Farms Middle School in Collierville for 15 years.

When asked if she thought the racial dynamics of the team, which she estimated to be split 50-50 between Black and white players this past season, played a role in her dismissal, Gardner responded, "100 percent."

"I thought that I was going to be able to make a difference, where I could help change Collierville’s ways, so to speak, because I thought it was going in a different direction," said Gardner, who added she is white and married to a Black man. "... But it seems like it has gone all the way backwards. I know they’re not happy with me because I’ve stood up. I can’t begin to tell you how many I’ve had call me – ex-players, parents, people that I just know in the community, Black and white – saying thank you for standing up. Thank you for saying what nobody’s had the courage to say about what goes on in Collierville.”

Curtis wrote in a follow up email Wednesday morning – after The Commercial Appeal asked for a response to Gardner's claims about her removal as coach – that "personnel decisions are amongst some of the most difficult decisions. Our teachers, office staff, administrators, and coaches work with our students and families on a daily basis, and we appreciate their hard work and dedication. In this case, school administration recommended a change in leadership for our basketball teams based on a desire to ensure our programs live up to our district motto of scholarship, integrity and service."

Taggart, a member of the 2007-08 Memphis basketball team that went to the national championship game, led the Collierville boys basketball team to the District 15-4A championship during the 2022-23 season and had an overall record of 44-35 over three seasons. 

He was named interim coach at Collierville in the middle of the 2021-22 campaign and had the interim tag removed in April 2022. Taggart replaced former Memphis basketball player Cedric Henderson, who resigned as the program’s interim head coach after an internal investigation into code of conduct violations was conducted by the school. Henderson had taken over for coach Scott Robinson, who abruptly resigned for personal reasons in October 2021. 

Robinson was the coach when Collierville reached the TSSAA state semifinals in 2021. Taggart served as an assistant coach on that team. He is listed as a classified employee by the TSSAA.

Taggart wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday morning that he was notified of a coaching change by Collierville officials on April 19 and described himself as “deeply disappointed by the decision.”

“While I am still unsure of the reasons behind this decision,” Taggart wrote, “I want to assure you that no coaching or school rules were violated.”

You can reach Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto via email at mgiannotto@gannett.com and follow him on X:@mgiannotto