Metro Rankings

[FBfan26]

The 2022 Metro Nashville Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame class includes legendary football coach Maurice Fitzgerald along with former football players Reggie Grimes and Shawney Bo Wynn, baseball player JeffEdwards, softball player Sherri Wright Dickens. basketball player Ricky Collins and basketball and softball player Lillian Jackson.

The class also includes former Metro Schools superintendent Leon Bradley.

Fitzgerald retired in 2021 after spending 36 years as a Metro coach.

 

He was a football star at Hume-Fogg and Tennessee State whose head coaching stints included Pearl-Cohn (1990-2005), Stratford (2015-16) and Hillsboro (2017-20). His record was 150-101 at those three schools.

Fitzgerald led Pearl-Cohn to Class 4A state championships in 1996 and 1997 and Hillsboro reached the playoffs each year under Fitzgerald including the Class 5A quarterfinals in 2018.

 

Grimes played quarterback, running back, tight end and defensive end at Hunters Lane (1992-94) before going on to star at Alabama. He also played basketball at Hunters Lane.

Grimes rushed for 1,186 yards and 17 touchdowns while leading Hunters Lane to the Region 6-5A title and state playoffs in 1994. He was listed among Nashville's greatest 50 high school football players of all-time by The Tennessean in 2019.

 

Edwards was an All-Nashville Interscholastic League pitcher in 1981 who posted a 3-1 record with an ERA of 0.80. A highlight of Edwards' senior season came when he pitched 14 innings against McGavock and struck out 20 batters before being relieved.

Edwards, who went on to play at Vanderbilt, was inducted into the DuPont All-Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.

 

Wright Dickens, who played at Overton (1987-90), was one of the most dominant pitchers in the state. She overcame a bout with pneumonia her senior season and posted an 8-1 record.

Wright Dickens went on to play one season at Central Michigan before transferring to Belmont where she became an NAIA All-American in 1993 and was inducted into the Belmont Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

 

Collins was a three-year starter for state power Pearl (1972-74) who made the All-NIL basketball team as a senior. He led Pearl to a 19-3 record as a senior before playing at Cumberland when it was a junior college and then UT Martin. He was inducted into the Cumberland Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

Collins also spent 34 years as a coach including stints at Pearl-Cohn, Antioch, Whites Creek and Peabody. He led Pearl-Cohn to the state semifinals twice. 

Collins' son Brian is coach of the TSU men's basketball team.

 

Wynn was an end at Cameron before becoming a three-year starting defensive tackle who helped lead TSU to the UPI 1973 small college national championship. His roommate was Ed "Too Tall" Jones. 

Wynn played in the World Football League before becoming a professional wrestler.

Jackson, who will be enshrined posthumously, was a three-year starter for the Litton basketball team and captain as a senior in 1937. She attended Nashville Business College where she was a softball star and later played professionally through 1954.

In 1992 Jackson served as an advisor for the movie "A League of Their Own." She died in 2003.

Bradley, who also is being enshrined posthumously. served as personnel director and later as superintendent for Metro Schools for more than 30 years. He was a basketball and baseball star at Pearl and South Carolina State.

Bradley, who also coached at Cameron, died in 2002.

The class will be inducted at a ceremony April 7 at Maxwell House Hotel.

[PurplePanther]

Absolutely awesome list and well deserved.  I'm glad they are getting the recognition.

[fredjones]

I have been told a Law-abiding former Cobra has interviewed at Antioch.

[MichaelMyers76]

23 hours ago, fredjones said:

I have been told a Law-abiding former Cobra has interviewed at Antioch.

He would be crazy to go there. 4 coaches in 4 years and any football players around go to Cane Ridge.

[WildWolf6]

On 2/11/2022 at 9:56 PM, fredjones said:

I have been told a Law-abiding former Cobra has interviewed at Antioch.

Heard this as well, where did he coach this year? I know he was only at East for 1 year .

[FBfan26]

On 2/12/2022 at 8:57 PM, MichaelMyers76 said:

He would be crazy to go there. 4 coaches in 4 years and any football players around go to Cane Ridge.

It’s some kids walking them hallways. He just gone have to start from the bottom. It’s still a sleeping giant.

[workinprogress]

Hearing the bears decided not to watch any law and order reruns. Heard it was never even on their program guides for the fall. However, im hearing an announcement will be made soon. 

Also hearing the cliff has their new coach. Should be announced soon. 

Good luck to both new coaches and programs. 

[fredjones]

Devin Arnold from Lipscomb Academy named new head coach at Antioch.

[theawesomebro]

3 hours ago, fredjones said:

Devin Arnold from Lipscomb Academy named new head coach at Antioch.

he's a great guy.  best of luck to him!!  and that's three head coaching hires from the lipscomb staff just this year!

[cbg]

It looks like a very good list!  When is Adrian Norfleet (3X State Champion in Wrestling) from Whites Creek going to be inducted.  Adrian is considered by many to be one of the top 5 wrestlers ever in Tennessee.

[PurplePanther]

59 minutes ago, cbg said:

It looks like a very good list!  When is Adrian Norfleet (3X State Champion in Wrestling) from Whites Creek going to be inducted.  Adrian is considered by many to be one of the top 5 wrestlers ever in Tennessee.

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement!  He was an absolute monster on the mat!

[FBfan26]

Seen a post in 3a. Looks like Republic is back for the 2nd time.