NEWS

Mt. Pleasant's new football coach promises 'mean, tough and fast' team next season

Mike Christen
The Daily Herald
Blackman coach Kit Hartsfield shouts instruction to his team during Blackman's 30-7 win over Siegel Friday night.

Kit Hartsfield will now lead Mt. Pleasant High School as its new head football coach, promising the Tigers will be "mean, tough and fast" next season. 

The 33-year-old joins Maury County Public Schools after three seasons as the head coach of Blackman High School in Rutherford County. He is taking on the roll previously held by Bronson Bradley who was dismissed from the role Mt. Pleasant after seven seasons in November 2020, following an underperforming season.

During a press conference held at the high school on Thursday afternoon, Hartsfield donned a new windbreaker with Mt. Pleasant’s school colors and celebrated the future accomplishments of the team.

“I have known about this community for a long time, and I have known about the potential of the players,” Hartsfield said.

He added that the school has a “culture of chasing excellence” and a mindset that attracts competitors.

“We have great talent in the room and the sky is the limit,” Hartsfield said.

Mt. Pleasant High School football players walk on to their home field before a game against Summertown High School on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019.

With a 22-13 record, Hartsfield led the Blaze to three Class 6A state playoffs since joining the Murfreesboro high school as an assistant coach in 2015.

Last season, the team went 4-7 but gained a postseason spot with a 23-21 win over Cookville.

The team did not progress past the first round of playoffs following a 20-21 loss to Hendersonville.

“My purpose is to help the kids reach their goals and their dreams,” Hartsfield said. “I want to help mentor young men who grow up to be great husbands and fathers and will be the example.”

Mt. Pleasant’s varsity team ended the 2020 season with a 1-8 record.

The season included loses of 56-20 to Fayetteville, 39-16 to McEwen, 41-17 to Huntland and 38-13 to Moore County.

The team's single victory was over Loretto 27-20. 

Bradley confirmed that he was let go by the school's administration in November.

"I can say without a doubt and without challenge that this program is better than when I found it seven years ago," Bradley said in a prepared statement shared with local media. "I have brought a lot of value to this program including a new stadium, new lights."

Bradley said under his leadership the school transformed its football field and built a "top-class" weight room and program and "a reputation that draws college recruiters year-in and year-out."

Hailey Pinkard, 14, and Christen Kristen McKennon, 14, walk off flied after presenting the American flag at a football game at Mt. Pleasant High School on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019.

Mt. Pleasant High School Principal Ryan Jackson, who previously commended Bradley for his dedication to the program, said Hartsfield will provide guidance to a program that is establishing an athletic pipeline that stretches across the city’s unified K-12 campus. 

Jackson, who in 2016 unveiled the unified campus as the nation's first public K-12 STEAM campus, said the effort “chases excellence” and establishes “a sustainable athletic program" that does not rely on the achievements of a single team.

“This the moment when everyone gets on the same page and moves in the same direction for one goal," Jackson said. "That is to bring this city… a state championship."

A native of Lawrenceburg, Hartsfield was an all-area player when he transferred to Riverdale in the mid-2000s including a 2004 state title.

“It was one of the best teams to ever come through the state,” Hartsfield said. “I like to tell people I was probably the worst starter on that team.”

He then went to Austin Peay State University where he played as a starting linebacker for four seasons.

“Make no mistake about it, my goal is to win,” Hartsfield said. “Our goal is to win. And when we take the field this fall, we are taking the field with the Tiger mentality, all pulling in the same direction.”

He described the the coming team as "mean, tough and fast" with a “relentless competitive effort.”

The incoming coach offers a hint at what spectators and competitors will expect next fall. 

“We have a lot of good athletes," Hartsfield said. "We want to spread the ball out, move it around, and fill the space with the players with the ball and let them do what they do best.” 

Mike Christen is the multimedia editor for The Daily Herald. Reach him at mchristen@c-dh.net and follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH.