CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Clarksville Academy announced Scott Murray as its new head football coach Tuesday at the school’s library.
“This is certainly a blessing to me and my family,” Murray said. “We are very excited to be here.”
After mulling over a number of other opportunities, Murray decided CA was the best fit for him and his family.
“As we prayed about it and studied the situation, things just didn’t feel right about the other places,” Murray said. “When I came here for my interview, it just felt right from the very beginning.”
Murray has over 25 years of coaching experience at the high school level and most recently coached at Smith County, where he led the Owls to two playoff appearances. His previous stops also include Hunters Lane, Whites Creek and Glencliff.
“I can tell you that we’re going to do all the things right and all the things that are crucial for a football program to be successful,” Murray said. “We’re going to hold kids accountable. We’re going to be disciplined and we’re going to be organized. I feel like those are some of the things that are going to help us become an elite program soon.”
Several of the Cougar players were on hand to help usher in their new coach. Murray shared his initial impressions of the team he’s inheriting.
“I feel like these kids are very accepting and ready for my type of football,” Murray said. “There’s some good looking players here. There’s obviously some talent and a few kids that have some size. We don’t have the numbers that I would like at the moment, and that’s going to be part of the building process. We hope to be able to win right away, and we know if you win, that brings more kids.”
Murray’s predecessor, John Crosby, recorded just three total wins in two seasons at the helm for the Cougars. Without ensuring an overnight turnaround, Murray was optimistic about getting the program pointed in the right direction.
“It’s kind of difficult because I’m not from here, so I really don’t know what’s been implemented in the past,” Murray said. “You just have to work. Winning doesn’t care who you are. The only thing that you can guarantee in life is that if you don’t work, you will lose. We’re going to continue to pound that fact in and beat at the rock wall until that thing falls. I don’t know how soon it’s gonna fall, but it’s gonna fall. A lot of that depends on how quickly people buy into what we’re selling here.”
Murray believes this will be the final stop of his coaching career and plans on making Clarksville his home for the foreseeable future.
“We’re not looking to use this as a stepping stone,” Murray said. “This is where I want to finish. I’m in this for the long haul.”