Oak Ridge hires Halls coach Scott Cummings as next football coach

Scott Cummings of Halls High School has been hired as Oak Ridge's football coach following the retirement of longtime coach Joe Gaddis.

Cummings, who won a state championship at West in 2014, has led Halls since 2019. The Red Devils reached the Class 5A playoffs each year during his tenure but advanced past the first round only once, in 2020.

This season, Halls finished 5-6 after losing to Daniel Boone in the opening round of the playoffs.

"The history and tradition of Oak Ridge is something anybody in this area is aware of," Cummings said. "I've always admired Oak Ridge from afar as a head coach. I'm excited about the opportunity ... to build a sustainable program that they deserve."

GADDIS RETIRES:Longtime Oak Ridge coach Joe Gaddis retires after 38 years in high school football

Cummings came to Halls after four seasons at Cleveland, where he led the Blue Raiders to three Class 6A playoff appearances.

Before Cleveland, Cummings coached at West for 13 years and built the program into a powerhouse in Class 5A. Cummings led West to three appearances in the state championship game and eight playoff appearances. 

"It's just a family decision in this case to move on," Cummings said. "The Halls community is a football community. Things are in good shape here for the next guy for sure."

Cummings' hiring comes after Oak Ridge coach Joe Gaddis announced his retirement after 38 years in high school football. Gaddis first coached Oak Ridge 1988-98 and returned to the Wildcats in 2013.

"I'm just proud that in some small way, I was able to continue the great tradition of Oak Ridge football," Gaddis said. "There's no place like Blankenship Field. There's not a better atmosphere. There's not a better tradition in Tennessee than Oak Ridge football."

Oak Ridge finished 3-7 this season and was eliminated in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Wildcats finished as state runners-up in 2020.

Gaddis is currently serving as interim athletics director following the retirement of Mike Mullins, and Cummings said Gaddis will play a significant role in his transition to Oak Ridge.

"He was on the hiring committee and he's going to be a mentor for me at Oak Ridge," Cummings said. "I've been doing this a long time — next year will be my 21st year as a head coach — but Coach Gaddis knows the landscape of Oak Ridge, the traditions, the history, everything I want to embrace while adding our own legacy."

Contact Emily Adams at eaadams@gannett.com or on Twitter @eaadams6.