NEWS

New ORHS football coach named

The Oak Ridger
Coach Scott Cummings during the Knoxville-area high school football media day at Three Ridges Golf Course on Friday, July 16, 2021. He is Oak Ridge High School's new head football coach, replacing Joe Gaddis.

Oak Ridge Schools announced Monday morning that Scott Cummings is the new head football coach at Oak Ridge High School.

Cummings was hired as head football coach at West High School in Knoxville in 2002, according to a news release from Oak Ridge Schools. More recently, he has been head football coach at Halls High School in Knoxville.

During his tenure at West High, Cummings became the school’s all-time leader in wins, playoff appearances, and playoff victories, according to the release. He and  his team were 2013 State Championship runner-ups. In 2014, he led the team to the State Championship.

He has been named Coach of the Year five times, including two PrepXtra Coach of the Year awards, which encompasses most of East Tennessee. Knoxville West enjoyed the most success in the history of its football program under his leadership, the Oak Ridge Schools release stated.

Halls' Football Coach Scott Cummings during the high school football game between the Powell Panthers and the Halls Red Devils in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. He is Oak Ridge High School's new head football coach, replacing Joe Gaddis.

The following year he moved to Cleveland, Tenn. and took over as head coach at Cleveland High School. In a four-year period, hed led a major fundraising initiative to renovate facilities. He led his team to the playoffs in three of those years. Wanting to return to the Knoxville area to be closer to family, he then took over as head football coach at Halls High School. Prior to his arrival at Halls, they had only won eight games one time in the last decade. Under his leadership, Halls won eight games in the following two seasons. During his three-year period as Halls head coach, they made the playoffs every year and he was named district coach of the year in 2020, according to a release.

Some of Cummings many accomplishments are:

  • District Coach of the Year in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2020 and PrepXtra Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2014;
  • East Tennessee NFL Foundation contribution to amateur football in 2015 and playoff game appearances;
  • Four State Semi-Final appearances in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014;
  • Two State Championship appearances. In 2013, his team was runner-up and in 2014 was champion;
  • 28 years of coaching experience;
  • 20 years head coaching experience and 23 years as an offensive coordinator and more than 70 players signed for college football.

He replaces longtime ORHS head football coach Joe Gaddis who earlier this year announced he was stepping down as coach.