Brentwood girls basketball hires two-time state champion John Wilkins of McKenzie as coach

John Wilkins has been hired as Brentwood's girls basketball coach, according to a release from the school.

Wilkins has been McKenzie's girls and boys coach since 2020, following 11 seasons of leading just the boys program. He has a 102-18 record with the girls and won TSSAA basketball Class 1A titles in 2022 and 2023.

Wilkins is the brother of Independence coach Mark Wilkins, who led Independence to the Class 4A boys state championship last month. His other brother, David Wilkins, led Huntingdon to the Class 2A girls state quarterfinals. Their dad, Mitch, led Gibson County to the Class 2A title this season for his second state championship.

"(John Wilkins) is a coach that works hard in establishing an environment and culture that girls thrive and enjoy playing in," Brentwood athletics director Bill Moore and principal Kevin Keidel said in a joint statement.

Wilkins replaces Marcel Williams, who resigned in February after three seasons. He went 70-24, winning at least 20 games each season and taking the Lady Bruins to within one game of the Class 4A state tournament in 2023.

Brentwood went 23-6 this past season with an 11-3 mark in district play. Lincoln County eliminated the Lady Bruins, 70-53, from the TSSAA basketball playoffs in the Region 5-4A quarterfinals. 

More:Independence coach Mark Wilkins joins dad, brother as TSSAA basketball championship coaches

Brentwood junior guard Ella Ryan is slated to return next season as one of the Nashville area’s top players. She is on pace to break the school scoring record and averaged 23 points, 6.5 rebounds and three steals this season. 

Brentwood has now filled both its basketball coaching vacancies. Troy Crane took over the Bruins boys program last month after Troy Bond retired from coaching.

Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.