Soddy Daisy High School has hired Jeremy Henderson as the next head coach of its boys' basketball program, athletic director Jared Hensley announced Friday.
Henderson played a role in teams winning a combined five district championships over the past six years at two schools, working as an assistant at Tyner this past season after five as the head coach at Sweetwater.
"When I did my research on Soddy Daisy, every single coach I talked to mentioned how hard the players at Soddy Daisy play," Henderson told the Times Free Press in a phone interview. "That is what I look for in a player — for someone who is hard-nosed and gritty. I look forward to continuing that and progressing Soddy Daisy basketball in the right direction."
After graduating from William Blount High School, the 6-foot-8 Henderson stayed in his native Blount County to play for Maryville College, an NCAA Division III program.
As Sweetwater's head coach from 2018-23, he led the Wildcats to 106 wins. He then assisted Tyner coach E'Jay Ward as the Rams went 23-6 this past winter, won their district, finished as region runners-up and came within a victory of reaching the TSSAA Class 2A state tournament.
In late March, Bill Eller stepped down after leading the Soddy Daisy boys' basketball program for the past seven seasons. The Trojans won a combined 50-plus games in Eller's last three years.
In his return to leading a program, Henderson hopes to help bring championships to Soddy Daisy on the hardcourt.
"I moved to Chattanooga this January and have loved being here," Henderson said. "I am very thankful for the year I had at Tyner and for coach E'Jay Ward letting me be a part of the basketball program.
"I am very excited about this new journey. I am very blessed and grateful for this amazing opportunity that Mr. Hensley has allowed me. I can't wait to get started."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.