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HomeSportsIsaac Shelby returns to his roots as new Clarksville High School football...

Isaac Shelby returns to his roots as new Clarksville High School football coach

Clarksville High School WildcatsClarksville, TN – After five successful seasons as head football coach at Northeast High School, Isaac Shelby has returned to where he played and started his coaching career as he was named the new head coach at Clarksville High School, February 5th in an official presentation in the school cafeteria.

Shelby replaces Ken Busbee, who resigned on December 4th, 2013 after three seasons at the helm of the Wildcats football program.

Clarksville High School announces Isaac Shelby new football coach.
Clarksville High School announces Isaac Shelby new football coach.

“We had over 60 people apply for the job,” Clarksville High athletic director Shannon Cummings said. “We then narrowed that down to have a round of interviews, followed by calling back selected ones for a second interview.

“Obviously by tonight he shined and his passion showed through, it showed through tonight and I think it will continue to show through.”

The Shelby coached Eagles have made four straight trips to the state playoffs, earning two quarter final runs and a semifinal finish this past season. Overall, Shelby posted a 32-20 win-loss mark at Northeast.

“It was a very emotional day for me when I met with my players at Northeast and told them I was leaving to take the job at Clarksville High,” Shelby said. “There were tears and they were upset and hurt and I can understand that.

“But I also told them I didn’t expect them to understand (why I was leaving), because it was a grown-up decision and they’re just kids who are hurt, but they will move on.”

Shelby played for the Wildcats under coach Bob Ateca – playing on the 2000 team that was region runner-up — and returned a few years later to coach on the staff of Jim Snider.

He left Clarksville High to be an assistant coach at Northeast in 2008, under Bryan Johnson and helped turn an Eagles team with went 0-10 the year before he got there into a 4-6 team in his first season on the staff, followed by a 7-5 campaign the second year – including a second-round berth in the state playoffs.

Johnson would be named athletic director at West Creek High School, prior to the 2010 season, with Shelby being named interim head coach.

The interim was changed to permanent after his first season at the helm, as he led them to a 8-5 overall record and a berth into the second-round of the state playoffs – losing to Hendersonville 24-21.

“Between me and Bryan (Johnson) we ran off a bunch of playoffs in a row, including a couple of quarterfinals and a semifinal.

“We build it into something they could have pride in, and that’s what we wanted to do the whole time, but now it’s a time for me to start a new chapter and see if I can do the same thing here.”

Shelby will get involved with the weight training and conditioning right away, while also working to put his staff together.

“I’m not going to rush into putting a staff together,” he said. “I want to get the right people in, so we can do with what we have right now and add some pieces as we go.”

Chris Austin
Chris Austinhttp://www.clarksvillesportsnetwork.com
Chris Austin is a graduate of Clarksville High School and Austin Peay State University. Chris is a former Head Softball Coach for APSU, and assistant basketball coach for CHS. Chris has worked at the Leaf-Chronicle, and WJZM News/Talk/Sports radio. Has also worked at the Sports Information Department at APSU, and has covered championship events for the Ohio Valley Conference and NCAA. Chris is an avid sports fan and can be found at most Austin Peay State University sports events.
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