Coach Eddie Courtney Announces Retirement

In a statement today, Coach Eddie Courtney announced his plans to retire after 28 seasons as head football coach at Farragut High School. In the statement, Coach Courtney said, “In making this decision, I’m looking forward to dedicating more time to my family and the joyous occasions we have yet to share.” The complete statement can be read by clicking here.

Coach Courtney began coaching as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Mars Hill College, in 1975. In the summer of 1975, he started work on his M.S. at East Tennessee State University. While there, he served as a football graduate assistant with duties in scouting, recruiting, and coaching linebackers and defensive ends.

After spring practice and receiving an M.S. degree at E.T.S.U. in 1976, he joined the staff at the University of Tennessee as a grad assistant. While there, his duties were working with the linebackers, the defensive scout teams, and recruiting.

Eddie then joined the Farragut staff during the summer of 1977 when first-year Coach Ken Sparks recruited him to the Admirals. His first stent at Farragut was brief, as he spent two seasons as a defensive assistant.

Courtney got an opportunity to become a coordinator when new Halls head coach Bruce Lussier hired him to be the defensive coordinator for the Red Devils in 1979. Coach Courtney also spent the 1980 and 81 seasons at Halls.

Head Coach Dan Bland recruited Eddie to return to Farragut in 1983 as defensive coordinator for the Admirals, where we would spend the next 41 seasons on the sidelines.

After Coach Buddy Fisher retired in 1995, Coach Eddie Courtney was named head ball coach for the Farragut Admirals. During his 28-year tenure as Head Coach for the Admirals, Coach Courtney amassed 204 victories to only 121 losses and ranks in the 96th percentile in terms of total wins by any coach in the history of the State of Tennessee.

In 2016, Coach Courtney led the Farragut Admirals to its first-ever State Championship, completing a 14-1 record and thrillingly defeating Independence High School in the 5-A Blue Cross Bowl.

Among other honors, he received the PrepExtra Polston Coach of the Year award and the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Pat Summitt Ignite Award.

On December 6, 2021, Coach Courtney was inducted into the 2020 TNFCA Hall of Fame class. In January 2022, Farragut Mayor Ron Williams declared Friday, January 28th, as Eddie Courtney Day in honor of his 26th year as head coach.

Coach Courtney and his wife, Anita, have been married for 41 years and have two children, Megan and Geoff. He has a 2-year-old granddaughter, Charley Rose.

Coach Eddie Courtney By The Numbers