CLEVELAND, Tenn. — For the second time since school let out in Bradley County, a local high school softball team has lost its head coach. Bradley Central's Hallie (Davis) Geren announced on Facebook this afternoon she has stepped aside after four year of directing the Bearettes to be a fulltime mom.
The former Walker Valley multi-year, all-state player and collegiate standout at both Lee and Tennessee Tech universities, had her second child just before the season began and came back to lead Bradley to its first district championship in 17 years.
Capping an eight-year stint at Cleveland High, KJ Harris stepped down at the end of May after back-to-back state-ranked squads, which included the Lady Raiders first-ever district title this spring.
Both Cleveland Bradley fell in the Region 3-4A semifinals to bring their strong seasons to a close.
Geren stated in her social media post, "For the fist time since I was 3 I am no longer apart of softball. "Between playing, coaching, giving lessons at least part of my life has revolved around softball in some aspect.”
"Some of this has been by choice and others not but I do know that my family is and will always be my first priority. I left my position to be a stay at home mom and it has been nothing but fulfilling to say the least," she continued.
"My family is only a blessing from God and I could not do this life without them. I may be a little lost right now after losing a piece of me that I thought I never would have to give up but I know God has a plan and I will praise him in the valleys just like I would on the mountain tops.”
"To my softball girls: I love each and everyone of you like you were my little sisters. I have enjoyed being apart of each one of your lives and I could not thank you enough from the bottom of my heart that you have allowed me to be there in some sort of way during yours the past years. I could never replace the memories that we have made that I will forever cherish," the mentor commented.
Having resigned her teaching position at the end of the school year and no longer being a school employee, Geren was told she could no longer serve as a head coach, although no TSSAA policy prevents it.
"Yes, they can," responded TSSAA Assistant Executive Director Matthew Gillispie when questioned about the state policy. "As long as they meet all the requirements for non-factulty coaches."
The TSSAA regulations state, "High School Classified Employees and Non-Faculty Coaches must be approved by principal, director of schools, and/or school board each year.
"Must be submitted by the principal to TSSAA each year.
"Must successfully complete the NFHS 'Fundamentals of Coaching' and 'First Aid, Health, & Safety for Coaches' courses prior to coaching."
Geren related, "When I couldn't continue as head coach, I offered to stay on as a volunteer assistant coach, but was told the new head coach would be allowed to chose his own assistant coaches."
Bradley sent out a press release this afternoon naming former Walker Valley assistant baseball, football and girls basketball coach Caden Ricketts as the new Bearette head coach.
Former Feisty Fillies and Lady Flame diamond standout Laney Harris and Brianna Waddell, who served as an assistant softball coach under Geren in her first BCHS season, will be the Bradley assistant coaches.
"These last four years at Bradley have been nothing but a blessing. These girls that have come and gone will forever hold a place in heart.
"This was not an easy decision, but after many tears and prayers, me and my family decided my role as a mom would come first above all others," Geren explained.
"Leaving Bradley has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, between my kids in my classroom and my team on the field, my heart breaks knowing that I will not be there for them going forward.
"I loved this school and this program with every piece of my heart, but now it’s my turn to put my family first ahead of everything else. God bless and GO BEARETTES!" she proclaimed.
Getting her first head coaching opportunity in 2021, Geren took over a Bradley program that was coming off a 4-28 mark the previous two seasons, including the COVID shortened 2020 campaign.
While pregnant with her first child in her initial season, Geren and husband Austin's now three-year-old son Cooper was born midway through the season.
Instilling confidence in her players, the team responded to her "gutsy" style of play and in 2023 posted the program first winning season since 2008, going 16-13.
Once again posting 16 victories this spring, as well as claiming the District 6-4A championship, Geren once again had to deal with a pregnancy, as daughter Delaine, who wasn't due until late April, came early, March 7, just a week before the season began.
Having to miss the first couple of weeks of the campaign as the team got off to a 2-4 start, she returned to direct the young squad that only had four upperclassmen (two seniors and two juniors), while having to discretely breastfeed her newborn at times in the dugout during games.
Although successfully juggling the challenges of her head coaching and and motherly duties, Geren expressed a desire to concentrate on raising her children, setting aside her love for the sport of softball for the time being. She has not ruled out a return to the diamond in the future.
(Contact Joe Cannon at joe.cannon@clevelndbanner.com)