After seven very successful seasons on the west side of Chattanooga, Chris Brown is returning to Cleveland High as the new head football coach.
Leading Red Bank and Baylor deep into the TSSAA playoffs, Brown posted a combined 73-17 mark as the Lions head coach from 2018-21 and the Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach for the Red Raiders the past three seasons, all of which ended in the BlueCross State Championship game.
“My family and I are humbled to have the opportunity to once again become part of the Cleveland High School family," Brown related.
"I look forward to meeting the students, educators, and families of Cleveland High School and partnering with them to make all areas of our school successful.”
Brown served on head coach Scott Cummings' 2017 Blue Raider staff as a linebackers coach during the 7-4 season, which included a loss at Farragut in the opening round of the TSSAA Class 6A Playoffs.
“I am thrilled that Chris Brown is going to be leading our Blue Raider football program,” proclaimed CHS principal Bob Pritchard.
“Coach Brown reflects the values of our school and district and will shape our students into individuals that can have success both on the field and in the classroom.”
The new hire came just five days after the Cleveland City Schools announced it had informed former head coach Chandler Tygard that his contract would not be renew after just two seasons at the helm.
Originally from Unicoi County, Brown played in the SEC as a fullback at Vanderbilt before returning to his alma mater to begin his coaching career, serving as the DC for four seasons before joining the Ooltewah staff in 2013 and helping them to a 40-10 record
Cleveland City Director of Schools, Dr.
Jeff Elliott, stated in a press release, “We are very happy to welcome Coach Brown back to Cleveland. He brings the energy and commitment needed to move Cleveland Football into the future.
"His desire to build a strong football team while also building young men with strong character fits our vision for the program and will be a great complement to the success we are already seeing at Cleveland High School.”
While Cleveland went 348-104-3 (77%) and won four state championships under just four head coaches — Bobby Scott, Ronnie Weir, Benny Monroe and Leon Brown — in its first 39 years, since they have had a half dozen coaches that have only gone 118-99 (54.4%).