Accepting the challenge of trying to turn around a proud hoop program, Howard Pride has accepted the offer to direct the Cleveland High Runnin' Raiders.
Coming off the only three losing seasons in its 59-year basketball history, the Cleveland City Schools system announced the hiring that brings the former Vanderbilt standout over after one year of leading the East Hamilton boys program.
"Coach (Howard) Pride brings with him more than 18 years of high school coaching and teaching experience, a deep understanding of player development, and a strong commitment to community and academic excellence," a CCSD press release stated Wednesday.
"Coach (Reggie) Tucker did a phenomenal job, taking them to state tournaments, and I know the strong traditional here, so I know the expectations that comes with this job," remarked Coach Pride, who was the 1993 Mr.
Alabama Basketball to cap an impressive three-sport career at Butler High School in Huntsville, where he has been inducted into the town's athletic hall of fame.
Although drafted by the California Angels and offered to play professional baseball, Pride decided to play point guard for Vanderbilt University from 1993-97, where he played for Coach Jan Van Breda Kolff and was a teammate of former McMinn County star Ronnie McMahan his first two seasons.
Pride moved into the starting lineup as a junior and a team captain, earning SEC All-Academic honors, finishing his Commodore career with 211 assists and 70 wins. He later earned his master’s degree from Trevecca University.
Moving to the sidelines, he was an understudy to legendary Belmont head coach Rick Byrd, who retired from the Nashville program in 2019 with 802 career wins to rank among the top 15 in NCAA Division I men's basketball history.
He also did assistant coaching stints as Tennessee State University, Howard University and Belmont University before becoming the director of basketball operations at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Shifting to the high school hardwood, Pride has coached in Alabama at Decatur, Westminster Christian, Alma Bryant and four years at Mae Jemison, in Huntsville.
He also served as head coach of Stewarts Creek in the Murfreesboro area, including working alongside current Cleveland Lady Raider head coach Bianca Hensley.
This past season Pride lead the Hurricanes to a 19-7 mark and a District 6-4A runner-up finish to Bradley Central, plus his Hurricanes advanced to the Region 3 semifinals before falling to Walker Valley. Both the Bears and Mustangs advanced to the TSSAA State Championship tournament.
"We lost to Walker Valley in overtime during the regular season and beat Cleveland in overtime at our place (EH)," related Coach Pride.
"I know Walker Valley will be tough again this year, with a lot of good players back. I'm excited about the challenge of competing in the new district lineup."
In the TSSAA reclassification and alignments for the upcoming four seasons, Cleveland and Walker Valley will be joined by Bradley, East Ham, Howard and Ooltewah in District 5-4A.
As for his new team he stated, "I know when we played them last year, they competed hard and didn't give up. We are looking for that same effort in helping us to build winning program.
"I'm a competitor and want our team to be the same, prepared and ready to compete every night. We have some hungry young men that bring a lot of energy to the court."
Cleveland principal Bob Pritchard said of the new hire, “We are thrilled to welcome Coach Pride to Cleveland High School. His reputation as a leader, mentor and motivator aligns perfectly with the values of our school and athletic program.
"We look forward to the impact he will make on our student-athletes and the broader Cleveland community.”
"His arrival marks an exciting new chapter for Blue Raider basketball," Pritchard proclaimed.
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