In Tennessee, the High School football season will open on August 22nd and in the first game of the year, Boyd-Buchanan Coach Gary Rankin could make history. Going into the game with Pallotti from the state of Maryland, Rankin's career record is 499-84. A Buccaneer win would give him 500 wins, far and away the most in Tennessee history. As of today Rankin ranks sixth on the all-time list, behind John T. Curtis from Louisiana (630) John McKissick from South Carolina (621) Robert Hyland from Wisconsin (522) Jim Roth from Pennsylvania (506) and Mike Smith from Virginia (506).
That's an impressive list.
Rankin came to Boyd-Buchanan in 2022 after leaving Alcoa where he coached for 21 years. During his 43 year coaching career, he's won 17 state championships, with 13 of them coming at Alcoa. Since coming to the Bucs his record is 32-6 and 25-2 in the last two seasons with those two losses coming to eventual state champion Christ Presbyterian Academy. CPA has now moved up to Division II-AAA.
The Bucs have a 21 game regular season winning streak on the line as well going into game one and you have to figure the Bucs are among the favorites to win the D-II AA State title. The 2025 edition of Boyd-Buchanan football could be the school's best team ever. The Bucs have several starters returning from last year's 12-1 squad and they've added some impressive newcomers as well.
For 72 year old Gary Rankin, Boyd-Buchanan has been a great place to land in the twilight of his ultra-successful coaching career. He took the job to be near his children and grandson and Boyd-Buchanan has reaped the benefits . After going 7-4 in his first season with the Bucs Rankin stated, "I'm not used to this." That became rather obvious with a 25-2 mark the next two years. Facing the challenge of improving his football program was nothing to compare with the challenge he faced a little over a year ago. He was diagnosed with Cancer and while he never missed a game, he was absent from the sideline, choosing to coach from the stands or press box until he could return to the field. Going into 2025, he's healthy again and his occasional Gosh Dang It!" can be heard from anywhere on the field when he sees something he doesn't like.
He doesn't show any signs of slowing down and even though getting 500 wins and his 18th state championship might be enough for most people, it may not be enough for Gary Rankin. "I don't play golf, I don't fish, I just coach football," he told me a couple of years ago. I would imagine he will coach as long as he's able to get out of bed each day and the staff he's put together at Boyd-Buchanan is as good as any. Those coaches and all his players consider it an honor to be on the sidelines with him each week.
His wife Sandra is and always has been his biggest supporter. He likes to joke about the time she told him to take the kitchen trash out. He told her, "You do know I've won 17 state championships don't you?" She replied, "Yes and get the bathroom garbage while you're at it."
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Randy Smith can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.com