Will Hester – Head Coach
Coach Will Hester is entering his inaugural season as the Head Football Coach of Blackman High School. Coach Hester comes to Blackman after spending one season as a school administrator following his tenure at Ravenwood. Coach Hester has spent 26 seasons roaming the sidelines and 16 of those have been as a head coach. He has compiled a 106-63 record as a head coach including the 2015 6A State Championship, 2014 State Runner-Up, 3 Semi-Final appearances and 7 times advancing to the Quarterfinals. His record at Ravenwood in just 7 years as 76-17. Coach Hester is no stranger to Rutherford County football having started his career in the district coaching at both LaVergne and Siegel. He is excited to get back into the Friday Night Battles that make this county so great! Coach Hester is married to Wendi and they have two kids, Gigi (23) and Riggs (20).
KEVIN MEADOWS – Head Freshman Coach and Varsity Assistant
Coach Meadows enters his 21st season on the Blaze coaching staff as the Freshman Head Coach and a Varsity Assistant Coach. He began his career as an assistant on Varsity in 2004, moving up to Freshman Offensive Coordinator in 2005. From 2006-2009, he served as the Varsity Wide Receiver Coach and the Varsity Running Backs Coach from 2009-2019. In 2020, he was the Offensive Coordinator and coached Quarterbacks. He and his wife, Cortney, live in Murfreesboro with their two daughters, Anna and Izzy.
Corey Davis – Assistant Coach
(Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers)
Coach Collier is entering his 15th year coaching, and his first at Blackman. Coach Collier spent the last 3 years at Ravenwood, and has had previous stops at Brentwood, Alcoa, and 3 seasons at the college level. Coach Collier graduated from The University of Tennessee with a Masters degree in education.
Drew Collier – Assistant Coach
(Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers)
Coach Collier is entering his 15th year coaching, and his first at Blackman. Coach Collier spent the last 3 years at Ravenwood, and has had previous stops at Brentwood, Alcoa, and 3 seasons at the college level. Coach Collier graduated from The University of Tennessee with a Masters degree in education.
Al Haston – Assistant Coach
(Offensive Line)
Coach Haston is entering his 16th season coach, with this being his first at Blackman High School. Prior to coaching, he played Offensive Line for the Tennessee and Tennessee Tech.
Bowdy Boyce – Assistant Coach
(Tight Ends)
Coach Bowdy Boyce enters his 3rd season coaching with this being his 1st year at Blackman coaching the TE’s. Prior to coaching, Coach Boyce attended Blackman High School, then earned his Bachelors degree from Newberry College, and earned his Masters Degree from American College of Education. Coach Boyce wrestled in college at Newberry.
Malek Holman – Assistant Coach
(Corners)
Coach Holman enters his 8th season coaching with this being his 4th season at Blackman High School. Prior to coaching, Coach Holman attended Oakland High School. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree from Bethel University and his Master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University. He played football at Bethel and earned two Academic All-Conference Awards.
Tee Mayberry – Assistant Freshman Coach and Varsity Assistant
Coach Tee is entering his 2nd year coaching Freshman football at Blackman High School. He works as an Educational Assistant at Blackman. Coach Tee graduated from Oakland High School and was a part of the 2008 state champion team. He is here to help student athletes become better in all aspects of their lives. Finally, he gives all glory to the man above.
Kevin Gregory – Assistant Coach
(Outside Linebackers)
Coach Gregory enters his 19th season on the Blaze coaching staff as an assistant coach. A 1999 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Coach Gregory was a long snapper for the Vols under Phillip Fulmer. He was a member of the 1998 BCS National Championship team for the Volunteers and the 1997 and 1998 Southeastern Conference Championship teams. Coach Gregory has worked under seven of the eight head coaches of Blackman Football since 2007. He is married to Courtney Gregory, Blackman’s Varsity Cheerleading coach. The couple has one son, Carter (Junior at UT-Knoxville) and a daughter, Caroline (11th grade at BHS).
Josh Cunningham – Assistant Coach
(Wide Receivers)
Coach Cunningham enters his 7th year of coaching and his 4th year at Blackman. Originally from the Murfreesboro area, Coach Cunningham graduated from Oakland High School in 2015 befroe playing the next four years at Tennessee Tech. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Tech and is currently in the process of obtaining his teaching license from UT-Martin. Prior to coaching at Blackman, Coach Cunningham coached defensive backs and wide receivers at Adamsville High School for 3 seasons.
Malcolm Smith – Assistant Coach
(Defensive Line)
Coach Smith enters his 1st season coaching. Prior to coaching, Coach Smith attended Blackman High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Elizabeth City State University. Coach Smith also played football at ECSU where he was blessed to be named team captain for his Senior season.
Mark Panella – Assistant Coach
(Quarterbacks)
Coach Panella enters his 35th season coaching high school football with this being his first year at Blackman High School. Prior to this season, Coach P coached at Ravenwood High School with Coach Hester. Before moving to Tennessee in 2021, Coach P spent 30 years coaching at De La Salle High School in Concord CA as the OC working directly with the QB’s and RB’s. Coach P graduated from the University of Denver with a BS in Business Administration while on a full athletic scholarship to play baseball.
