Tom Adkins retires as Jo Byrns football coach after 29 seasons
Tom Adkins plans to stay involved with Jo Byrns football next season.
However, it will only be in his role as athletic director at the Robertson County school.
Adkins announced his retirement as the school's football coach on Monday after 29 seasons. He will remain at the school as a teacher and athletic director. Adkins said he will continue to oversee the program until a new coach is hired. He said ideally that person would be hired by the school's spring break.
"It's time," said Adkins, 56. "It's just not me. It's the Adkins family that has done it for 29 years. My four boys and (wife) Teresa — I've been blessed to do it for 29 years. "It's pretty well an easy decision. I've got two granddaughters now.
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"On Friday nights, there is no better place to be than at a high school football game. You'll still see me at football games."
Adkins, a Jo Byrns alumnus, was 195-138 at the Class 1A program with six region championships and the school's only two BlueCross state championship games. The Red Devils finished state runner-up to Trousdale County in 2008 and runner-up to South Pittsburg in 2010. His son Scott Adkins quarterbacked the 2008 team and son Brandon Adkins was the quarterback in 2010.
Adkins reached the TSSAA playoffs 21 of his 29 seasons, including the past six seasons. This year's team finished 3-8 with a first-round playoff loss to Whitwell.
Adkins raised his family on the football field. All four played football for him. Two of them played in state championship games. And his wife always assisted. That may mean painting. It may mean washing uniforms.
"My kids were at first running around and getting in the way," he said. "Then they were ball boys. Then they were playing. They are still around."
That now includes coaching with their dad, helping paint the field and even a role as public address announcer at games.
"This past year we had four coaches, counting myself," Tom said. "Well, three of those four are Adkins. Myself and Scott is helping and my youngest Kevin is helping."
Sons Brandon and Glen help with filming games, breaking games down and calling the games on Fridays.
"It's a family ordeal, and has been for 29 years. And I wouldn't change it for the world," Tom said.
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jo Byrns football coach Tom Adkins retires after 29 seasons
