Cookeville High School girls’ basketball coach Jamie Gillies has continued to build the program since taking over in 2017.
This month, she added another accolade to her resume: the A.F. Bridges Sportsmanship Award, a statewide honor recognizing coaches who exemplify character, integrity, and hospitality in high school athletics.Gillies has led Cookeville to multiple 25-plus win seasons, including a 32–2 campaign in 2022. Gillies said this recognition felt both humbling and affirming.
“It’s such a great honor,” Gillies said. “To even be nominated is a big deal but to get the award is great, and I love any opportunity to showcase my program and the things we’re doing at Cookeville High School.”
Gillies said she gives credit to her coaching staff, school administration, and the wider community for shaping the program’s culture.
The A.F. Bridges Award is designed to honor coaches and programs statewide who display outstanding sportsmanship. Gillies said Cookeville has embraced that from top to bottom.
“I think a lot of times people can be a little bit intimidated by the size of Cookeville,” Gillies said. “Honestly, when I started coaching here, knowing my girls would attend here I was a little bit worried about that.”
Gillies’ ties to the program run deep. All four of her daughters have attended and played basketball at Cookeville High School. Gillies said watching the school grow, not just in athletics, but across all student activities, has been one of the highlights of her tenure as both a coach and a full-time teacher.
“There’s so many great programs at Cookeville High School that people can get involved in,” Gillies said. “Whether that be sports or our drama department, our band, our chorus, there’s so many things that kids can find their way and find their people at Cookeville High School.”
Gillies said for her, the award is less about wins and more about the standards her program represents. With another season underway, Gillies said the honor serves as further motivation for her team, and a reminder of what Cookeville basketball stands for.
