Josh Heard returning as the head boys basketball coach at Cookeville High School after previously leading the program to a state runner-up finish in 2023.
Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Adam Kefauver said Heard originally stepped away from the program for family reasons but felt led to return to coaching. Kefauver said the vacancy was created when former head coach Matt Hill stepped down.
“He’s got a proven record to be successful here,” Kefauver said. “I know him well, he knows a lot of the folks in the community and in our building here and his time here was fantastic. So, you know, he’s a great fit for our program.”
Kefauver said Heard spent six years developing the program during his first tenure before leading the team to its first state tournament appearance in 70 years. Kefauver said the hiring committee felt Heard was the best candidate.
“It takes not only somebody that knows the game of basketball,” Kefauver said, “But somebody that knows how to navigate the cultures and and the communities that they’re coaching in. And like I said, he’s proven that he can do that. So that was a big factor in our decision.”
Kefauver said the current team had a successful summer competing in tournaments and is showing a lot of excitement about the returning players. Kefauver said the program intends to keep expectations high following the success of the previous season.
“It’s a daily process and that’s something that I think Coach Heard is does a good job of with his boys is you know he he gets them to understand that it’s about the daily grind and attention to detail and the daily expectations that they he has for his kids,” Kefauver said.
Kefauver said Heard is currently focused on establishing relationships and building trust with the players, including incoming freshmen. Kefauver said the return of the former coach provides a sense of stability for the players and the Cookeville community.
“They come in as a freshman and you know the expectation and and him holding them accountable and and him getting them bought into the process, they develop,” Kefauver said. “So they get a lot better by the time they’re you know juniors and seniors there’s a lot of growth. And that’s in all of our sports programs. You know, that’s that’s our number one goal is growth and development, not just as a basketball player, baseball player, football player, volleyball, it’s it’s you know becoming a a mature adult human being that can go out and into in the next stage of life and be successful.”
Kefauver said the primary goal for all athletic programs at the school is the long-term development of students into mature adults.
“I’m very confident in Coach Heard and like I’m excited about this season and I know that um you know he’s going to do what is needed to move this program or continue to move this program in the direction it’s been moved,” Kefauver said. “So I’m just really excited about it.”
