Chambers named HVA boys basketball coach

HARDIN VALLEY — Hardin Valley Academy didn’t have to go far to find its new boys basketball coach.

The school recently promoted longtime assistant Shane Chambers to the head coaching post.

Chambers, 30, replaces his mentor, Keith Galloway, who resigned early last month to spend more time with his family. The new coach becomes Hardin Valley’s second head boys basketball coach.

Galloway was the Hawks first head coach. He and his wife, Jennifer, both came to Hardin Valley when the school opened in 2008. Jennifer remains the school’s girls basketball coach.

Chambers is no stranger to Hardin Valley student-athletes. He serves as the Hawks golf coach and has worked alongside Keith Galloway since the program’s inception.

“That’s an advantage,” Chambers said of his time at the school and in the boys basketball program. “I worked for eight years under Keith and I’ve learned a lot from him.”

Chambers graduated from Jefferson County High School where he played for current Patriots girls coach Rick Sinard and current Central High School golf coach Tony Patterson.

“Coach Sinard and coach Patterson were my [basketball] coaches at Jefferson County,” Chambers said. “They were my mentors and I can always pick up the phone and call them.

“Since I got the job, I’ve had plenty of calls from coaches in both the basketball and golf communities congratulating me.”

Chambers is one of two new area basketball coaches who will take the floor next season. Bearden recently hired former Cherokee head coach Jeremy Parrott to replace the legendary Mark Blevins, who is now in Alabama.

Chambers will have a new roster and he’ll look to put his stamp on the HVA program.

“I’m just extremely grateful for this opportunity,” he said. “I’m grateful that [principal Sallee] Reynolds and [athletic director George] Ashe for giving me this opportunity.

“Our style will be a little different because we’ll have a new roster. We have six seniors [from last season’s team] who are graduating.”

Away from basketball and golf, Chambers enjoys following HVA’s other sports teams.

“I’m never too far away to walk down and watch a baseball game,” he said. “I love being around Hardin Valley athletics and supporting Hardin Valley. I enjoy being at Hardin Valley Academy.

“It sounds cliché to say, but this is home. I’ve been the golf coach here for seven years and I’ve been here since the school opened. I volunteered on Keith’s staff during that first year.”

Chambers first worked as a graduate school intern before coaching the Hawks freshman team. He’s coached HVA’s junior varsity team over the last five seasons.

Chambers graduated from The University of Tennessee. He’s

a Florida State football fan and an avid supporter of Big Orange basketball.