TSSAA Hall of Fame Dodgen’s latest honor
Farragut High School legend Donald Dodgen, current school athletic director, is almost 15 years removed from a “remarkable 38-year coaching career (that) stands as a testament to his dedication, leadership and influence on student-athletes at the high school and college levels,” a Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association press release stated.
This governing body of state high school athletics recently elected Dodgen — with almost 60 years of excellence as a player, coach and AD — into its Hall of Fame, which was announced Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Dodgen and seven other new Hall of Fame members will be inducted at the annual TSSAA Luncheon in the Student Union Building at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Monday, April 7.
A High School All-American 6-foot-5 scoring machine as a basketball superstar at Gatlinburg-Pittman High (Class of 1969), “Coach Dodgen played at Tennessee Wesleyan, where his talent on the court helped propel him into the spotlight as both a player and coach,” the release stated.
“His achievements were honored with inductions into multiple halls of fame, including the Tennessee Wesleyan Hall of Fame (as both player and coach), Gatlinburg-Pittman … Farragut High School Hall of Fame (as a coach and administrator) and the KIL Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
“With a career that spans multiple schools and sports, he has had an enduring impact on both the athletic programs and the communities he served,” it further stated. “His legacy as a basketball coach, athletic director and mentor has made him one of the most respected figures in Tennessee high school athletics.”
Dodgen’s coaching journey “took him to several schools, where he coached basketball and girls softball,” the release stated. “Starting at McMinn County High School, then moving on to Gatlinburg-Pittman” before taking the boys hoops head coaching job at FHS beginning in the fall of 1996, “he left an unforgettable impact on each place that he served. As a basketball coach, his overall record of 655 wins and 309 losses speaks to his consistency and excellence … including a trip to the state tournament in 1982 and multiple region and district championships.
“At Farragut, where he spent the bulk of his coaching tenure, he compiled an impressive 308 career wins,” the release further stated.
Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year as AD, “he has overseen the growth and success of the school’s athletic programs. Under his leadership, Farragut has won 13 state championships across various sports. His leadership has been instrumental in creating a culture of excellence, and Farragut High School’s success on the state level is a direct result of his vision and dedication to student-athletes.”
