BY DAVE LINK
Central coach Chris Quinn is pumped for the 2024 soccer season – and not just the boys’ season this spring.
Quinn has been hired to replace Bill Mize as the Central girls’ coach in the fall.
“My dream has always been to coach boys’ and girls’ soccer at the same school, and now I get to do it,” Quinn said. “I’m very appreciative of the opportunity.”
Mize coached the Central girls for nine seasons, posting a 106-52-6 record and leading the Lady Bobcats to four district championships and two runner-up finishes. They also won two region championships and had two runner-up finishes under Mize along with reaching four sectional matches and one state quarterfinal (2019).
Before Mize began coaching Central’s girls, they had never reached a district final.
“I get to take over for Bill Mize. The guy’s a legend,” Quinn said. “I’m really excited to live my dream.”
Mize, a longtime official and a fixture of area soccer, will continue officiating some matches and will be attending others.
And Quinn is ready to take on the 2024 season with the Bobcats, his eighth year as their coach.
“We’ve been the underdogs and still are, and that’s fine with me,” Quinn said. “This district and region are loaded with great soccer teams.”
Yep, the 5Star Preps coverage area is full of talented teams, many seeking return trips to Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.
Alcoa came up just short of the Class A state title in 2023, losing to Madison Magnet 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout after the teams played to a 2-2 draw in regulation and overtimes.
Greeneville was also within grasp of the Class AA state title but lost to Nashville’s Valor College Prep 4-3 in a PK shootout after the teams played to a scoreless draw in regulation and overtimes.
They weren’t the only boys’ soccer teams from the 5Star Preps coverage area coming up shy of a state title at Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.
Bearden suffered a crushing defeat in the Class AAA quarterfinals; Hardin Valley Academy advanced to the Class AAA semifinals and Halls to the Class AA semifinals; and Gatlinburg-Pittman reached the Class A semifinals.
Here’s a look at some teams to watch in 2024 from the 5Star Preps coverage area (in alphabetical order) and some players to watch by position (in no particular order):
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