Volunteer High School Football Looks Ahead Following TSSAA Ruling

CHURCH HILL, Tenn. — The Volunteer High School football team has recently garnered attention from the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) and the Tennessee comptroller's office. Despite the scrutiny, Hawkins County Schools and head coach Jeremy Wagner expressed optimism about the future of the Falcons.

The TSSAA placed the Falcons on probation after discovering that Wagner had improperly contacted a player from Cherokee High School and his father, as well as a university regarding the player. Both Wagner and Hawkins County Director of Schools Matt Hixson agreed with the TSSAA's decision, emphasizing a commitment to learning from the incident. “I’m going to learn from this moment, we’re going to move on and grow and grow together,” Wagner stated.

Hixson acknowledged the errors made, affirming his support for Wagner. “We’re going to make mistakes. I want to refer back to what Coach Wagner said, and that is, what do we do with those mistakes, and how do we learn from them?” he remarked, focusing on the importance of learning from past missteps.

Additionally, an investigation by the Tennessee comptroller's office led to the indictment of the treasurer of the touchdown club during the 2024-25 season, prior to Wagner's tenure, after uncovering over $16,000 in questionable financial activities. Hixson clarified that this situation does not reflect on the school itself, noting, “Student support organizations are separate and apart from the school system.”

As they move forward, Wagner wants to assure parents and players that their well-being is his top priority. “I put their kid first, no matter what,” he said. “If I can get a kid the opportunity, they’ll have an opportunity.” Wagner, who led the Falcons to a playoff appearance and a seven-win season in his first year, is set to begin his second season on August 21 against Daniel Boone High School.