Cody Finley felt it was time to leave a place that was like home to him.
After 11 seasons as the head football coach at Cheatham County where he led the football program to unparalleled success, he was officially named the new head football coach at Stewart County on Monday.
"I just really feel it was time for a change," Finley said. "I've had 15 great years at Cheatham County but I just felt in my gut that it was time to get a fresh start at another program."
He replaces Tim Taylor who resigned after a 3-7 season to spend more time with his family.
Finley who had a 67-55 record in Ashland City led the Cubs to the playoffs eight times in 11 years and an overall coaching record of 70-62.
Cheatham County had only made the playoffs five times before Finley arrived in 2002.
The Cubs are coming off their best season ever as they went 12-1 on the year before losing to CPA in the Class 3A Quarterfinals.
The Cubs had an undefeated regular season in 2012 as well.
Finley started his coaching career in 1993 at Dyer County and stayed there for four years.
He had three separate stints at Cheatham County which started as an assistant in 1997-99.
He left to be the head coach at the now defunct Tennessee Preparatory School in 2000, then came back to Ashland City to be an assistant in 2001 before becoming head coach in 2002.
"He's had great success at Cheatham County and I had been watching his success and when I heard he was interested, we zeroed in on him," Stewart County principal Mike Craig said
Finley is the third head football coach hired by Craig since last April.
Myles Holliday resigned last April and moved to Ohio to take care of his ailing dad.
The Rebels then hired Kenny Haggard on May 21, but he resigned on July 6, after he was arrested for a DUI over the fourth of July weekend then Taylor was hired in mid July.
Todd Kelly Jr. Commits to Tennessee
According to his Twitter account, Knoxville Webb safety Todd Kelly Jr. Has committed to Tennessee and new coach Butch Jones.
"I have officially committed to play football at the University of Tennessee," Kelly said via Twitter.
Kelly, the reigning Division II-A Mr. Football back winner in 2012 chose the Vols over nearly 30 Division I offers.
Kelly (6-1, 190) becomes the third commitment for the Volunteer Class of 2014 joining Independence Athlete Vic Wharton and Max Meadows (VA) offensive lineman Coleman Thomas.
With the Kelly commitment, it is the fourth in Tennessee thus far in the Class of 2014 joining Wharton (Tennessee), MBA defensive lineman Jashon Robertson (Vanderbilt) and Westwood Athlete Nikia Cathey (Mississippi State),
Contact Donovan at donovans1222@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at Examine_Stew
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