Michael Brooks of Farm Bureau is the presenter of the Claiborne County Sports Zone Hall of Fame and had this to say about his involvement with honoring the past, “I am excited for the opportunity to be able to support the sports HOF. I feel like it’s a great idea to get something started bringing recognition to our local athletes of the past. I think it’s important for our younger, current athletes to be able to see those who came before them and be aware of some of their many outstanding accomplishments and the impacts they have had in our community.”
The Claiborne County Sports Zone’s first Hall of Fame Inductee, presented by Michael Brooks, Farm Bureau is Coach Carl Green.
The late Coach Carl Green was born on December 7, 1936, in Hancock County, to Lester and Ethel Green. He graduated from Claiborne County High School in 1954 and Lincoln Memorial University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. Coach Green met and married his sweetheart, Trina, in the spring of 1966 and they were happily married for 48 years.
A lifelong native of Claiborne County, Coach Green realized his dream of coaching at Claiborne County High School in the fall of 1967 and went on to become one of Tennessee high school basketball’s most successful and admired coaches. In just his second season, his Blue Devils posted a record of 30-4 and were district champions. During that year he was also blessed with the birth of his first son, Mark Bridger Green. Later, Coach Green was blessed with a second son, Lance Brandon Green, which he coached during the late eighties. Lance went on to be named All-District on two occasions as well as District and Region Player of the Year, Tazewell Classic MVP, All Region, All East Tennessee, and second team Tennessee All State honors. Coach Green would later reveal that his 1987 season with Lance was a career coaching highlight.
Though his accomplishments extended beyond the hardwoods, it was Coach Green’s achievements during 27 seasons at CCHS that put him in the company of such legendary Tennessee coaches as Walter “Buck” VanHuss and John Treadway. Green’s teams won 17 district titles, 16 Tazewell Classic championships, and he finished a celebrated career with 471 victories, was named district coach of the year by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) on 12 different occasions and held a winning record against all teams the Blue Devils opposed. The Claiborne County Blue Devils hold the distinction of being the winningest men’s basketball program in their assigned district and region during the decades of 1970-80 and 1980-1990.
Green could also be found coaching Little League baseball and basketball, teaching youth Sunday school at Tazewell Baptist Church, coaching and playing church league softball, and hosting the Carl Green “Camp of Champions” summer basketball camp. All of which, were simply tools he used to coach, mentor and develop young men and women. From the everyday basics to life’s lessons on realizing dreams, Coach Green was always leading and teaching: religious faith, leadership & character, work ethic, dedication, teamwork, and core values.
Coach Green enjoyed winning, but he did not put winning above everything. He was more concerned that his players and students became successful as human beings, pursued an education, and learned to make the right choices as adults and as parents. In essence, he prepared them for life. Green sadly passed away January 17, 2015.
For all his efforts as a coach and for his imprint on his athletes and students, Coach Green is officially the first ever Claiborne County Sports Zone as presented by Michael Brooks of Farm Bureau, Hall of Fame inductee.
Thank you, Michael Brooks of Farm Bureau, for presenting this honor in partnership with the Zone.
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