Tim Knox

Tim Knox, World History, World Geography

"Our current (high school basketball) coaches were interested in having a middle school program to feed our high school," said Tim Knox, athletic director at Cannon High School."Right now we have six grammar schools and they each have their own program and compete against each other.There are other schools we compete against that have kids that have played with each other for two years (on the same team)."

Tonight's meeting begins at 7 in the Cannon County Courthouse main courtroom in Woodbury.

Knox was a coach of the Lions' varsity boys basketball team for nine years, three as a head coach.He supports the middle school basketball proposal.

"Middle school (teams) could run an offense and defense similar to what the high school is doing and (athletes) could come in and contribute a lot quicker (in high school) than they have in the past," he said.

The elementary schools could still have their own programs, he said.

"Just a few would be selected for the (middle school) team," he said.

Athletic Director Tim Knox, athletic director and assistant principal at CCHS spoke last month of the need for an All Sports Complex.

"It would benefit all our sports teams, girls and boys, especially baseball softball, volleyball and cheerleaders," he said."They don't have locker space and facilities of their own.The football team doesn't have adequate weight room and locker room space."

Knox said football players have to lift weights, 10 players at a time.

Cannon County High School athletic director Tim Knox, CCHS girls head coach Michael Dodgen and CCHS boys head coach Michael Couey did not return phone calls Friday afternoon.
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In comments to the DNJ before Thursday's meeting, Knox confirmed that his head basketball coaches were interested in having a middle school program that would create a pipeline to the high school.

"The girls and boys programs have always been interested in having (this), myself included," the former boys head coach said.

Even before Thursday's meeting, Knox acknowledged the middle school team proposal has stirred a lot of emotions because of the community pride the teams bring the elementary schools.

"But they (elementary schools) would still have their own program," he said."Just a select few would be selected for the team."

Knox added that the high school coaches were hoping to start the middle school teams this year.

"It has worked really well," said Tim Knox, assistant principal of Cannon County High School.