Mt. Pleasant boys and girls basketball coaches dismissed

By Maurice Patton

Spring Break didn’t get off to such a great start for Chris Carney and Amy Odom.

The Mt. Pleasant boys and girls basketball coaches were each dismissed from those positions Thursday – the final day of classes for Maury County Public Schools until April 12 — ending their two-year tenures.

“Thinking long-term of the program, we know the talent we have, the talent we have coming up,” principal Ryan Jackson said in confirming the decisions. “You have to assess the goals you have for the program.

“We’re still talking about the ‘championship mindset’. We’re excited about the future. We understand it’s a process, and we’re going to work the process.”

Mt. Pleasant will open the 2021-22 boys basketball campaign with its fifth coach in six years, following Chris Carney’s dismissal Thursday after two seasons. Lady Tigers second-year coach Amy Odom was also dismissed by the school’s administration. (Photo by Vanessa Beach / SM-Tn Sports)

Carney, named in April 2019 to replace former interim coach Cory Armstrong, led the Tigers to a 30-27 record over two seasons. Mt. Pleasant reached the Region 5-A tournament semifinals in 2020, finishing 21-10, and went 9-17 this past year with a region quarterfinal berth.

“We met at the end of the day. They explained they wanted to take the program in a different direction,” he said. “I told them I appreciated the time, that I’d continue the year teaching, and I walked out.

“I’m looking forward to getting some family time and Spring Break.”

Carney had previously spent three years at Wilson Central and four at Portland, compiling a 67-130 mark.

“I think that speaks to the level of talent you have,” Jackson said at the time regarding Carney’s prior track record. “One thing we’ve never lacked is athletes. I think this is an exciting opportunity for him to put his influence and coaching style on some of the best athletes in Maury County.”

Odom, who succeeded Jim Hamilton after previously serving as his assistant, won six games in two seasons with the Lady Tigers.

Jackson said no timetable for hiring the next coaches had been established, but the process will begin immediately.

With those moves, there are four area basketball coaching vacancies. Both Culleoka and Columbia Central are in search of girls basketball coaches as well, following the resignation of Lady Warriors coach Derrick Adkison and the dismissal of Lady Lions coach Joshua Bugg.

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