New skipper impresses West as a program builder
By Steve Williams
Leaving Clinton High School after building its baseball program for five years was bittersweet for Rob Stacy.
But he couldn’t resist the opportunity to coach against some of the best teams in the state.
“District 4-4A is for sure one of the most competitive districts in the state, along with Region 2 being one of the most difficult regions in the state … which is why I chose to come here,” said Stacy, West High’s new head coach.
District 4-4A alone has perennial state power Farragut, Bearden, Hardin Valley, Maryville and William Blount that West faces.
“It has really good coaches and players … from top to bottom,” said Stacy last Thursday, the first day of the 2024-25 school year in Knox County. “Going against Geff Davis at Gibbs (and his highly regarded program in District 4-3A) made me want to be in that.”
Stacy, 37, will teach Physical Education, Weightlifting classes and Film Studies at West.
The previous coach, Mark Allen Bounds, was at West for two seasons.
“He resigned only because of a career opportunity that required him to leave the state,” said West Athletic Director Paul Romero. “We are very thankful for the direction Coach Bounds led our program and believe Coach Stacy will continue this development.”
Stacy graduated from Daniel Boone High School in Gray (TN) and went two years each to Brevard College (N.C.) and the University of Pikeville (KY), where he played baseball and was an outfielder.
After graduation, he coached two years at Pikeville and one year at David Crockett High School in Jonesborough before filling the head baseball coaching post at Clinton. His first year at Clinton was the 2020 pandemic year and the Dragons’ season was halted after three games.
The Dragons managed to win only six games in 2021, but followed that with 17, 19 and 15 wins the following three seasons, giving Stacy 57 total victories at Clinton. In 2023, the Dragons finished in a three-way tie for first place in the district and hosted the District 4-3A tournament.
“My favorite highlights were watching my kids sign to play in college,” said Stacy. “Seeing them grow and achieve their dreams.”
He had a total of 12 players to sign college scholarships at Clinton, including five this past season.
“We are very excited to welcome Coach Stacy to West High School,” said Romero. “We believe his experience in building a program, as well as his emphasis in player development will serve our student-athletes well going forward. We look forward to the growth of the program and competing at a very high level under his leadership.”
Rob and his wife Brittney have two sons, Rylan (8) and Ridge (2). Brittney works out of Norwood Middle School near Oliver Springs as a math curriculum specialist for Anderson County middle schools.
