The Middle Tennessee High School Sports Awards on Monday night recognized two outstanding coaches as Coaches of the Year. Independence boys basketball coach Mark Wilkins and Pickett County girls basketball coach Brent Smith both received this prestigious honor. The event, held at Marathon Music Works and produced in partnership with Nissan, was a sold-out success that celebrated nearly 300 student-athletes from the Mid-State region.
Independence’s Mark Wilkins and Pickett County’s Brent Smith were both named Coaches of the Year at the Middle Tennessee High School Sports Awards on Monday night. This exclusive event honored over 300 student-athletes from the Mid-State region, including these two exceptional coaches.
Wilkins, who joined his father Mitch and brother John as state championship winners, led Independence to their first state title in Class 4A with a 53-44 victory over Cookeville. Since being hired in 2021, Wilkins has amassed an impressive record of 91 wins, two District 10-4A titles, two Region 5 titles, a state runner-up finish in 2023, and now a state championship. The Independence boys basketball team was also a finalist for Boys Team of the Year.
Smith, a Byrdstown native and former player on the boys’ 1990 Class A championship team, guided the Pickett County girls to their first state title in 35 years with a thrilling 56-45 victory over Moore County in the Class A final last March. As a coach, Smith had previously taken two Pickett County boys teams and seven Lady Bobcats teams to the state tournament. His team ended a winless streak last March by defeating Cloudland before claiming their first state title since 1989. The Pickett County girls basketball team was also a finalist for Girls Team of the Year.
The Middle Tennessee High School Sports Awards show was an unforgettable evening that honored some of the best athletes and coaches in high school athletics across the Mid State region.