Siegel Cross Country Coach Phil Young Retires

Jan 04, 2023 at 06:17 pm by WGNS


by Greg Wyant

Long time Cross Country coach Phil Young has decided to retire after 15 seasons at the helm of the Siegel Cross Country teams. Coach Young was always working to “make an irrelevant sport, relevant”. He did what he set out to do in his time spent at Siegel. He has been a great mentor to the Siegel athletes and to the athletic staff.

Phil Young just finished his 15th season as Head Cross Country Coach at Siegel High School, where he has taught for 20 years. Young helped lead the boys’ cross-country team to the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Division 1 Large School State Championship. In 2021, the boys team finished as State Runner-up. In 2021, Kyra Hayes won the individual State Championship. In 2012, the girls team finished as State Runner-up and were led by 2012 individual State Champion, Nicole Gardner. In 2019, Canaan Anderson ran in the Foot Locker National Championship in San Diego.

In 2018 Young was named NFHS Tennessee Male Cross Country Coach of the year. He was also honored as 2018 A.F. Bridges District 4 Male Coach of the Year and had the honor of being selected Tennessean Male Cross Country Coach in 2017, 2018, and 2019. In 2017 Phil was named USTFCCA High School Boys Tennessee Cross Country Coach of the Year.

During his 15 years, his teams have been incredibly consistent. The girls’ and boys’ teams have advanced to the State meet every year under Young’s guidance, which includes 18 Top 10 state overall finishes (9 girls, 7 boys.) The Stars have won 15 Region 4 Cross Country Team Championships (9 girls, 6 boys) and 13 Region 4 Cross Country Individual Championships. He coached, 23 Cross Country All-State Runners and since 2012, 27 Stars have run in college with 11 of those at the Division 1 level.

Coach Young’s list of accolades in his time at Siegel:

DNJ Coach of the Year 7x’s in 15 years

2019 – Tennessean Male Cross-Country Coach of the Year

2018 – 2019 A.F. Bridges District 4 Male Coach of the Year

2018 – TSSAA Male Cross-Country Coach of the Year

2018 – Tennessean Male Cross-Country Coach of the Year

2017 – USTFCCA Tennessee Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year

2017 – Tennessean Male Cross-Country Coach of the Year

Team State Large School Champions

Boys 2019, 2018, 2017

Team State AAA Runner-up

Boys – 2021

Girls – 2012

Team State Championship Appearances:

Girls: 2022 (16th) 2021 (12th) 2020 (4th) 2019 (9th) (2018 (10th) 2017 (4th) 2016 (8th) 2015 (11th) 2014 (8th), 2013 (11th), 2012 (2nd), 2011 (6th), 2010 (7th), 2009 (5th), 2008 (11th)

Boys: 2022 (17th) 2021 (2nd) 2020 (5th) 2019 (1st) 2018 (1st) 2017 (1st) 2016 (11th) 2015 (19th) 2014 (9th), 2013 (10th), 2012 (10th), 2011 (12th), 2010 (19th), 2009 (9th), 2008 (14th)

Individual State AAA Championship:

Girls: Kyra Hayes (2021)

Girls: Nicole Gardner (2012)

Team Region Championships:

Girls: 2021,2020, 2018, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009

Boys: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2013, 2008

Team Region Runner-up

Girls 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015

Boys 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009,

Individual Region 4 AAA Championships:

Girls:

Kyra Hayes (2021)

Marilyn McCarthy (2019)

Rachel Strayer (2017)

Victoria Simmons (2016, 2015)

Nicole Gardner (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011)

Laura Bean (2010)

Boys:

Brennan Thomas (2021)

Ben Tickle (2020)

Tyler Smith (2015)

Team County Championships:

Girls: 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

Boys: 2014, 2013

Individual County Championships:

Girls: Nicole Gardner (2014, 2013, 2011), Laura Bean (2010), Amy St. John (2008)

All State:

2021: Kyra Hayes, Brennan Thomas, Caleb Jarrett

2020: Kyra Hayes, Ben Tickle

2019: Marilyn McCarthy, Canaan Anderson, Seth Robinson

2018: Canaan Anderson

2017: Marilyn McCarthy, Tucker Moss, Dawson Reed, Rachel Strayer

2016: Victoria Simmons

2015: Victoria Simmons

2014: Nicole Gardner & Victoria Simmons

2013: Nicole Gardner

2012: Nicole Gardner & Trisha Frazier, Tyler Boone

2011: Nicole Gardner

2009: Jamie Bosse

Cross Country Athletes that have run in college:

Katie Ann Bass- Birmingham Southern

Tyler Boone – Bryan College

Trisha Frazer – Nyack College

Drake Uselton – Lee University

Kiera Weems – Belmont University

Nicole Gardner – University of Alabama

Kayleigh Barnes – Missouri Valley College

Caitlin Cunningham – Morehead St. University/MTSU

Jake d’Oliveira – Tennessee Wesleyan College

Blake Revlett – Bryan College

Tyler Smith – Austin Peay University

Victoria Simmons – University of Mississippi

Titus Williams – Cumberland University

Nakita Fopiano – Cumberland University

Dawson Reed – Lee University

Rachel Strayer – Carson Newman University

Canaan Anderson – University of Tennessee Knoxville

Jacob Boykin – University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Seth Robinson – University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Marilyn McCarthy – University of Tennessee Knoxville

Olivia Barksdale – University of Tennessee Southern

Max Berkey – Cumberland University

Caleb Jarrett – University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Kyra Hayes – University of Alabama Birmingham

Brennan Thomas – University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Sarah Wilkerson – Cumberland University

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