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Former Fulton coach joins Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame

Buck Coatney says he doesn't deserve the honor. His success was because of the community he calls home.

Former Fulton Falcons head coach Buck Coatney sits in his office as a facilitator for Knox County Schools. the bookshelf behind his desk is covered with memorabilia from his time roaming the sidelines at Bob Black Field, but his chair always stands out.

"This seat is very special to me," said Coatney.

He's had it since 1992.

"The padding, you can see, I've gained a little bit of weight, it's a little bit compacted," said Coatney.

It was a gift from his wife when he became head football coach at Fulton High School.

"The last year I coached was 2010," Coatney said, a bit of sadness in his voice.

Nearly two decades as the man in charge for the Falcons. It all started with just one win in Coatney's first year at the helm.

"The most exciting game I've ever been a part of was when we beat West in 1992 in overtime for our first victory," said Coatney.

As he reflects on that first win, Coatney turns and reaches back to the bookshelf.

"They made this plaque for me in 1992 when we were 1-9 and presented this to me at the banquet."

It reads, "1992 Coach of the Year: Buck Coatney."

"I've kept it all these years. It wasn't very funny then, but it's rewarding now."

Turns out, it was a sign in every sense of the word. The Falcons won three state championships under Coatney. The coach watched players grow in front of his eyes and a community come together a community he's been a part of all his life.

"I'm working five blocks from where I grew up, our house where I lived in for 22 years, this neighborhood is always special," said Coatney.

A job that never really felt like a job for the coach.

"Not a lot of people get to experience this," Coatney said in an interview after the 2006 Fulton state title. "it's just something you've got to treasure and enjoy. It's fun."

It made stepping away from Fulton all the more difficult in 2010.

"I always told our players, if you weren't going to be committed 100 percent, don't play and I felt like I wasn't giving it 100 percent, so it was time to walk away."

Now, he's one of the newest members of the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. His replacement, current Fulton head football coach Rob Black, said his addition to the Hall of Fame doesn't surprise him one bit.

"The kids that he coached loved him and respected him, and that was because they knew they got that same thing back from him," said Black. "He's going because he won three state championships here, but he's hall of fame in a bunch of different ways."

"I feel very uncomfortable, this is by no means an individual award. I didn't really want to accept it as an individual honor and don't accept it as an individual honor," said Coatney. "This is a team award... a great honor for our community."

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