KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Farragut High School assistant baseball coach Garrett Copeland is being promoted to the head coaching position, a job that became vacant with the retirement of Matt Buckner, the school announced Monday.
Copeland takes over a program coming off its third consecutive 4A state championship. Buckner said he'd been anticipating retirement once the season ended, and Copeland said those conversations began to feel more real as the season went on.
"He's joked for awhile that he was going to be done when his son Lucas was done [with high school]," Copeland said. "We could kind of tell when the tone turned more serious."
Lucas Buckner is committed to play baseball at Mississippi State and is part of a star-studded Farragut senior class with 12 total Division I baseball commits. Copeland said he's excited for the challenge of stepping into a new role and leading a team with plenty to prove next season.
"Those guys left our program in great shape. They really displayed the work ethic that it takes to be successful," Copeland said. "I look forward to the guys we have now finally getting their shot."
A 2009 Bearden High School graduate, Copeland has been an assistant baseball coach at Farragut High since 2013. He also teaches engineering and biology.
Farragut has a long tradition of baseball excellence in Tennessee, winning 13 state championships. Copeland hopes to continue that winning tradition as head coach.
"It's a fun challenge," Copeland said. "It's something we'll continue to strive for and we'll continue to put in the work that got us here."
Buckner helmed the Admirals to seven titles during the 15 years he oversaw the program. Before that he coached the Bearden High School team.
Copeland pitched for Bearden under Buckner, including in 2009 when the team competed in the state tournament. Buckner is staying on as a driver's education teacher and will continue working in Farragut baseball operations.
This season the Admirals were 40-5 on the season. All 16 seniors are committed to playing baseball in college; 12 will play at the Division 1 level.