GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Gatlinburg-Pittman High School football head coach Tyler Williams lost his brother, Ward Williams, to cancer in late August. He has always told his players to let football be their refuge, and this season he has been following his own advice.
"I lost my brother," Williams said. "I lost him to cancer. I'll never forget him, but on the other hand, doing something that I love. That's meant a lot to me and it's been a welcome distraction as I work through the grieving process."
Williams has not had to go through the grieving process alone. When Ward passed away, the team made the decision to dedicate the season in his memory and also began wearing "W" stickers on their helmets.
"It has pulled me through," he said. "I honestly don't know where I'd be right now without the people in this community, and these kids and these coaches."
Ward was 29 years old and had begun coaching football and baseball at Cosby High School.
"[He was] hired as the head baseball coach before he was sick," Williams said. "He went out and was in the dugout coaching baseball when he was taking chemo treatments."
Tyler made the decision to coach against Cocke County just a couple of days after his brother passed away. It wasn't just because he was letting football be his own refuge in that moment, but also because it was the perfect tribute to Ward.
"My brother would've said, 'Go coach, that's what you love to do, and I'll be there with you,'" he said. "I know he was."