Prep Pigskin Preview: Wilson Back as Head Coach

Jim Wilson has seen a lot in his 34-plus years as a football coach. The longtime Nashville coach is back doing what he loves: coaching and being a positive influence in the lives of young people.

One of Wilson's many players:
the Chargers' Tim Dobbins (51)

Wilson is in his first year as head coach at East Literature, an upstart Metro program in east Nashville. East Lit is in a very tough district, 10-AA with Maplewood, Stratford, Whites Creek, Pearl-Cohn, CPA, Lipscomb and more. The Eagles are in their third year with a football program; football players previously played for Stratford.

"I've been very blessed during my career," said Wilson after a recent practice. "I've had great staffs where I've coached."

East Lit players stack it up at the end of practice

Wilson (near front) and coaches work with the offense.

In the 1990's, Wilson did what perhaps no other football coach has done: he built Nashville's Glencliff High into a state powerhouse program after years of a challenging situation there. In 1999, they finished 13-2 and were Class 5A State Runner-Up. They narrowly lost in the 5A Finals to Sevier County.

The Glencliff program produced a number of outstanding players and young men throughout those years, most of whom now live and work in Nashville, and some of whom are in coaching and who coach at Glencliff. Wilson's assistant coaches also dot the Nashville sports landscape. One of his many protege's Greg Abner is now head coach at Cane Ridge.

Wilson with two East Lit coaches

Wilson admits that coaching at Glencliff had its challenges, as so many of the young men faced considerable obstacles during their formative years.

"Coaching in Metro is tough," he said. "But my coaches really built relationships with the kids," he said. "There was a lot of discipline, but there was a lot of relationships, too. The players understood why we disciplined them, because we were not going to let them be bad citizens."

One of Wilson's many success stories is superstar Tim Dobbins, now a Miami Dolphin and in his 5th year in the NFL. Dobbins grew up in Nashville in a very difficult situation. Dobbins today gives credit for his success both on and off the field to his high school football coaches- Wilson, Abner and Steve Schyck, among others. Schyck is now an assistant coach at Orlando, Florida's Dr. Phillips High School. Abner is still very close to Dobbins. Not surprisingly, Coach Abner is considered one of the top young high school head football coaches in the state.

Dobbins signs autographs for fans

Wilson and Abner keep in regular touch with Dobbins and many of their former players.

"There are a lot of Tims," said Wilson as he spoke about Dobbins. "They're just not in the NFL."

Abner is especially proud of Dobbins. In a recent interview, Coach Wilson said that Dobbins considers Greg Abner virtually like a father.

Greg Abner spoke about Tim during a recent interview:

"It's really special to know that Tim is doing so well," said Abner. "It's a great story, and it took a lot of work and pushing and pulling, but he's really a great young man."

Both Wilson and Abner rave about Dobbins' work ethic in the weight room. As a sophomore in high school, Dobbins had already broken every University of Tennessee weight-lifting record except the records of one person, Al Wilson, a five-time Pro Bowl NFL linebacker with the Denver Broncos.

There are many, many great stories from those Glencliff teams during the 1990's and beyond. The following is part of the Metro Council Resolution honoring the 1999 Glencliff Football team:


WHEREAS, the "Colts" team was led by Head Coach Jim Wilson, and Assistant Coaches, Thomas McPhail, Steve Schyck, Greg Abner, Jacques Porter, Jeff Hudgins, Brian Dunning, Doug Hintemeyer, and Athletic Trainer/Managers Jon Tokahashi, Chris Vaught, William Young, Matt Fedun, Chris Groves, Larry Carter; and

WHEREAS, members of the talented team are Antonio Hamm, C.J. Johnson, Reggie Ingle, Derric Harris, Shawn Scales, C.J. Scott, Danny Edwards, Adaris Palmer, Derek Bull, Jeremy Hicks, Michael Craig, Jimmy Pregle, Barry Cothran, Ricky Neuble, Brad Randolph, Derrick Esmond, Lance Cohen, Josh King, Tim Dobbins, Terry Hancock, Justin Johnson, Dallas Buell, Daron Anderson, Casey Konecne, Alan Wafer, Dale Fisher, Corey Edmondson, Chris Taylor, Michael Spurlock, Joe Fitzgerald, Justin Crockett, Sena Omer, DeLorean Jordan, Jeff Easley, Jason Adkins, Jeremy Womble, Jeremy Barnett, Alvin Hawkins, Michael Illarramendi, Matt Smith, Jeremy Gooch, Jamal Patton, Phillip Wise, Herbert Crutcher, Anthony Brown and freshman players Desmond Amacher, Troy Burlason, Chris Hicks, Josh Patton, Greg Rediker, Alrik Spruill, Ronnie Stafford, Jon Dillard, Darron Johns, Gary Lyle, Tim Pendegrass, Jason Stuart, Dearreus Thomas; and
WHEREAS, senior safety/halfback C.J. Scott was named Class 5A Mr. Football Back of the Year, an honor given to the player who exemplifies skill and superior physical ability at the back position; and