Varsity Basketball Coach Thomas Jones wins Pat Summitt Coach of the Year award

The award comes after Coach Jones guided the varsity basketball team to the best season in Hutchison’s history during the 2020-2021 year, with the team finishing 22-2 and capturing its first state championship. The Sting beat Knoxville Catholic in the Division 2-AA final in March.

BCAT aims to represent all basketball coaches as one unified voice throughout the state. The organization also strives to promote professionalism and networking.

"It's a big honor. Not only for myself but for my school, for my girls," Coach Jones said.

He said he is blessed to have the opportunity to be doing what he loves: coaching. The Daily Memphian also named him coach of the year in March.

"I am kind of a firm coach, kind of a tough coach sometimes, but I try to have a good player relationship. If your players buy in, if your community buys in, the rest is easy," Coach Jones said. 

He said the Hutchison community truly showed its support around the championship season, streaming the semifinal game on screens around the school and throwing a parade upon the team's return from its big win. He hopes to see people back in the stands when the upcoming season begins.

The varsity basketball team will start preparing for the season soon. Many of the top players last season graduated, but Coach Jones said this is not a year when the team has to rebuild.

“We are at that level. We still want to compete. Ultimately we want to get back to the same goal, want to accomplish the same things, but we do know it will be a little more challenging this year," Coach Jones said.