New Coffee County CHS softball coach Steve Wilder
“More than excited, if there is a word for that” is how new Coffee County Central High School softball coach Steve Wilder described the feeling after being named the 4th head coach in program history on Tuesday. Wilder, who comes to Coffee County after winning a 2014 state title at Dyersburg, broke the news to his team and parents in Dyersburg on Tuesday. That conversation was not an easy one as Wilder leaves a team loaded to make another run at a state title including a returning all-state pitcher. “My family prayed about this and all signs pointed to me (being at Coffee County)”. “I met Coach Floyd at state last year and liked him and his program. When I saw the job posted on the TSSAA website, it jumped out at me.”
The path to the Coffee County job was not one without difficulty, in fact, it has been described as a “miracle” that Wilder and his family made it to Manchester for his interview last Monday. Just outside his home in Dyersburg, Wilder’s vehicle ran over a piece of lumber with nails in it that had fallen from a truck. “I just knew that we were not gonna make my interview, but the (low tire pressure) light did not come on until we pulled into the school. My son took the tire to be repaired and the man at Gateway Tire remarked that it was a miracle we made it here. That was more proof that we were meant to be here” said Wilder. “Everyone was so good to us and made us feel at home” Wilder added as he and his family have spent the last 2 Monday’s in Manchester looking around and making plans to move to Coffee County.
Coffee County Central High School athletic director Ryan Sulkowski added that he was excited to “get someone with his successful background. Coach Wilder has a lot of experience building a program and we are excited for what he brings to Coffee County in the classroom.” Wilder, who has a master’s degree, will serve as a special education teacher at CHS. Sulkowski went on to say “we had a strong applicant pool and Steve was clearly our number 1 target after the interviews.” Wilder was also impressive during the background checks as Sulkowski said “everyone we spoke to state-wide spoke to his strong work ethic and attention to detail. We feel that Steve will embrace the past history of the softball program and build on the foundation of the successful program. We are excited about the future of Lady Raider softball.” Former coach Terry Floyd said that he will work with Coach Wilder in the coming months as he takes over. “I want to do whatever I can to help him and the kids during the transition. In fact, it is all about the kids anyway” added Floyd.
Wilder, and his wife Jackie, have 2 children that Wilder has had the pleasure to coach. His son Joey is currently a nurse at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis but is looking to return to college at Tennessee-Chattanooga in the near future. His daughter Kinsey is a sophomore at Dyersburg State and a pitcher and first baseman for their softball team. Coach Wilder has had the good fortune to coach both of his children in the state tournament as he coached Joey to a 2009 state baseball tournament bid and won the Class AA state title in softball with Kinsey in 2014.
Coach Wilder has also coached golf and basketball teams to state tournament appearances in his 22 year coaching career. Wilder has coached softball the last 5 seasons at Dyersburg after moving over from baseball. Wilder coached baseball at Dyersburg from 2004 thru 2010. From 2000 to 2004, he was a teacher and a coach at Trenton Peabody. He began his teaching and coaching career at Perry County. The National Federation of High School Sports (NFHS) named him their 2014 Tennessee Coach of the Year while he has been named the District 13AA softball coach of the year all 5 years at Dyersburg. Additionally, he has been named coach of the year in baseball and golf during his career.
