Frank Matherley named first Innovation Academy football coach – Main Street Media of Tennessee

Innovation Academy of Robertson County has turned to a middle school coaching veteran to fill one of its first high school roles.

Sentinels principal Grant Bell confirmed to Main Street Preps last Friday that Frank Matherley would head up the school’s 8-man football program this fall. 

“This conversation’s been off and on for a while as far as coming into the school,” Matherley said. “Whether or not I was a part of that conversation, I can’t say how far back that goes. I was just fortunate to be able to talk to (Grant) Bell and (assistant principal Warren) Corbin about it, and they seemed to want me in that position.”

A teacher at Springfield Middle across the last 10 years, Matherley said he’s “coached a little bit of everything.”

He’s guided baseball programs for nearly 15 seasons and has been involved in middle school basketball and volleyball as well as football as an assistant. This season will be his first as a high school head coach over any sport and his first time leading a football team.

“It’s an area I know well, but because of the time it takes to (coach football), I’ve always not been able to devote much time,” he said. 

“In a lot of ways, it’s not that much different (from middle school). It’s really about teaching the kids the skill, showing them how to take that out and apply it and how to become good citizens. I may change my mind, but so far that’s not a big concern of mine.”

Matherley’s two sons, Cole and Gabe, both played baseball and football at Greenbrier and went on to play collegiate sports. Cole spent three seasons on Cumberland’s baseball team. Gabe is a sophomore playing golf at Freed-Hardeman.

The coach’s first team at IA will feature two offensive and defensive styles as players become acclimated with the sport: “We’ve got a lot of players that have never played football on this team. We’ve only got a handful that have prior football experience, so we’re fast-tracking a lot of kids.”

His coaching staff consists of former Greenbrier Middle School coach Steve Weaver as well as fellow Springfield Middle coaches Amy Jones and James Francis. 

Innovation Academy is a STEAM magnet school that will operate out of Springfield’s former middle school campus at the beginning of the school year. 

The Sentinels will field bowling, cheerleading and 8-man football teams this year, with the intention of moving up to the TSSAA level for football after three seasons. They’ll play a six-game TSIAA schedule, including contests against Robertson County foes in Christian Community and South Haven in September.

Former Jo Byrns golf coach Zach Saberton will lead the bowling team, and Bridget Galbreath has been announced as cheer coach.

“I believe we’re going to be competitive,” Matherley said. “We’ve got a really good group of kids that want to play and are dedicated and are hard workers.

“Hopefully putting kids on the field on Friday nights will help the school solidify itself as a big part of the community. The community will be engaged, and we’ll be a school that the county will have recognition for, both academically and athletically.”