Rossview High parts ways with volleyball coach after reprimands, suspension,

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Rossview High School has parted ways with head volleyball coach Tishara Hicks, who said leading the Hawks team may not have aligned with her “culture, coaching philosophies, and expectations.”

The school gave Hicks a notice of suspension for the rest of the 2022 season and a nonrenewal for next year.

Hicks has been given a series of reprimands and a suspension since taking over as the Hawks volleyball program. She was first reprimanded during the months of November 2021 and January 2022, according to records obtained by Clarksville Now. On both occasions, she was flagged for inappropriate use of technology, and for falling asleep while supervising a student athlete.

She was reprimanded again in September, which resulted in a week’s suspension. This time it was for concerns about supervision of the team, lack of professionalism, use of profanity in front of players and creating an atmosphere of hostility and division among players, the reprimand said.

During her time away from the team, players and parents complained to the administration about the coach retaliating against players and making comments that belittled the student athletes.

After hearing what the players and parents had to say, on Sept. 23 Rossview served Hicks a notice of suspension for the rest of the season and a nonrenewal for next year.

Hicks says she resigned

Hicks told Clarksville Now that she resigned as coach on Sept. 13, after a meeting with Rossview officials.

“It was the best resolution to resign in order to salvage the relationships among players. I realize Rossview may not have aligned with my culture, coaching philosophies, and expectations. I wish the program nothing but success.”

“The volleyball program at Rossview High School has the potential to be number one in the district.”

She cited several recent victories, including last year’s team qualifying for sectionals, landing second in district, and making runner-up in both district and regional tournaments.

“I felt confident in receiving the head coach position at Rossview High School being the first African American head coach to coach in the volleyball program. I brought a background of player experience in both high school and collegiate ball, along with three years of coaching experience. I chose to implement some of the things I’ve learned through playing and coaching because I knew things would have been appreciated and respected. With the goal to take the program from good to great. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Discipline, dedication and structure were the biggest issues that were absent in the program. The first year came with some troubles, yet that was expected being a new coach. The team still managed to overcome adversity and exceed past expectations,” Hicks said.

“At the beginning of my second year, I was brought in by the request of the administration to change my coaching staff, due to our age. Creating a setback in…