Tag: Bearden

Former Vols’ wide receiver joins Bearden’s coaching staff

A former Vols’ wide receiver joins Bearden’s coaching staff.

Former Vols’ wide receiver Josh Smith has joined Bearden High School’s coaching staff in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Smith will serve as the Bulldogs’ wide receivers coach.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity,” Smith said. “It’s going to be a blast. Glad to be apart of the Bearden family!”

The 6-foot-1, 206-pound Smith played for Tennessee from 2013-17. He appeared in 32 games for the Vols, totaling 40 receptions, 457 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Smith came to Tennessee from Christian Academy of Knoxville. He was an all-state wide receiver at Christian Academy of Knoxville as a junior and senior.

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VFL Jon Higgins records first win over Bearden

Former Vol Jon Higgins records first win against Bearden.

A former Tennessee basketball player captured his first coaching victory in one of Knoxville’s oldest and most storied high school rivalries.

Jon Higgins, Farragut High School’s (Farragut, Tennessee) boys basketball head coach, notched his first victory over Bearden High School (Knoxville, Tennessee) Friday.

Farragut won at Bearden, 62-57, in overtime. The win is Farragut’s first against Bearden since 2016.

“You always want to beat Bearden because they’re your bitter rival, but I’m just happy to get a win,” Higgins said. “We’d lost our last two games.”

Higgins began his coaching career as an assistant under Jody Wright at Knoxville’s Fulton High School. He later became head coach at Knoxville Central before landing with the Admirals in 2017.

Higgins is also Farragut’s golf head coach. He guided the Admirals to the Large Schools Division state championship in 2020.

Higgins played basketball for the Volunteers between 1999-2003.

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