After four seasons as head football coach at Tipton-Rosemark Academy and eight more as an assistant at three different schools, Collin Pinner has decided to change careers.
Pinner, who was 22-22 as the Rebels’ head coach the last four seasons, told school administrators on Jan. 24 we would be resigning. His last day at TRA, where he also serves as dean of students, will be Feb. 28.
“To be honest with you, it felt like the timing was right,” Pinner said Tuesday morning. “We have a three-year-old. I’m missing so much being here at the school. I love it, but sometimes in life, unfortunately, you have to choose between two great things and I think you have to choose your family every time.”
Pinner took TRA to the playoffs during all four seasons. His best record came in 2017 when the Rebels went 7-4. His last game ended up being a 34-6 first-round playoff loss to Donelson Christian Academy on Nov. 8 that finished off a 4-7 season.
He is taking over Danny Brown’s All State insurance business in Millington.
Spending more time with his son Maxwell and wife Brette was the main reason for changing professions, Pinner said.
“She’s kind of let me chase my dream for 12 years. Her job is really demanding, too. I felt it wasn’t fair to her to always cater to me. Being the wife of a coach is a tough gig. She’s been a trooper.”
“It caught us a little off guard,” said TRA athletic director Joe Layton. “I can’t blame him for doing what he needs to do, though. He did a very good job for us.”
Layton said despite a decrease in enrollment the last few years, something most private school have had to deal with, the football program has stayed strong. He said the middle school football program is the largest it has ever been.
“He did exactly what he said he was going to do,” Layton said.
Since posting the job on the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association website, more than 30 people have applied for the job, Layton said. Several candidates have already been interviewed and more are scheduled in the coming days.
“Since I was 12 years old this will be first fall not being part of a football program,” Pinner said. “I’m a little bit nervous about that, but I’m excited.”
Pinner was an assistant coach at TRA for two seasons before being named the head coach. He was assistant coach at Covington High School and Ripley High School before that and was also a standout player for the Chargers.
So what’s it going to be like when fall Friday nights roll around?
“That will be tough,” Pinner said. “Right before kickoff when you run out, that’s always special. That last pregame speech when you’re getting the guys fired up. I think the biggest thing will be things like after summer workouts with the kids when we’re sitting around to chit chat.”
Pinner did not rule out taking an assistant coaching job at some point in the future.
“You get to be a kid being a coach. You really do. There’s a lot of headaches but you get to hang out and be one the guys, hang out with your staff. I don’t know of any other job where you get to give a speech before you run out of the tunnel and get the guys fired up. There’s nothing like it. I’ll miss that, getting to lead those kids out.”
Career coaching record at TRA
2016 5-6
2017 7-4
2018 6-5
2019 4-7
Overall 22-22
