March 22, 2024
By BARTON HENLEY
Rutherford County Schools
Gary Rankin will join elite company this summer when he is inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame.
Rankin - who has won 17 state championships in his career thus far — will join the likes of Steve Spurrier, Lamar Rogers, and Ronnie Carter — all legends at their respective coaching positions.
“It’s an exclusive club,” Rankin said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to coach a lot of years. I’m grateful that I have been able to do it.”
Rankin coached Riverdale to four state titles while amassing a record of 194-25 at the school from 1990-2005.
“It was amazing what we were able to accomplish in Rutherford County,” Rankin said. “(In) 1994, we were able to win Riverdale’s very first state championship. That was a really special moment.”
Rankin left Riverdale to become the head coach at Alcoa High School where he won 13 state championships.
Former Riverdale principal Hulon Watson hired Rankin as head football coach in 1990.
“Mr. Watson saw something in me and gave me a chance to coach,” Rankin said. “He told me that he wanted Riverdale to win a state championship. Our first year didn’t yield the results that we wanted. After that year, it just took off.”
Coach Rankin is currently fourth all time in victories as a high school head football coach with 473.
Rankin said the most special moment was being able to coach his sons.
“I was able to win seven state championships with my sons,” Rankin said. “It was extremely special for me to be able to do that.”
Rankin is the current head football coach at Boyd-Buchanan High School in Chattanooga.
Boyd-Buchanan finished as the state runner-up this past season in Division II-AA.
The National High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held in Boston, Massachusetts on July 1, 2024.