Tony Shutes is honored for his 34 years as a head basketball coach at University School of Jackson (30), Jackson Central-Merry (1) and Jackson Christian (3).

In 30 seasons as girls basketball coach at USJ his teams won 22 district championships and seven regional titles. The Lady Bruins played in 20 substate games and 10 state tournaments, advancing to the state semifinals five times and the finals twice.

At press time, Shutes had 649 victories as a head girls basketball coach, averaging 19 wins a season. This year’s Jackson Christian team, his third, clinched a second consecutive 20-win season in tournament play. Last year’s 20-win season was the school’s first since 2014.

Shutes played basketball at Bells High School in Crockett County, where he was all-district and all-county his senior season in 1978. He tried to play at Jackson State Community College, but a prior knee surgery ended his playing career.

“It just wasn’t the same, and I knew I couldn’t pursue a future as a player,” he said. So he focused on becoming a coach.

He had to work to pay his way through Union University and couldn’t spend time as a student assistant with the basketball teams. But he hung out with the players at school and read everything he could about great coaches like John Wooden. He was also mentored by one of Union’s legends.

“The guy who really took me under his wing was Coach David Blackstock,” Shutes said. “For some reason he felt I could do it, and he helped me get through school and after I graduated.”

Shutes worked at K-Mart and the Jackson YMCA, where he coached T-ball, flag football and Saturday morning youth basketball. He was eventually named the YMCA’s Youth Sports Director in 1984, a position he held until 1987. That’s when Jackson’s two private schools, Old Hickory Academy and Episcopal Day School, merged to become USJ, and Shutes was offered a job.

He became the elementary school’s physical education teacher, coached middle school girls and boys basketball, started the USJ soccer program, and coached girls and boys golf for five years.

“When I took that USJ job in 1987, who would have ever thought I would be there half my life,” Shutes said. He was still taking classes and doing independent study at Union, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in PE and secondary education in 1989.

“It was a journey,” he said, laughing.

In 1989-90 and 1990-91 Shutes was assistant coach for USJ’s varsity basketball teams. He was named head coach in the fall of 1991 and coached both girls and boys that season. But his second year he asked to just coach girls basketball, which he did until he left in 2021. He taught elementary PE all 30 years at USJ.

“In my PE classes I could see that we had some competitive girls who were going to be good basketball players,” Shutes said. “And I just enjoyed coaching girls. Back then I was so young and excited, and I tried to soak up all the knowledge I could. I really studied a lot, watching coaches’ tapes and going to clinics in Memphis with big-name speakers.”

In 1994 and 1995 USJ’s girls were eliminated in the substate by Gleason. But in 1996 they won the region in overtime at Harding Academy, which had four girls who played at D-I schools. USJ hosted Lake County in the substate and won, advancing to the state tournament for the first time.

Shutes’ USJ teams played in state championship games twice, losing to Trenton Peabody in 2005 and to North Pointe, MS in 2017. He was named district coach of the year numerous times.

After leaving USJ, he agreed to start the girls basketball program at the new Jackson-Central Merry. “But during that season, I realized I just didn’t have the time or energy to do what they needed done in building a program,” Shutes said.

His focus is taking care of Stephanie, his bride of 14 years, and their son Zavior, who is 11. Stephanie was an All-American and NAIA National Player of the Year in 2005 when Union Coach Mark Campbell won his first national title. Stephanie has a chronic illness, and Shutes wants to be available for her needs.

Shutes, 64, thought his coaching days were over. But Jackson Christian approached him about coaching its girls team as a part-time position with no teaching responsibilities. Shutes accepted and led the team to its first state tournament appearance.

“When I first started coaching, I was in it for the wins,” Shutes said. “But the older I got, the most gratifying thing was the relationship with players. I finally got on social media, and it’s been great being able to keep up with players and their kids and families. It’s a real blessing.”

The 39th Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 10.

For tickets and reservations for the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame event, call Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558.

(PHOTO: Tony Shutes)