To Golden Eagle Nation:
Wow! What a journey the 2022-23 year was! The experience and this team have left a mark on my heart and on the Tennessee Tech men's basketball program. Since June, our young leaders have embraced a process of learning, getting better, and investing in relationships with each other. We all believed this mental method of operating would be our competitive advantage versus our opponents and give us the best opportunity to accomplish the Mission of bringing home an OVC Championship. Even though we came up a little short in a highly competitive championship final game, there was so much these student-athletes accomplished!
When everyone was counting us out after an 0-2 start in conference play, our guys stayed with it and stuck with our mantra of "Leadership, Books, Ball, and Professionalism." They kept developing deep-rooted relationships among the group, which is critical to the success of any family or organization. As competitors, they accepted the challenges of college basketball and led us to a second-place finish in the OVC regular season – Tennessee Tech's best since 2004-05. The second-place finish earned us a semifinal berth in the OVC Tournament for the first since 2012. After winning that game, our student-athletes took us to the OVC Tournament title game for only the fourth time in school history. That's over 100 years of basketball! And then, they came as close as you can to winning our first-ever OVC Postseason Tournament Championship in a back-and-forth battle that ended in overtime. Our team showed tremendous fight and resiliency from start to finish this year! They always responded to challenges and the adversity that comes throughout the course of the season. They were able to keep their focus on learning, growing, and getting better, which is all any of us can control in life.
So, I want to first thank the players. I needed you guys this year more than you needed me! Thank you for giving me and the assistant coaches the honor and privilege to be your coaches. I said from the beginning you were different, and you clearly were. Your work ethic, drive, and love for each other is something I admire and respect. Second, the trainers, strength coaches, doctors, and especially our managers and GA – we could not operate on a daily basis without you. Thank you for your commitment, service, and the love you have for our team. Next, to our fans, the student body, Cookeville, and the Upper Cumberland – we appreciate your loyalty and support, and we are going to need you even more as we continue to move forward, build, and sustain this basketball program. To our cheer and dance squads – thank you! We appreciate the energy and enthusiasm you bring to our games. And most importantly, to the Golden Eagle Brass – you guys are AMAZING! You change the environment every time you are in the Hoop! Please know we love and appreciate you beyond words! You are our sixth man!
Lastly, to Director of Athletics Mark Wilson and President Dr. Phil Oldham – thank you so much for giving me the opportunity and blessing to lead this program. Your trust, support, and shared vision mean the world to me, Tracy, and our family. The relationship we have is why I wanted to get back into leadership. My family and I have been blessed to live many places, but Cookeville is now our Home. Our children, Jax and Gracie, are Tennessee Tech graduates. Jax and Mackenzie Coleman (TTU grad and former great for the Tech women's team) will be getting married early next fall here in Cookeville. We are truly grateful to be here and look forward to working together in the future.
Even though we did not get to cut down the nets and hoist the championship trophy, I am extremely confident about the future and in our approach, and believe we are poised to continue to improve. We will learn the lessons from this season and appreciate the progress made while being totally committed to the fact there is more to be done. We are definitely not finished YET!
WINGS UP!!
Your Coach,
John Pelphrey
