Oak Ridge Today

Football: New Dragons coach talks about hire, community support

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Tuesday morning, Clinton High School’s new football coach, Randy McKamey, was on “Ask Your Neighbor” on WYSH Radio in Clinton. McKamey, a 1989 graduate of CHS, was hired last week to take over at his alma mater after spending 10 successful seasons at Grace Christian Academy in Knoxville.

Some people want to characterize the situation at Clinton High School as a rebuilding effort, but that is not the approach Coach McKamey is taking. Instead, he is referring to it as a “revival,” saying that sometimes “you can become a little complacent and stagnant and that’s the way we’re viewing it.”

McKamey said that after watching some game film, he is confident that one area where the Dragons will make immediate improvements will be in their confidence, which he says is something that “anybody can change if you have just a little bit of swagger and some people that believe in you. I think they lost that belief.” [Read more…]

Football: McKamey leaving Grace Christian to coach Clinton

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Information from WYSH Radio

Randy McKamey, who once coached at Clinton Middle School, is leaving Grace Christian Academy to coach football at his alma mater, Clinton High School.

Clinton High School Athletic Director Brad Collette announced the decision last week.

Collette said that McKamey was offered the job on Monday and accepted. He met with his Grace Christian players to inform them of his decision.

McKamey once coached at Clinton Middle School, but he has spent the last 10 years at Grace Christian, compiling an 89-32 record and making the playoffs nine times, including this season, when the Rams finished 6-6 and lost in the second round to Happy Valley. His Rams appeared in three state semifinals, won seven region championships, and went unbeaten in the regular season twice, including in 2011, when the program was serving a two-year playoff ban handed down by the TSSAA. [Read more…]

Football player McKamey, 19, dies after brain injury

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Information from WYSH Radio

Late Tuesday night, the U.S. Naval Academy athletic department announced that 19-year-old freshman running back Will McKamey died on Tuesday, three days after collapsing during spring football practice. McKamey was flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center following the incident and underwent surgery to treat brain swelling and a blood clot over the weekend. He remained in a coma until he passed away Tuesday afternoon.

His parents, Kara and Randy McKamey, were very active on social media since Will went to the hospital, updating friends, family and complete strangers on the condition of their son. The online support drew attention from all over the country and the world as prayers were offered up for Will and his family, and his story was reported on by several national media outlets.

Randy McKamey was his son’s coach at Grace Christian Academy in Knoxville and also coached football at Clinton Middle School for several years.

Will McKamey won the state Mr. Football Back of the Year award in 2012, his senior season at Grace, and was majoring in oceanography at the Naval Academy. In his final high school game, he suffered a brain injury that ended his high school career and kept him in the hospital for several days but never needed surgery during his stay. [Read more…]