Tullahoma High School hit a strike recently as Derek Swiger has been named the new bowling coach for the upcoming season.
Swiger takes over for Lamont Snipes, who retired at the end of this past season. Snipes coached both the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats for nine seasons, capturing several district and region titles as well as four TSSAA State Tournament appearances. Swiger said he looks forward to carrying on Snipes’ legacy of excellence.
“I am very excited, and if I am honest, I am also nervous about becoming the head bowling coach for THS,” Swiger said. “It is intimidating to follow a very successful coach like Lamont. There have been several state qualifiers and district titles that have come through this program. I hope that I can help these athletes maintain those standards and also develop new talent for the THS programs.”
While Swiger is getting his first opportunity to coach the sport, he said he’s been around bowling for a while. When he was younger, he participated in youth programs before joining a league in Tullahoma.
“I have a passion for bowling, and I hope to carry that into my coaching,” Swiger said. “Bowling is a great lifelong sport, and I appreciate the opportunities that THS offers our students. Tullahoma is a warm and welcoming community, and I am proud to be a Wildcat.”
Since 2021, Swiger has taught machine technology at Tullahoma High School. In those two years, THS Principal Jason Quick said he has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Swiger and watching the successful program he has helped build. He looks forward to seeing what Swiger will do with the THS bowling programs.
“The THS Bowling program has flourished under Coach Lamont Snipes’s leadership, and I can think of no one better to take over the reins and continue the legacy of success than Coach Derek Swiger,” Quick said. “Derek has shown an extraordinary commitment to our school and its extracurricular programs while creating strong relationships with our young people. Wildcats’ bowling is in great hands.”