Coaching hires

Dawson pegged to be new Dragons’ head coach

December 11, 2024 by Ken Lay

Jake Dawson is possibly the youngest high school head football coach in East Tennessee.

He was named head coach of the Clinton Dragons on Monday.

Dawson, 24, most recently served as the defensive coordinator at Knoxville Catholic under Philip Shadowens during the 2024 season.

He expressed gratitude for the chance to lead the Dragons.

“I’m super excited for the opportunity; I’m blessed,” Dawson said. “I don’t deserve this opportunity right now, but God is good.”

Before joining Knoxville Catholic, Dawson was an undergraduate defensive assistant under Coach Jeremy Pruitt at the University of Tennessee.

He also was a defensive backs coach at Powell High under Matt Lowe during the Panthers’ Class 5A state championship run in 2021.

While at UT, Dawson connected with Joe Osovet, an offensive assistant under Pruitt who later became head coach at Heritage High School in Maryville.

Osovet added Dawson to his staff, where he served as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the Mountaineers.

Clinton has reached the Class 5A playoffs in each of the past two seasons.

The Dragons finished 3-8 in 2024 and were eliminated in the first round by McMinn County.

In 2023, Clinton posted a 6-7 record and advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time since the early 1990s, including a victory over longtime rival Oak Ridge.

“We have untapped talent, and I saw the facilities here, and I’m looking forward to working with our young men,” Dawson said. “They’ve learned how to win a little bit, and they have some experience.

“When you get into those close games, those one-possession games and those fourth-quarter games, that experience gives you a better chance to win them.”

Clinton Athletic Director Josh Reid said he was pleased to welcome Dawson to CHS.

“Jake is a terrific young man, and he’s wise beyond his years,” Reid said. “I look forward to him working with our young men and giving them the opportunity and the coach they deserve.” The sky’s the limit.”