Greeneville girls soccer coach John Eiskamp announces retirement after 18 seasons, two state championships

Greeneville girls soccer coach John Eiskamp will retire from his position May 24th, according to a release from Greeneville principal Patrick Fraley. Eskamp has been at Greeneville since 2000 and has been the girls soccer coach since 2009. He led the Lady Greene Devils to two state championships. 

"During my 18 years of coaching at GHS and 42 years overall, I have had many great and memorable experiences," Eiskamp said in a statement. "Also, I would like to thank my fellow coaches, past and present, and of course all the athletes who have made the soccer program at GHS what it is today!"

Eiskamp arrived at Greeneville 18 years ago as the boys soccer coach, after coaching at Tusculum University and Carson Newman University.  He started the girls program in 2002 and coached both the girls and boys until 2009 -- for the last nine seasons, he has been the girls coach. 

He led the Lady Greene Devils to six appearances in the TSSAA State Tournament, and to four-straight from 2015-2018. He led Greeneville to its first state championship in 2015, when the Lady Greene Devils beat Chattanooga Christian, 4-1, in the Class A-AA championship. They repeated in 2016, going 26-1 that season and beat CPA, 1-0 in the state championship. 

Greeneville failed to three-peat in 2017, losing to White House, 1-0, in the Class AA state championship. The Lady Greene Devils made the state tournament last season but lost in the second round of the playoffs to Beech -- the eventual state champions. 

"We are so thankful at GHS for the contributions John has made to our school, our community and to our soccer program for the past 18 years," Fraley said in a statment. "John’s coaching success is directly tied to his heart for service and love for young people. His retirement after 42 years of coaching following 35 years of service at Greene Valley Developmental Center is a direct testament to this service and love."

Eiskamp is the second coach to retire from Greeneville in the last week. Last week, football coach Caine Ballard retired after 10 seasons and leading the Greene Devils to four state championships.