Macon County girls basketball coach, 66, finds 'fountain of youth,' first state tournament win
Tom KreagerMURFREESBORO — Larry White retired from coaching in 2014 after 41 years, including 34 years at Red Boiling Springs.
It was perhaps the most miserable year he's ever had.
That changed a year later when the Macon County graduate took over as the girls basketball coach at his alma mater.
"One night, I came in from watching a game," White recalled. "My wife said, 'Here's the deal. Nobody can stand to be around you. I can't either. I don't care where you get a coaching job.
"'Get one and we'll get better.'"
Even if that meant his wife Jennie White, a Red Boiling Springs graduate, had to start cheering on Macon County, their archrival.
White led Macon County to a 75-55 win over Cheatham County in a Class AA quarterfinal in the TSSAA Girls Basketball State Championships at Murphy Center.
It is White's first win in five quarterfinal appearances in the state tournament. That includes a loss last year.
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"We played really well (Thursday)," White said. "We did everything that we asked of them. We scored a lot of points."
Keeley Carter paced the Tigerettes with 26 points and was 18-of-20 from the free throw line against Cheatham County. Macon County plays Westview at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals.
"These young ladies have made me young again," said White, 66. "It's great to go to practice. Every time we go out on that floor, if I don't have that little something in your stomach I'll quit then.
"But man, I still have it big time — especially on this stage."
White has been coaching with a torn meniscus in his right knee. He says he'll get it repaired once the season ends. Right now, he remains giddy with the situation the Tigerettes are in — one win from a state final appearance.
He fidgeted with his reading glasses in the press room at Murphy Center, bubbling with excitement.
"I feel young. This has sort of been the fountain of youth."
White won more than 500 games at Red Boiling Springs during his tenure from 1976-2014, taking three teams to the state tournament.
He put his signature red suit coat to the back of his closet — RBS' colors are red and gray — and put on a blue coat for Macon County.
"We still play the same kind of defense," White said. "We still run the same plays. We even call them the same thing.
"We just wear blue."
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Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@tennessean.com or 615-259-8089 and on Twitter @Kreager.