Cannon County girls basketball program a 'great fit' for new coach Bud Brandon

Cannon County found a coach with a strong pedigree. And Bud Brandon found a program with a rich tradition.

"It's a great fit for this point and time in my life," said Brandon, a longtime area girls basketball coach who was officially named to take over the Cannon County girls basketball program Wednesday.

Brandon, who most recently coached at Smyrna, will replace Jonathan Odom, who resigned in late February to take a job outside of teaching/coaching.

Brandon has amassed 331 career victories as a head girls coach, including 29 victories in three seasons at Smyrna. He resigned following the 2017-18 season.

"This is basically (finding) a diamond in the rough," said Cannon County athletic director Matt Cagle. "His pedigree speaks for itself. He has devoted a lot of time and effort into coaching, and you can see it. He's obviously very good at what he does."

Odom was head coach of the Lionettes for the past five seasons, going 68-75. His team's record improved each season, including a 19-11 mark in 2019-20. His 2016-17 Smyrna team went 17-11 and reached the region quarterfinals.

Brandon spent 13 seasons at Wilson Central, amassing a 302-115 record before resigning to enter politics. After failing to be elected the Wilson County Circuit Clerk, he spent the 2014-15 season as Trousdale County's boys coach.

"The (coaches) who have been (at Cannon County) have always done a good job," said Brandon of his predecessors. "I used to watch (longtime Lionettes coach Robert A. Harris) him coach when I was a kid. He always had a good program."

The son of legendary area coach Campbell Brandon, Bud Brandon guided Wilson Central to Class AAA girls basketball state championships in 2006 and 2008.

"Somebody with his knowledge and experience ... it was hard to turn that down," said Cagle.

Brandon, 59, is excited to be taking over a tradition-rich program in an area where he also has ancestral roots.

"I've (listed pros and cons), and there's not many cons there," Brandon said of the new position. "I can see the community growing, like a lot of rural communities. The basketball program has had success. The tradition has always been there.

"I want to come in and nurture the program and nurture the feeder programs. At this point in my life, I see it as a real good challenge for me and my family."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.