Why Sevier County girls basketball coach Jonathan Shultz wasn’t at state tournament

MURFREESBORO — Sevier County girls basketball coach Jonathan Shultz wasn’t present at his team’s 54-42 Class 4A state quarterfinals loss to Bartlett on Wednesday. 

Assistant coach Beth Ownby said that Shultz had been feeling sick and that it had gotten worse, which led to him to "be seen." She told the team on Monday that Shultz wouldn’t be joining them in the first state tournament game in Murfreesboro. 

Ownby said the goal was for the team to win and for him to “hopefully” join them on Friday. 

Shultz first missed a game during the team’s region tournament semifinal win over Daniel Boone on Feb. 26. He rejoined the team when Sevier County beat Dobyns Bennett in the region finals as well as the state sectional win against Bearden on March 2. 

The players were texted by Shultz last night and he gave them encouraging words ahead of their contest. 

“He sent out a thing that just said he was proud of us and that he knew we had it in us to win,” said junior Cybil Penland. “I think him not being here also gave us something to work a little harder to get to.”

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Ownby said she wanted to “honor his wishes” and not go into details of Shultz's current status. 

“I hope that everybody will just say some prayers for him,” Ownby said.

Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email toyloy.brown@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly Twitter, @TJ3rd_.