BREAKING: Whited Comes Home, Named Dragons Boys Basketball Coach

Monday morning at 11 A.M. York Institute athletic director, Bruce Winningham, announced Roy Whited as the new head coach of their boys basketball program. Whited inherits a program, from former coach Russell Tays, that went 25-8, 12-2 last season. The Dragons claimed the post season Region 4 AA tournament with a 62-57 victory over Upperman, at Tennessee Tech.

“A lot of people in this area are familiar with Roy,” Winningham said. “He’s coached at York Elementary, Clarkrange High School and he had his best success at White County High School. He has a couple of state championships under his belt.”

The Dragons went on to beat Tyner Academy 54-52 in a Class AA sectional in Jamestown to qualify for the state tournament, for the first time in over 50 years.   Unfortunately, due to Covid19, York’s season ended before the state tournament could be played.

Whited brings over 12 years of head coaching experience to the York basketball program. Over those 12 season Whited has an overall record of 315-73 and back to back State Championships in 1998 and 1999 in White County. Whited was named the 1998 and 1999 Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association and Tennessean coach of the year. Whited was also the District 7 AAA coach of the year from 1995-2000.

“The game that I see in the high school level is there is a whole lot of emphasis on the offensive end of the floor and shooting three’s,” Whited said. “I still believe that defense wins games. We are going to concentrate defensively on being able to control the opposition with our defense. We want the opposition to have to be able to react to what we throw at them defensively and adjust. We will not allow them to be comfortable offensively.

From 1983 to 1989 Whited directed the Clarkrange Buffaloes to a 119-34 record overall. Whited earned the 1987 Single A coach of the year by the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association. In 1987 Whited coached the Buffaloes to a State Quarter Final appearance and in 1988 a State Semi Finals appearance. Whited was named the Tri-Lakes Coach of the year from 1984-1988.