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Former Tullahoma High School football head coach John Olive was elected to the Tennessee Football Coaches Association (tnFCA) 2023 Hall of Fame class on Oct. 9. 

“I am very grateful to be selected by my peers. I was not expecting this selection,” John Olive said. “I am thankful to the many different people for giving us the opportunity to build a program in Tullahoma. We had school administrative support, community support, individuals working behind the scenes, coaches willing to work long hours, and players willing to work hard to improve themselves. This is the formula that led to my recognition. I thank all for their contributions. A head football coach gets the recognition, but the program builders deserve to be recognized as well. God has blessed Cherie and my life richly.”

Olive spent 29 years as the head coach of the Wildcats football team. During that time he went 203-126. The team went undefeated and won the State Championship in his last season. Olive was elected into the Tullahoma Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 4, 2023. He served with the Tennessee Football Coaches Association from 1998-2008 where he was a founding member and a part of the Board of Directors. He currently serves as the Athletics Director for the High School.

Some of Olive’s other awards include the 2020 Tullahoma News Citizen of the Year; 2020 Tullahoma Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and 2021 Tennessee Titans Coach of the Year.