By John R. Schirmer
News-Leader staff
When he played football on two state champion Scrapper teams, Brad Chesshir never dreamed that one day he would occupy the same office held by coaches like Billy Laird and Billy Dawson.
Last week, Chesshir moved into that office as the new head coach of the Nashville Scrappers.
Chesshir was hired Dec. 9 and was on the job the next day.
Since then, he’s met with coaches and players, been out in the community, and yes – he and his family were introduced at the Nashville Bankers’ Classic last Saturday night.
“I’m thrilled to have that Scrapper Star back on my chest,” Chesshir said. “This place is different to me. I bled orange and black.”
Chesshir knows about Scrapper tradition. He played on the 2005 and 2006 state championship teams and was defensive coordinator when the Scrappers won state in 2015.
He also wants the focus now to be on the 2025 team. “This isn’t about me. It’s about these kids in this locker room. It’s about the community. It’s about former players,” Chesshir said.
“I want to win more than anybody else. I want that Scrapper Star to be as important as it used to be. I want the pride back and everybody excited for the Scrappers,” Chesshir said. “We want to give the community a program they can be excited about.”
Football has always been important to Chesshir. “Growing up, I loved the game of football. I wanted to play and wanted to coach. In seventh grade, I job shadowed Coach Laird. I wanted to be like Coach Laird and Coach Dawson.”
Still, the idea of moving into their former office at the field house seemed far away. “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to be that guy,” Chesshir said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to be the head coach at Nashville. It’s a very special job to me.”
Now that he is “that guy,” Chesshir said he will spend the next 30 day trying to “capture the hearts of all the students, teachers, administration, custodians, office staff, cafeteria workers. I want to get them to believe in me.”
There are four things that Chesshir said are important to him and the program – relationships, growth, discipline and belief.
“We’re building relationships with the community. I want to get them excited. I want to get to know the kids on the team on a personal level. We’ll be connecting with boosters, sponsors, alumni. I want them to come back. My office door is always open to them. I want them to feel involved,” Chesshir said. “We have to get everybody on board.”
Chesshir said some of the players “know of me, but they were in primary school when I was here. Some won’t know me. They still have questions. I want to build relationships with them and gain their trust and respect. I felt a level of excitement in that locker room” when he held his first meeting Dec. 10. “It was a special moment.”
During off-season, Chesshir said the team will “spend a lot of time in the weight room. That’s the key to being successful season. We want to be the strongest in the state mentally and physically. The weight room is where you build your team.”
Chesshir said his wife Phylicia and kids Paisley, Bailey and Parker are excited about returning to his hometown.
“The kids will get to wear the same colors I did growing up. I hope my boy gets to wear #54 orange and black,” the number Chesshir wore in his Scrapper days. “We’re all excited to be back in the community and see where we can take this thing.”
For the Scrapper seniors, Chesshir is their third head coach in three years following Mike Volarvich and Shawn Jackson. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure their senior year is special and something they’ll remember for life. These seniors deserve that.”
Chesshir had a similar experience as a Scrapper. Laird was the head coach when Chesshir moved up to high school ball as a ninth grader. Chris Wood was the coach the next year, followed by Dawson during Chesshir’s junior and senior year.
“It’s tough when a coach leaves. There’s always a different scheme, different culture,” he said.
When he’s not at the field house and stadium, Chesshir said he loves to fish. “That’s my getaway. I love to get out. I talk to the good Lord. I relax.”
He spends lots of time with his family. “Three little ones keep me busy.”
Paisley plays fourth grade basketball and loves softball, her dad said.
Parker likes to “throw and kick a football,” following in his father’s footsteps.
Bailey’s into “make-up and jewelry. She’s adamant about them.”
Chesshir said he enjoys “every moment with the family.”
Phylicia is “the best coach’s wife in the country. She’s very supportive. She treats the football kids like they are our own.”
Chesshir returns to Nashville after several coaching stints, the most recent at Murfreesboro where he was athletic director and head football coach.
“I want to say a big thank you to Tanya Wilcher and David Jones at Murfreesboro High School. It’s a special place with special kids. I know they will have continued success,” he said.
