The Freed-Hardeman Athletic Department is excited to announce that Chester County High School boys’ basketball coach and former Freed-Hardeman assistant Drew Stutts will be taking over the men’s basketball program as its new head coach.
Stutts is a native of Florence, Alabama, and he played basketball collegiately at Northwest Shoals Community College and the University of North Alabama, where he received a degree in Physical Education in 2011. During his playing career, he served as the assistant coach at his high school alma mater Mars Hill Bible School, where he helped lead the school to a 104-28 record and two Final Four appearances.
“We’re excited to have (Drew) return as our head coach,” Athletic Director Mike McCutchen said. “I think he understands the mission of the university and the importance of athletics and men’s basketball fitting into that mission.
“I’m looking forward to great things from men’s basketball. I think (Drew) and assistant coach Jake Mitchell will make a great team, and we’re excited to see what they can do with the program.”
Before coming to Freed-Hardeman as the assistant coach in the 2017-18 season, Stutts was the athletic director and head basketball coach at Corner High School in Birmingham, Alabama, from 2011 to 2014. From 2014 to 2017, he was the junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant coach at Hewitt Trussville High School.
“We are excited to welcome (Drew) back to Freed-Hardeman Athletics,” President David Shannon said. “His passion to return to FHU in this capacity is exciting. His love for coaching basketball has been interwoven with his deep appreciation for the Freed-Hardeman and Chester County community.
“We feel his character and skills will grow the players, the program and the university. His coaching philosophy, as well as his life, align perfectly with our goals.”
This past season as the head coach at Chester County, Stutts led the Eagles to a 19-10 record and the first Region Semifinal since 2004. The offense averaged 73 points-per-game, which was top 10 in the state of Tennessee.
“I am thankful and humbled by this opportunity,” Stutts said. “My family and I are excited to be a part of the Freed-Hardeman family again. I want to thank President Shannon and coach McCutchen for this great opportunity. I look forward to bringing an exciting brand of basketball to FHU.”
His wife Amanda is an adjunct nursing clinical instructor at Freed-Hardeman, and they have two sons, Roman (5) and Deacon (3).
