Science Hill High School

Callie Redd

Callie Redd

Callie Redd might be the only coach in the history of Science Hill to retire undefeated. Already some 28 years into her career teaching English and French at

Langston, Science Hill and two Johnson City Junior Highs, Redd became an assistant on Dwight "Greasy" Leonard's Lady Toppers basketball for the 1987-88 season. It was done to provide a maternal presence, not Xs and Os.

"I didn't know what I was doing," Redd said. "I had to watch TV to see how an assistant coach acts. I found out they didn't do anything during the games. I ended up giving out water."

But Leonard was ejected one game and Redd had to grab the reins – at least long enough to hand them to Big 10 Player of the Year Leah Jackson.

"She did her best," Jackson says with a giggle. "She was like, 'Now you all know what to do, get out there and do it.' I remember we were looking over at her and laughing running down the court saying, 'Coach, can we get a timeout?'"

Redd got out of coaching after that year, but began volunteering as the girls scorekeeper. She'll begin her 20th season this year.

Redd was also the scorekeeper and spotter for football during segregated days at Langston, seeing Kenny Hamilton's record-breaking 85-point performance against Newport. She began teaching at Langston after graduating Knoxville College in 1959, replacing her most inspirational high school instructor, Robert Hale.

Redd's greatest inspiration was yet to arrive. Her daughter Kim was a cheerleader at Science Hill, graduating in '87. She didn't cheer her junior year because of the sickle cell anemia she'd been diagnosed with at 11 months old. But life was like one long pep rally for the spirited Kim. She died at 29, but left deep footprints.

She cheered when George Pitts was establishing his dominant era with the boys basketball team, and Pitts developed deep respect for the Redds.

"Callie is a wonderful lady who had a wonderful daughter," said Pitts, whotook Callie to Alaska to help his players keep up with their homework while playing in a tournament. "She was an excellent teacher who really cared about kids."

Keeping score amid the sounds of bouncing balls, squeaking sneakers and cheering teenage girls on long winter nights keeps Kim's spirit close.

"When I first went back (to a game) after she died, it sounded like I heard her voice in there," Callie said. "I still love to watch the mothers of the cheerleaders during the games. They don't watch the games; they watch their girls. ... "I should've been an inspiration to Kim, but she was an inspiration to me."

Callie's inspired many. She's worked with students to improve their ACT scores and looked after others once they entered and exited college.

Jackson signed with Carson-Newman but quit school and headed home before fall semester was over her freshman year. That's when Callie really started coaching.

"She told me I couldn't quit," Jackson said. "And I don't know what she did, but she got Carson-Newman to give me back my scholarship."

Jackson went on to score 1,737 points, grab 1,103 rebounds and block 105 shots for the Eagles. "I have Mrs. Redd to thank," Jackson said.