July 11, 2023 Spring City, TN

Anthony Loden the head football coach at Spring City Middle School and assistant coach at Rhea County High School has been involved in coaching football for 25 years. Anthony resides in the Wolf Creek(for 20 years) community of Spring City with his family. Anthony is married to his wife Lori Loden. They have between them, four children who are married and have their own families. Those children are Timmy, Trevor, David and Georgia. They also have 5 grand babies. Anthony attended Spring City Elementary and Rhea County High School. In school Anthony played a little football. When attending games, the evidence is under the scoreboard, with year by year records, going back to 2003. The bulldogs have five 9-0 seasons and six one-loss seasons, only two 4-4 seasons and no losing seasons.

Anthony Loden and his predecessors as head coach at Spring City have enjoyed tremendous success at Spring City Middle School. As all schools do, they continues to graduate around 20 players every year and Anthony and his coaching staff are able to grow the younger inexperienced palyers into a successful team each year. Loden took over as head coach in 2015. During this time he has coached linebackers at Rhea County High School.

The Spring City Bulldogs will begin the 2023 season at home vs Jefferson Middle on August 3 as part of the 8 game season before the playoffs begin September 28, 2023.

Spring City Middle School 2023 Football Schedule.

Anthony was kind enough to answer a few interview questions about his football coaching and teaching.

Talk about your work at Spring City Middle School and your coaching.

"I work maintenance for Rhea County department of education. I am head football coach and assistant coach at Rhea County High School. He has in the past helped with coaching the Spring City Reddogs, the local youth football team organization in Spring City. I have coached baseball at youth level and also at Spring City Middle School. I am definitely a defensive first coach in my philosopy."

Why did you get involved in coaching?

"I enjoy working with the youth in our community."

What are some of the traits you hope to see in your players?

"Hard work ethic on the field and classroom, and being respectful and thankful are traits that lead to success."

What are some of the hardest things to teach young players?

"That hard work and working as a team has a positive outcome. Using self accountability."

Talk a little about some of your favorite coaches you played for in school.

"My favorite coaches were Bill Horton, Brad Payne, Ken Sorrells, Jim Pemberton and Ray Keylon. These men taught me more than the game of football. They taught me life skills, morals, and a good work ethic."

What are you doing when not working or coaching?

"When not coaching or working, I am spending time with my family."

Always a tough question, but do you have any really special teams over the years that really doing something special, like exceeding your expectations?

"Yes. The 2017 team that was down to Rhea Middle 14-0 and came back to win in triple overtime 34-28. That was a special performance and a special memory."