Matthew Burnette, Staff Writer

Scott Hargrove, the new director of schools for Coffee County, says that he is “a Barnabas by nature,” referring to the Biblical apostle noted for his encouragement and service to others.

“Whether that’s in the classroom or athletically or just as a person, it’s kind of been my MO,” he explained. “I think that’s why we’re placed on this earth, to serve others.”

Hargrove has spent the majority of his life in Coffee County. He joined the military out of college after receiving guidance from an ROTC leader.

“To be quite frank, I was teetering,” Hargrove recalled. “I had an ROTC cadre member whose name was Captain Fred Flynn who took interest in me and talked me into going into basic training one summer and it probably turned me around.”

Self-discipline is one of the characteristics Hargrove noted that he gained from his military service that he brought with him to the education field. Another is how to view people.

“In the Army, everyone is dressed in the same uniform,” said Hargrove. “Your decisions are based on character and the heart of someone instead of what they look like on the outside.”

After serving six years in the Army National Guard where he says he met some of the best people in the world, Hargrove started his career in education at an alternative school in the Nashville Metro school district.

He then taught at LaVergne High School for four years before returning to Coffee County and joining the Tullahoma City schools in the ‘94- ‘95 school year.

Hargrove coached football and baseball in both Tullahoma and Rutherford County.

In 2007 he moved over to the administrative side of things where he served as the Dean of Men at Tullahoma High School for several years before becoming a middle school principal and then eventually moving to East Lincoln Elementary where he served as principal for 11 years.

There was also a one-year tenure as Interim Director of Tullahoma Schools in 2019, as well.

Hargrove noted that his favorite memories from his time in education have been getting to see the adults that former students turn into.

“Especially in the secondary, it’s very rewarding seeing what kind of moms and dads, what kind of community member, what kind of entrepreneurs and what kind of husbands and wives they’ve become,” he said. “That’s really rewarding. I’ve been served communion by a former athlete. Those are very powerful moments, I think.”

Hargrove enjoys fishing and playing golf, though he says that he’s happiest when his driveway is full. Two of his children are married and his youngest just returned home from college.

He and his wife also enjoy checking out local restaurants like J&G and Jiffy Burger, and he said he looks forward to checking out newer offerings like Medley’s at the Oak.

While he says he will always be grateful for the opportunities he received and the relationships he built in Tullahoma, Hargrove says he felt that it was time to move on.

“For me professionally, to continue to grow and stretch myself as a person, I felt like it was a great opportunity here in Coffee County,” he explained. “To watch the Coffee County school district form ten miles down the road, there a lot of great things going on here and I know some of the folks here and I’ve met a ton more, and I really look forward to working towards being the very best that we can be and affecting student outcomes in a positive way.”

Hargrove says he has spent his first few weeks in Coffee County meeting with school board members and administrators.

He hit the ground running, so to speak, by approving Coffee County schools joining the Community Eligibility Provision program which enables all students to receive free breakfast and lunch for the ’25- ’26 school year. A lot of the credit, though, according to Hargrove, goes to Director of Nutrition Carlan Cotten.

“I can’t brag on Mrs. Cotten enough,” he emphasized. “She came to me and kind of pitched the CEP program which we had done in my former district, and if that takes something off our parents’ plate and improves student outcomes, parents at home and teachers and staff in the classroom, that’s a win-win. Mrs. Cotten has done a great job organizing that and presenting it to our board.”

One of Hargrove’s main goals at the moment is meeting as many people as he can in an effort to build strong relationships, which he says he is excited to do.

“I’m tickled pink to be able to build relationships here with a new group of people, and hopefully we’ll all be in the same boat rowing in the same direction,” he explained jovially. “The people that I’ve met so far have been salt of the Earth and very kind, and I appreciate that. I couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome than that.”

“Whether it’s the kids or grown adults, we’re a people business and communicating is pretty important in my book,” added Hargrove.

He cites showing up every day, doing his best and trying to have a positive impact on others as his greatest accomplishments during his career in education which he shows an infectious enthusiasm to be able to do in Coffee County.

“What a great opportunity we have every day to positively impact somebody else’s life,” said Hargrove. “That means keeping them on trajectory if they are already in the right place or changing somebody’s trajectory if they need it. Where else do you get to do that?”