COACHING STAFF

Chad Gates
Director of Football Operations

17th Year at Independence
24th Year Coaching

Played Defensive Line and Outside Linebacker at Ripon College in Wisconsin

Career Highlights:
2016, Tennessee 5A State Runner-up
2015 Tennessee 5A State Champions
2007 Tennessee 5A State Runner-up

Spouse: Denise / Children: Brock and Audrey

Jeff Parker
Offensive Coordinator / QB Coach

4th Year at Independence
30th Year Coaching

Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QB coach at Tennessee State University (2010-2019)
Passing Game Coordinator / QB Coach / WR Coach at Norfolk State University (2005-2010)
WR Coach at Bethune-Cookman College (2002-2005)
Head Coach at Spruce Creek High School – Port Orange, FL (2002)
Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator at Seabreeze High School – Daytona Beach, FL (1993-2002)

Professional Experience
AFL Orlando Predators WR/DB/KR (1995-1998)
AFL Charlotte Rage WR/DB/KR (1994)
WFL (NFL Europe) Rhine Fire DB/KR (1995)
NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR (1992)
Bethune-Cookman University Hall of Fame Inductee
Seabreeze High School Hall of Fame Inductee

Spouse- Onya / Children: Daughter Jai & son Jayce

Taylor Burks
Defensive Coordinator / LB Coach

1st Year at Independence
27th Year Coaching

• Graduate Assistant Coach (1996-1999)
• Linebacker / Strength & Conditioning Coordinator (2001)
• Defensive Coordinator / Strength & Conditioning Coordinator (2002-2006)
• Special Teams Coordinator / Strength & Conditioning Coordinator (2015-2020)
• Defensive Coordinator / Strength & Conditioning Coordinator (2021)

Coached 10 years High School Football

Won the NJCAA National Championship with Georgia Military College in 2001.
Named American Football Monthly NJCAA Defensive Coordinator of the year in 2003

Spouse: Emily Leslie Burks

Jim Fishel
OL / OLB Coach

AJ Villarreal
DB Coach

2nd Year at Independence
4th Year Coaching

Coached 1 year at The University of Wisconsin La Crosse
Played 4 years of football at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse
Head Wrestling Coach at Independence

Matt Nolan
TE/FB Coach / Head Freshmen Coach

2nd Year at Independence
6th Year Coaching

Played 2 years Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Ca.
Played Offensive Lineman 2 years at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama.

Dylan Black
DL Coach

1st Year at Independence
4th Year Coaching

Previously coached at South Gibson County High School
Played football at South Gibson County High School
Played football at Bethel University

Tyler Forte
WR Coach / Head JV Coach

1st Year at Independence
9th Year Coaching

Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach 4 years at Donelson Christian Academy (Football, Wrestling and Track)
Coached 4 years at DuPont Hadley Middle School (Football, Basketball and Track)

Played at Ezell-Harding Christian School (Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track)

Dexter McCluster
RB Coach

Carter Pillow
OL Coach

4th Year at Independence
16th Year Coaching

Played football at Lambuth University 1990- 1991
Served in the United States Navy 1991-1995

Previously coached at Freedom Middle 1995-2002, Heritage Middle 2013-2018

Spouse: Sonia Pillow / Children: Perris, Ana, Ian, Jarren and Gavin

Brandi Mangrum
Certified Athletic Trainer

16th Year at Independence
19 Years as Athletic Trainer

BS of Science from Alabama, MS in Health Education from MTSU
She began her career at Brentwood Academy in 2003
2015 Named High School Athletic Trainer of the Year for the State of Tennessee at the Tennessee Athletic Trainer Society’s Annual Conference
2006 Came to Independence teaching Health Science and Rehabilitation
2016-17 Named Teacher of the Year at Independence

Spouse: Roy Mangrum (founder of  Barbell Voodoo). They married in 2010 on the 50 yard line on the football field at Independence.
Furbabies (Rescue Pitbulls): Bacon Saban (named after Nick Saban) and Ella Blade (named after Coach Scott Blade)

Dr. Jeffrey Kutsikovich
Team Physician
Bone & Joint Institute at Williamson Medical Center