For the first time in 21 years, there will be a new man on the Charles Henderson sidelines during basketball games starting in 2016.

After spending the last five years as head coach at Charles Henderson Middle School, Shelby Tuck moves to the high school program.

Tuck was a member of the 1987 CHHS team that came within one second of winning a state title, and the passion that he has for Trojan basketball has never gone away.

“I still have a fire burning in me from 1987,” Tuck said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to coach here and finish what we started in 1987. My goal is to take this team to the championship level.”

Tuck has built relationships with the students both as the middle school basketball coach and as the high school golf coach. He also has taught physical education at the middle school.

“I have built relationships at the middle school level,” Tuck said. “It’s been a vital part of my success. These kids know that outside of being their basketball coach that I am there for them. My goal is to teach these young men to be productive citizens.”

Tuck will be taking over for long time head coach Carl Hollis. Hollis previously stated that he believes Tuck is the man for the job. Tuck, who has always looked upon Hollis as a mentor, said he is excited about the support and the endorsement.

“Hollis is a mentor and a great man,” Tuck said. “I love him to death. The comments that he gave about me did my heart a lot of good. He is just a great guy.”

Tuck was heavily involved with the varsity team a year ago and he knows what type of players he has to work with as summer workouts begin to intensify. “We want to get a good core group of players together,” Tuck said. “I want to get them on the court and get them to respond to what I am trying implement. If we can come together as a team, then the sky is the limit.”

He believes his message will transfer well to the next level.

“Basketball doesn’t change,” tuck said. “You still have to be able to dribble and shoot the ball and play defense. We are going to work on a lot of developmental stuff. Fundamentals will be part of my process even through the season. You can never get enough of that stuff.

Above anything else, Tuck wants to be the kind of leader and coach that sets a good example for his players.

“I always think of a quote that says ‘if the head is wrong then the whole body is wrong’,” Tuck said. “I want to be the head. I want to be a positive role model for the kids.”

With the season still seven months away Tuck admits that the nerves are there, but more than anything he is ready to get things going.

“The day I don’t have those butterflies is the day I am going to call Dr. Hicks and say I am no longer going to do this,” Tuck said. “There are a lot of nerves. Some days are better than others. I am nervous and optimistic, but I’m also really excited.”