On the other side of the whistle... File Photo/Larry N. Souders
Elizabethton Cyclone Head Coach Shawn Witten holds the Coaches State Champion plaque after the Cyclones win the 2019 Class 4A Blue Cross Bowl championship game in Cookeville.
Elizabethton’s Witten self-motivated to be successful in life * Story by Ivans Sanders and Photos by Ivan Sanders and Larry N. Souders* t the mention of the name Witten, it’s obvious that most people team few may know much about the man behind the whistle. recognize the name instantly especially if they are familiar with Witten would be the first to tell anyone that he didn’t need too much the Northeast Tennessee area. prodding to reach the success level that he has but he would quickly folThe first name that comes to mind is that of Jason Witten, a low that up by bragging on his grandfather, a local football legend and pro-bowl and Hall of Fame-bound tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. Hall of Fame coach in Coach Dave Rider. But quickly after that the name Shawn Witten soon follows. “I have a lot of characteristics from my grandfather,” said WitShawn, the middle brother of three Wittens — Ryan, Shawn, ten. “I have always been a very organized and detailed person — and Jason — has made a name for himself in Tennessee on the like an obsessive-compulsive disorder kind of trait. gridiron as the head coach of the Elizabethton Cyclones where he “I have always been somewhat of a perfectionist that has that has roamed the sidelines for 13 seasons at the helm of the football internal drive — extremely high self-motivated. A lot of the same program at the school. characteristics you might say of a military background withWith no doubt, he just completed his most memorable out having any military experience.” season in 2019 when he guided the Cyclones to a perfect While most young people, and some older folks, need 15-0 slate and the 2019 BlueCross Bowl Class 4-A State someone to keep everyday activities and details to be Championship. provided by someone else, Witten found that early in life that Witten followed that up with regional Coach of the Year structure would be the foundation of what makes him tick. honors as well as being named the Tennessee Titans Coach And if he seems to do things the same way all the time, of the Year. He also led his West FCA All-Star team to a 24it may just lead back to that structured format. 17 victory over the East in the 2019 FCA All-Star game. “Growing up I was always a structured person. I liked While most people are familiar with his football acthings to be a certain way — just plain you might say. I colades including outstanding playing careers at his alma liked my clothes to fit a certain way, a very clean and neat mater Elizabethton and Virginia Tech as part of Frank Beamer’s Hokie kind of person.
A
28
