TTA Member Spotlight on Terry Porch

Sports Field Manager for the Tennessee Titans at St. Thomas Sports Park and Nissan Stadium

Terry Porch

Q: How many years have you been in this position?

A: Since July of 1998. 21 years in July.

Q: How did you decide to pursue a career in turfgrass management?

A: I started with the Kansas City Royals in 1981 and fell in love with it.

Q: What path led you to your current position?

A: Working with the Kansas City Royals and learning under George Toma. I worked there from 1981–1988. In 1990 I was able to be on the Field crew for Super Bowl 24. I asked George if I could go and he said I could, but I would have to work for free and pay my own way, so I did. At the end of that Super Bowl, George came up to me and said that I worked as hard as any of guys that got paid and handed me a check for working that Super Bowl. He also told me that I made his crew for as long as he was doing the Super Bowls. I was on the field crew for 19 Super Bowls. I also worked with the Carolina Panthers from 1996–1998 before coming to the Titans. My first year in Tennessee was when the team was still the Oilers.

Q: What is the best part of your job?

A: I enjoy painting the field the most, especially the logos.

Titans Logo at center field

Q: What are some unique challenges of your job?

A: The number of events that we have during the season on field. We always seem to have a concert or extra college games played during the season. Last year we had 3 extra concerts. We had the CMA Music Fest, Monster Jam, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran along with 2 Tennessee State football games, The Titans schedule of 10 games, and the Music City Bowl with 2 Nashville Soccer Club games and a USA vs. Mexico game.

St. Thomas Sports Park

Q: How many employees are part of your team?

A: I have four full time employees and usually 2 seasonal employees. Mike Henry, Dudley Johnson, Katie Deppen and Austyn Carter are the best crew I have ever had. I had a great seasonal guy last year as well in Jerome Kline. Without their help last year would have been a lot longer year than it was. I also get weekend-gameday help for the painting on Saturday and game days.

Game Day at Nissan Stadium

Q: Working in professional sports expectations are very high –what’s the biggest challenge to meeting those expectations?

A: Keeping the grass in good condition late in the year when the grass isn’t growing on its own. We have a tarp that blows up and we can blow hot air under it to keep the soil temperatures up. The tarp also lets around 75% of the sunlight through.

Q: What is one lesson you’ve learned the hard way in your career?

A: How to take criticism. Everyone is an expert in what I do.

Q: Do you have a mentor in the industry?

A: My mentor is definitely George Toma. He taught me that everything you do, you’re putting your name on it for everyone to see, so you better do it well. He gave me “that and then some!” That and then some means not just doing the job but doing it better than most and sweating the little things as well as the big thing.

Q: What do you do in your free time?

A: Spend time on my boat, and I like going to the movies.

Q: Family?

A: I have been married to Jamie for 29 years. I have 4 boys: Brandon (27), Tyler (23), Joshua (19). These are my biological kids. We also have another son James Adams (27) that came to live with us when he was in ninth grade.

Q: What would your advice be for people entering the turfgrass industry now?

A: Find what your area of turf grass you like to do such as golf or sports turf or even lawn care and give it all you got.