ON JULY 1, RANDALL COLEMAN BEGAN HIS ROLE AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF BANDS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT CHATTANOOGA. Within months of his hire, word spread statewide about his enthusiasm, upbeat personality and musical skills. His guiding hand on the Marching Mocs band has caught the attention of high school band members trying to decide where to attend college. “He has already generated a tremendous amount of energy and excitement with high school band directors from around the state,” says Stuart Benkert, head of the UTC Department of Music. “UTC is now a definite choice for students coming from strong high school band programs,” Benkert adds. Coleman previously was associate director of the Million Dollar Band at the University of Alabama, a 400-piece outfit considered one of the best collegiate bands in the country. Part of his job at UTC is to use that experience to energize the Marching Mocs. “I stand on the shoulders of the UTC band directors who came before me,” he says, “and I couldn’t be more inspired to be a part of such a rich history and legacy as we all work toward providing the UTC students with positive learning experiences through the pursuit of excellence in all that we do.” “UTC is thrilled to have recruited Randall Coleman to help re-energize our band program,” UTC Chancellor Steven Angle says. “His experience as a high school band director and long tenure with the University of Alabama band coupled with his engaging, student-friendly approach make him a perfect fit for UTC.”
Randall Cole, opposite, conducts the UTC Marching Mocs, pictured right, during the Mocs football home opener against Austin Peay on Saturday, September 2, 2021.
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Coleman was planning to retire when the job as band director at UTC opened up. He’d even bought a condo in Florida. But the position was too tempting. “When this opportunity presented itself, I thought one more challenge would be nice. When I began talking to the people here on campus, I just felt this real desire to improve the band program, to rebuild and get it back on track,” Coleman told the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “This is like the one last hurrah before I move to that condo in Florida. I’ll still go; it will just be a few years later than planned.”
He says that the pursuit of excellence for the Marching Mocs isn’t a task just for himself and the band members. “I am a believer in the quote ‘It takes a village,’ and, in the case of a university band program, that quote is especially true,” Coleman says. “In order to fulfill a vision, it takes a team effort from us all.”
