SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – On Friday afternoon, Shelbyville Central announced the hiring of Chad Spencer as the new head coach of the Golden Eaglettes after the program finished the 2025-26 season with a disappointing 8-22 record.

“I've always had my eye on this job ever since I became a head coach,” Spencer said, “So when the opportunity presented itself, I showed some interest and came and interviewed. I've kept my eye on them this past season, and I feel like they got a lot of young ladies that have a tremendous amount of potential and skill.”

Spencer, an alumnus who started off as an assistant under Rick Insell at Shelbyville Central, was most recently the head coach for the Raiderettes at Moore County. His no-nonsense approach and drive led the program to a 95-37 record over a five-season stretch that included two trips to the Class A State Tournament. The Eaglettes’ last trip to Murphy Center was in 2008, but Spencer is set on turning the program into a true contender once again.

“We’re going to give it all we’ve got to get back to where [the Eaglettes] are competing for championships,” Spencer said, “That’s my goal…and we’ll work on a daily basis to get there.”

Spencer is a championship-level coach, most recently having won three District 9-A titles and two Region 5-A titles in his five seasons at Moore County. He was also named as the 2024 Basketball Coaches Association Tennessee Pat Summit Coach of the Year. The keys to his success? Tough and stingy defense paired with extremely high effort levels on both ends of the court.

“A lot of times we play 94 feet, and we're aggressive on our defense and like to try to get out and transition,” Spencer said, “I think that's an exciting way to play basketball. The fans are going to see some kids that when they step on the floor, they’re going to have a tremendous amount of pride [for Shelbyville Central], they're going to play hard, tough-nose defense, and we're going to share the ball offensively.”

As a former assistant with the Eaglettes under the legendary Rick Insell, and when he was attending Shelbyville Central, Insell guided the program to a pair of national championships. Spencer has always been around tremendous success in his time at Shelbyville Central, and he has a tremendous amount of reverence for the history of the Eaglettes.

“I've had a lot of Eaglettes that go all the way back to the first team that won a state championship there reach out to me about getting the job, and that means the world to me,” he said, “The opportunity that Coach Insell gave me when I was just a kid, just wanting to learn the game, learn those life lessons about how to work hard, and the system that he ran I still use that as a template to this day. I'll never not be thankful for him and his family to take me under their wing like they did. I think back when I was in school, and then even when I was an assistant there with Coach Insell, we just had  great leadership at Shelbyville Central High School with Mike Bone and all those teachers who took pride in the program. So we had our coaches in the gym, you know, but we also had a lot of faculty members that were a huge part of our success by helping those young ladies along the way, fulfill their dreams, and I feel like at Shelbyville Central High School we've got that coming. I think Mr. Pope is doing a fantastic job.”

“I'm excited to get back into that high school that meant so much to me and for these kids, not just the athletes and the basketball players, but all those kids. This is a job that I'm going to take a lot of pride in.”

Although he’s leaving Moore County after a short stint, Spencer says that he’ll always remember the five years he spent in Lynchburg while also being thankful to the current administration at Shelbyville Central for the opportunity.

“I will always have a place in my heart for Moore County and the Raiderettes,” he said, “We accomplished a lot in my short tenure, and I’ll never forget that. All the fans that came out and supported us…it is a special place, and I’m confident that whoever they get to come in will do a good job as well. I’d like to thank all the administrators for giving me this opportunity. I take it very seriously, and I’m excited.”

Included below is the press release from Bedford County Schools last Friday.

Shelbyville Central High School is proud to announce the hiring of Chad Spencer as the new head coach of the Golden Eaglettes basketball program. 

A championship-level coach and U.S. Army veteran, Spencer brings a strong record of success, leadership and program development to the role. 

Spencer most recently served as head girls basketball coach at Moore County High School, where he led his team to a TSSAA State Runner-Up finish in 2024 and a State Quarterfinal appearance in 2025. His teams have earned multiple district and region championships, and he has built a reputation for developing disciplined, defense-focused programs and student-athletes who excel on and off the court. 

In recognition of his accomplishments, Spencer was named the 2024 Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee Pat Summitt Coach of the Year and has received numerous district and region coach of the year honors throughout his career. 

Spencer also brings valuable collegiate experience, having served on the coaching staff at the University of Mississippi, where he contributed to opponent scouting, film analysis, game planning and player development at the SEC Division I level. 

A familiar face to the Shelbyville community, Spencer is a graduate of Shelbyville Central High School and previously served as an assistant coach for the Eagles during a historic run that included four TSSAA state championships. 

“I am honored to return to Shelbyville Central and lead the Golden Eaglettes program,” said Spencer. “I am looking forward to building a strong culture and getting to work with the players, teachers and administrators every day. There is a lot of talent and potential in this program, and I am excited to help these players grow, compete and take pride in what they are going to build together. I truly believe we are going to do something special, and I can’t wait to get started.” 

Spencer’s first day with the team is yet to be determined but will be soon, according to SCHS Principal Charlie Pope. As far as the classroom, Pope shared that Spencer will be teaching Physical Education starting next August. 

When asked about his top priorities, Spencer responded, “The biggest priorities are establishing trust, setting a clear standard, and creating a team-first mindset. I want our identity to be built on toughness, discipline and unselfish play. That starts with daily habits — how we practice, how we communicate and how we support each other. I also want our players to excel in the classroom. If we can consistently do those things, we will build a culture that our players, parents, teachers and community will be proud of.” 

“Also, my goal is to develop complete student-athletes,” shared Spencer. He explained this as fundamentals on the court in effort and understanding the game, and added, “Off the court, it’s about accountability, leadership and making good choices. When our players leave this program, I want them to be better prepared for life.” 

Shelbyville Central High School Principal Charlie Pope expressed enthusiasm about the new hire. “I am excited to welcome Coach Spencer back home to SCHS! He is a proven winner from his early days as a young assistant with Coach Rick Insell and including stops at Liberty Middle, Cascade High School and most recently Moore County. He is a high-character guy, a hard worker and he believes deeply in student success on the court, the classroom and the community. We are lucky to have both Chad and his wife Scarlett join Eagle Nation!” 

What can the community expect from the team this season?
“Players, parents and fans can expect a tough, disciplined team that plays hard, plays together and competes every game,” commented Spencer. “We are going to work, improve and represent Shelbyville the right way. We are building something special here, and I hope our community will come out and support the Eaglettes this season.” 

In addition to his coaching experience, Spencer has served in the United States Army and the Tennessee Army National Guard. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Middle Tennessee State University and an associate degree from Motlow State Community College. 

Bedford County Schools is a district of sixteen schools committed to the academic and personal success of each child and serving over 8,700 students.