Mott, PCA gearing for TSSAA competition

MURFREESBORO — Providence Christian will become the 11th school in Rutherford County to compete in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association beginning in the 2016-17 school year.

PCA headmaster Bill Mott recently spoke with The DNJ on the school's decision to go to TSSAA, where it will compete in Division II, Class A and have the option of offering need-based financial aid for its athletes.

When did Providence Christian begin working on the move to TSSAA?

Mott: Well, probably before my arrival I'm sure there were some conversations. When you have someone here like (former Oakland basketball coach) Randy (King), who was so well versed in the TSSAA, I'm sure he probably had some thoughts about it and maybe some conversations about it. I think it really began in earnest last spring. We have an athletics committee. They started meeting last spring. The athletics committee is made up of faculty, staff, some board members and parents. They began to meet last spring with the idea of looking into whether or not TSSAA would be feasible for us for a school of our size, for a school that had the resources that we had.

What makes now the best time for that move?

Mott: For us, we have been growing a lot lately. PCA started its upper school about seven years ago. We now have enough students, enough critical mass of students, where we feel like we can begin to be competitive in some sports — not everything that TSSAA offers or provides. I think we felt like it was the right move for us from the standpoint of growth, from the standpoint of wanting to continue to grow. We know there are some students and there are some families that are attracted to a school in part because of the opportunity to have a competitive athletics program. That was really what was behind it for us.

What do you see as the positives of PCA going to TSSAA at this time?

Mott: It allows us to compete at the highest level. TSSAA is the athletic organization in the state that allows you to compete at the state level. I think that was important to us to stretch ourselves and see if we could make that logical next step from MTAC to TSSAA. I think we're at that point in our history where we're ready to do that and see how we fair in a different kind of competitive environment.

What are the negatives of going to TSSAA for a school of your size?

Mott: Probably some of the positives is its negative. And that is the competition will be more significant. We'll be facing schools that are for the most part much larger. There are obviously some concern about our ability to be competitive in that environment. It's a challenge I think. But I think in the long run it's the best move for us. There may be times even over the next few years where we may not fair as well had we been in MTAC. But it is a stretching opportunity for us, and I think we are ready for that.

What is a ballpark figure for the high school enrollment now, and what do you project for next year?

Mott: That's a good question. Right now, it's about 130. I think as we grow and Rutherford County grows, I think we can anticipate probably in the next five years 200 students. That would be a good growth for us.

You mentioned MTAC, the Middle Tennessee Athletic Conference. It's a league where you've developed rivalries and friendships. How difficult is it to leave a league like that where, one, you've had success and, two, you've developed some rivalries?

Mott: You are right. The rivalries and the competition there and the relationships with coaches and other schools will be different. Now, keep in mind we'll continue to compete in MTAC through our middle school. We'll still be in MTAC for that. It's just high school where we'll be TSSAA. It will be a little different. I think we're poised to make this move.

What sports will you offer next year, and do you look at adding sports with the move to TSSAA?

Mott: I think we will try to add sports. It will be pretty basic for us. It will definitely be basketball for men and women. Volleyball, tennis, probably cross country, golf and soccer. At some point, and it's hard to anticipate when this will happen, but we'd love to start a football program. We were fairly close to an eight-man program. Baseball is down the road as is softball. And as our enrollment grows and the interest in those sports grow, we think we'll be able to field a team.

What are the obstacles that you face making this move to TSSAA?

Mott: I think scheduling will be different. We have kind of a unique academic year schedule at PCA. We're kind of a year round, balanced calendar. We just came off a two-week break in the spring. We have a two-week break in the fall. We recognize that we'll probably either have to practice or play during some of those break times. I think the other thing that is kind of an unknown of travel and where we'll have to go. We don't know where all the teams we'll play will be located.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

ABOUT BILL MOTT

Age: 62

Family: Wife: Courtney. Children: Robert, 31; and Courtney Leigh, 27.

College: Ole Miss (undergraduate); Vanderbilt (Ph. D. in educational leadership).

Hometown: Originally from Knoxville, but lived most of his life in Middle Tennessee.