CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Todd Dunn has been the head baseball coach at Montgomery Central for four decades. Over that time, he’s won over 500 games, coached over 400 kids and the main theme throughout his tenure with the team remains abundantly clear – loyalty.
In his early days, Dunn grew up on a farm on the southside of Montgomery County, where he attended Montgomery Central High School himself. He played basketball and baseball growing up along with all three of his siblings. Dunn graduated in 1981, and went on to attend Austin Peay State University, where he graduated with a degree in education back in 1985. After graduating, Dunn returned to Central to teach, and when they needed a new head baseball coach his first year teaching, Dunn took the position without hesitation. As far as Dunn’s background is concerned, he’s Montgomery Central, through and through.
“My parents always stressed education to me,” said Dunn. “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and a coach. The first year I taught, there was an issue and they needed a new baseball coach about halfway through the season, and I’ve been there ever since. I love it out here, it’s like a family.”
Growing up, Dunn looked up to his father as a huge role model, and cites him as one of the main reasons he wanted to get into coaching. Dunn’s father was a basketball and baseball coach, and Dunn modeled his coaching style from his father.
“He was always calm,” Dunn told Clarksville Now. “I watched him and how he coached, I saw him in so many different situations. The advice he gave me that I always keep in mind is that sometimes there are great people, that are idiots when it comes to their kids playing sports. He was a role model in so many ways.”
There are several ways to measure a coaches impact, and one of those is the effect on his players. Well, Dunn has coached 53 baseball players that went on to play at the collegiate or professional level. Among those is right handed pitcher Alec Mills.
Mills pitched at the University of Tennessee-Martin, then went on to pitch for the Royals, Cubs and Reds throughout his MLB career. He also owns one of the 16 no-hitters in Cubs franchise history. Mills opted for a humorous response when talking about what coach Dunn has meant to him.
“The best way I can describe how much Coach Dunn supported me and was my biggest fan is the fact that I have pictures, that I’m sure he wouldn’t want to get out, of him wearing a Cubs hat!” Mills said. “Those that know him, know that is a big show of support for him, being a Cardinals fan.”
Another example to look at is current Montgomery Central softball coach, Chris Jackson, who played baseball under Dunn in high school. For Jackson, Dunn’s model of consistency and loyalty has helped guide him through his first few years running the softball program.
“The most impressive thing about Coach Dunn is that he has coached at one school for 35-plus seasons,” Jackson said. “He cares so deeply about his program and always wants to do what is best for his boys. When I played for him, he always expected your best and he would not allow you to settle for less.
“In 2021, when I began coaching at Central, Coach Dunn was so helpful to me. He taught me the operations side of coaching and how to follow all the procedures that are required of us. When I would have a situation arise, I would give him a call and ask his opinion on things. He was always willing to give me his time and help me out. The Central community is lucky to have had Coach Dunn all these years!”
In an era where coaches and players swapping schools has become common place, Dunn has remained loyal to the Indians, and will start his 40th campaign as the head coach at Montgomery Central this spring. Over his time there, he’s compiled over 530 wins, won 16 regular season or tournament district championships, made 15 regional appearances and made two state tournament runs. However, when Clarksville Now asked Dunn about his legacy at MCHS, the wins and accolades aren’t what comes to mind.
“People ask me, how many games have I won or how many championships have I won, and to be honest with you I don’t know,” Dunn said. “Success to me is both on the baseball field, and the boys being successful off the field, as a successful student and as a successful person. At the end of the day, it’s about the boys, the community and doing things the right way.”