For the second time this year, Tate Fischer – Starkville Academy’s linebackers coach and a man who prefers to avoid the limelight – found himself at the center of attention again last week as he accepted another unexpected coaching award.
The veteran assistant coach of 29 years at Starkville who is entering his eighth season with the Volunteers was recognized as the best assistant coach in the state in February as Mississippi’s Broyles Award winner, and on Wednesday in Coralville, Iowa, he was named the National Assistant Coach of the Year in boys sports by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Fischer told the Dispatch. “When you spend most of your career just being that guy in the background and all the sudden they put the spotlight on you and I’m like, ‘Hey, let’s put it on somebody else.’
Fischer, who is also the head archery coach at SA, was selected out of eight national finalists for the award. He has also been up for the ACOTY before and made the trip all the way to Iowa back in 2022 for the awards ceremony, but headed back home with only a plaque to commemorate being a finalist. This time around, though, his luggage back home was a little heavier due the large acrylic trophy he was awarded for the top honor.
“It’s very humbling and truly an honor to be recognized for all your hard work over your career,” Fischer said. “You’ll never expect to have anything like that happen and when it does you are just grateful. But it’s not about what you’ve done, it’s about the people you’ve coached and worked with. I’ve worked with some really great assistants throughout my career at Starkville and Starkville Academy.”
Two of those “really great assistants” are former Starkville assistant coaches John Patterson and Cleveland Hudson. Their guidance early on his career played a pivotal role in teaching him the ropes of coaching.
“I learned a lot about how to be an assistant coach from those two guys,” he said. “ I mean I worked with other great ones throughout the years, but I spent 20 years with those guys before they retired and left me. … They’re two legends at Starkville High School.”
And while he’s had his opportunities to throw his hat into the ring to be a head coach, that is simply a position that Fischer doesn’t want. To him, it’s all about focusing on doing what he loves everyday – and that’s just coaching ball.
“I have never wanted to have the big whistle,” he said. “I’m a behind-the-scenes guy. I don’t really like being in the spotlight, so these two national awards that I’ve been blessed to receive, to me it’s more about the program than it is about me. I think both of these awards have given both schools that I’ve worked at and our community the spotlight. It’s not about me.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 28 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
