For Cookeville coaches Rachel and Justin Vann, greatness isn’t qualified by records, trophies, or accolades. 

Despite winning two of the last three TMSAA State Championships at Prescott South Middle School (with Rachel at the helm and Justin assisting), the pair feels that success is measured more by lives changed than by banners in rafters.

“My favorite thing about coaching is the opportunity it gives us to impact young lives,” Rachel stated. “I love watching our players grow not only as athletes but as women and young ladies. That growth is important to me and, I believe, powerful for our society. It means a lot to coach here in Cookeville, and I’m still younger so the girls look up to me. To help mold them makes me happy. I care more about that than winning basketball games.”

As talented athletes at Tennessee Tech themselves (Justin, an outside linebacker on the football team, and Rachel, a shooting guard for TTU’s women’s basketball), coaching was a natural next step in their shared journey. Unsurprisingly, the couple’s reach within the Upper Cumberland athletic community is broad. In addition to their work at Prescott, Justin is the defensive line coach for CHS and Rachel is the head coach of the FBC Reign travel ball team which the pair own together. 

Added to the chaos of busy coaching schedules, Rachel and Justin are parents to seven. With two biological children, Justin’s two younger brothers, Rachel’s niece and nephew, and their recently adopted son Leon (a former player of Justin’s adopted through foster care) all living under one roof, the Vann house rarely slows down. 

Though overwhelming at times, Rachel and Justin see parenting as a unique opportunity, one they dreamed about for years. 

“We always wanted to do foster care. We’ve always wanted to adopt. I grew up in a single-parent household with a lot of kids and Justin’s background was very similar,” Rachel said. To provide a safe and loving environment, to mold these kids, and to show them that things can be different is so important to us. It’s difficult to help kids move past the things they struggle with, but we also don’t let them use those as an excuse. Just because something happened in your past doesn’t mean it gets to mold your future.”  

Justin elaborated, “We understand that the needs start early with a child. The path of your life can change so much based on the experiences you have as a kid. We provide structure and love. We give them responsibility so that they feel like they can live, do things, and accomplish small victories.” He continued, “You can’t let kids dwell on their traumas. Helping them move past and not revert is a challenge. It can be a battle. Life is hard sometimes, but we don’t dwell on it or let them either. When you see things through a kid’s perspective you change and become more understanding. You become more understanding of traumas and how they can affect a life. We see the effects of these traumas and give them a place to process them.”

Despite their successes on the court, the Vanns aren’t immune to trauma or suffering. From the loss of Justin’s mom in 2022 to the obstacles associated with parenting so many children simultaneously (including one with severe autism), Rachel and Justin face adversity while still putting the athletes of Cookeville first. 

Through their work as coaches, parents, and community leaders, Rachel and Justin Vann are changing the current and future ceiling for Cookeville athletics. We’ve loved getting to share this small piece of their incredible story. 

– by Andrew Buckner, photos by Abby Weeden