After the resignation of third-year football coach Jacob Massey on Feb. 11, the Long Beach School District did not look far in the selection of a new leader for the Bearcats.
Cody Finley, the Bearcats offensive line coach the last three years, was named the Long Beach head coach at the school board meeting on Tuesday night.
Finley brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to his new role. Before joining Long Beach, Finley served as the coach at his alma mater, Gibson County High School in Dyer, Tenn., from 2016 to 2022.
During his tenure there, Finley had a 24-35 record. Notably, he transformed a program that had only four winning seasons in 42 years, achieving back-to-back winning seasons and playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019.
Before his time at Gibson County, Finley was the coach at two other Tennessee high schools—Stewart County from 2013 to 2016 and Cheatham County from 2002 to 2012.
His leadership at Cheatham County was particularly distinguished, as he guided the team to the Region 6AAA championship and state playoff quarterfinals in 2012.
Finley’s team made the state playoffs nine of 11 years. He was honored as the Region 6AAA Coach of the Year in both 2005 and 2012.
Long Beach Superintendent Dr. Talia Lock looks forward to the Bearcats growing their program under Finley’s leadership.
“We are thrilled to have Cody Finley step into the role of head football coach,” Lock said. “His dedication, expertise and ability to inspire and lead our student-athletes make him the perfect fit for our program. We look forward to the continued growth and success of Bearcat football under his leadership. We are confident that Coach Finley will inspire our student-athletes to achieve great success both on and off the field.”
Athletic director Shane Rutledge is excited to welcome Finley as the new coach at Long Beach High School.
“Coach Finley brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of building successful programs while fostering positive relationships with student-athletes,” Rutledge said. “His dedication to both athletic achievement and academic success aligns perfectly with our school’s values.
“With his extensive background in coaching, teaching and mentoring, we are confident that Coach Finley will inspire our student-athletes and lead our football program to new heights. We are eager to see the positive impact he will have on our students, our team, and our community.”
Finley is eager to begin leading the Bearcats.
“I am very excited about being named head football coach at Long Beach High School,” he said. “As a member of the previous staff, I already have a relationship with the current players. which should allow for a smooth transition. The only way to get better as a football team is to outwork your opponents and teach your players the skills necessary to compete.
“I look forward to building on the culture already set by Coach Massey and taking our program to the next level. I believe we can have a successful winning program at LBHS.”
Finley has a career record of 95-108 for his 20 years in Tennessee, along with 10 seasons his teams went to the playoffs. His best record was 12-1 in 2012 at Cheatham County.
Finley was raised in Yorkville, Tenn., and is married to JonAnn Finley.
