Dresden names Justin Cruse new football coach

The Dresden administration has finished up the search for the new football coach, and Justin Cruse has been tabbed to lead the Lions’ football team.

Cruse replaces Keith Hodge, who left for the second time from Dresden to become the McKenzie football coach.

Cruse has spent the last seven years as the Ripley head coach, and he has a 36-46 record during his tenure. The Tigers have reached the second round of the playoffs each of the last six years, including a spot in the Class 3A quarterfinals in 2020.

Prior to the seven years at Ripley, Cruse spent lots of time in Weakley County. He spent the 2016 season as an assistant coach at Westview under Trey Cantrell. Before that he was the defensive coordinator and head baseball coach at Dresden.

Cruse is also a graduate of Westview.

Dresden is coming off a 13-1 season, where the Lions were perfect in the regular season and wining the Region 7-1A championship. They reached the Class 1A semifinals before being eliminated by McKenzie.