2/14/2005 - Father Ryan High School announces the hiring of Bruce Lussier (pronounced Loo-shur) as varsity football coach. Lussier, head coach of the Oak Ridge Football Wildcats since 1999, replaces Robert Jemison who announced his decision to resign that position shortly after the 2004 regular season ended. Lussier is expected to take the helm in time for spring football drills.

Lussier has been a football coach for 31 years. In his six years as head coach, he has been named Coach of the Year in his region four times, putting together an outstanding coaching staff and leading his team to an overall record of 62 wins and 14 losses with five trips to the TSSAA state playoffs - making it to the second round game once, the quarter finals two times and semifinals two times – most recently in the 2004 season.

“I am very excited about the opportunity and honored to be selected as the head football coach for a school with such a storied and rich tradition as Father Ryan, said Coach Lussier. “I look forward to meeting the players and putting together a program of which not only the school but the entire community can be proud.”

“Bruce is coming to Father Ryan from Oak Ridge High School where he's been the Head Coach for the last six years,” Father Ryan principal, Jack Langton said. “Oak Ridge has boasted one of the finest football programs in the state and we're exceedingly fortunate that Coach Lussier has accepted the position at Ryan. His remarkable and sustained record of excellence as a Head Coach, his ability to develop an outstanding coaching staff, his success at attracting quality athletes and helping all of his athletes make the most of their abilities are among the reasons we feel he will provide the kind of leadership our team needs as it goes forward.”

Coach Lussier graduated from Central Connecticut State College in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He earned his master's degree in the same field a year later at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. In 1974 he began teaching and coaching at Farragut High School in Knoxville where he was defensive coordinator his final three years. In 1979 he became the Head Football Coach at Halls High School in Knoxville. Since 1981 he has been a football coach and teacher at Oak Ridge High School and in 1999 took the reins as Head Football Coach there while coordinating and teaching in the Wellness program.

Lussier is on the board of directors for the Tennessee Football Coaches Association. In addition to being named Coach of the Year in his region four times, he was named TACA Regional Coach of the Year in 1999 and Assistant Coach of the year in 1993.

Principal Jack Langton, who is retiring at the end of the school year, convened an advisory panel composed of members of Father Ryan's Athletic Department and members of the Athletic Program Committee of Father Ryan's Board of Trustees, along with the school's Athletic Director and Academic Dean. Together they reviewed dozens of resumes, narrowing the field to a very short list. Jim McIntyre, Langton's replacement as principal next year, also reviewed the resumes, called the members of the advisory panel for their counsel and, along with his senior administrators, interviewed the finalists before consulting with Langton. Both principals are excited about the appointment of a coach of Lussier's caliber.

Lussier will be the thirteenth varsity football coach in the 79 year history of Father Ryan.

Father Ryan High School, located at 700 Norwood Drive just off Franklin Road in Oak Hill, is a diocesan, coeducational high school (grades 9-12) in Nashville, Tenn. with a rich tradition of excellence on the field and in the classroom.