Known as the “Dean of Tennessee’s Prep Coaches,” Stroud Gwynn’s athletic career began at Lebanon High School, where he played football and baseball. He then spent his freshman year at Vanderbilt before transferring to Maryville College, where he played football for three more years. He first coached at Watertown for one season before moving to Gallatin in 1935, where he remained for eight years. After World War II, Gwynn returned to coaching at Lebanon’s Castle Heights, where he would stay for the remainder of his career. Gwynn posted an overall record of 184-99-25, which included four undefeated teams, two Mid-State titles at Gallatin, and five Mid-South Conference championships at Castle Heights. His 1964 team was ranked the number one prep school in the nation. At Castle Heights, 136 of his boys earned college scholarships, including UT All-American Bobby Majors. Gwynn also coached boxing and wrestling. His best known protégé in boxing was Pete Radamacher, who won an Olympic heavyweight championship. A past president of the Tennessee State High School Coaches Association and the Mid-South Coaches Association, Gwynn retired in 1972 but continued to serve at Castle Heights as athletic and development director until 1986, when the school closed. Stroud Gwynn died in 1987, his great influence on prep football firmly rooted in the annals of Tennessee sports history.
