NASHVILLE, TN – January 17, 2025 – Longtime Science Hill and King University basketball coach George Pitts and East Tennessee State University basketball standout Bob Brown have been named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Sponsored by the Tennessee Lottery, pays homage to the state’s rich sports history and their impact within the community.
“George Pitts has been successful at every level, from high school to college, from coaching to administration,” said Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. “His leadership and persistence led him to great success, and we’re very excited to have George Pitts as part of our 2025 Class of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.”
George Pitts coached high school basketball at Young High School, South Young High School, Bearden High School, Science Hill High School, and Brentwood Academy. His high school teams won a total of seven TSSAA State Championships, the most in TSSAA boys basketball history. Pitts coached Science Hill to state championships in 1990, 1994, and 1995, before coaching Brentwood Academy to state championships in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, becoming the only boys basketball program to win four consecutive state championships in TSSAA history. Pitts went on to become the head basketball coach at King University from 2006-2020. During his tenure at King, the Blue Tornado won three AAC Championships and qualified for three NAIA National Tournaments. Pitts currently serves as the Athletics Director for Providence Academy in Johnson City.
Bob Brown played basketball at ETSU from 1974-1977, where he led ETSU’s team in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage in 1975, 1976, and 1977. Brown remains the only player in ETSU basketball history to average a double-double for the entire season and scored over 1,000 points during his time as a Buccaneer. Brown was named All-OVC in 1977. Brown has been named to the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame, the Notre Dame High School (Chattanooga) Sports Hall of Fame, and the Casino de Spa Basketball Hall of Fame in Europe. Brown now works as a teacher in Johnson City.
“Bob Brown made an incredible impact on the court during his time at ETSU,” said Brad Willis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. “He continues to give back to his community as a teacher, and we’re thrilled to honor him with this induction into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.”
The full 2025 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class will be released over the coming weeks.
The 2025 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, presented by the Tennessee Titans, will be held Saturday, July 19nd at the Omni Nashville Downtown. Ticket information will be announced soon.
About the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
Established in 1966, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Tennessee Lottery, enshrines and honors athletes, teams, coaches, sports writers and sports administrators who have made an impact on the history of Tennessee sports. The Hall serves as a platform to connect athletes, coaches, sports fans, and supporters by acknowledging life achievements implemented through sports. The Hall celebrates athletes of all forms, from all across the state. Additionally, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame aspires to educate youth about the importance of healthy habits and the positive impact they have on lifestyle choices. For more information, visit www.tshf.net.
About the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation
The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation operates entirely from the revenue it generates through the sale of its products. Since January 20, 2004, the Lottery has raised more than $7.6 billion to fund designated education programs, including college grants, scholarships, Drive to 55 initiatives and after-school programs. In addition to the educational beneficiaries, players have won more than $20.8 billion in prizes and Lottery retailers have earned more than $2 billion in commissions. For additional information, visit tnlottery.com and follow the TEL on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.