Whitehaven football coach Rodney Saulsberry Sr. retiring after 22 years

After over two decades as Whitehaven football coach, Rodney Saulsberry Sr. is retiring, he confirmed to The Commercial Appeal on Jan. 6.

For the past 22 years, Saulsberry has led one of the state's most successful programs, winning two state TSSAA Class 6A state championships with perfect 15-0 seasons in 2012 and 2016 and finishing runner-up in 2011 and 2018. He retires with a career record of 197-62.

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"More than half of my life has been spent at Whitehaven and I've poured my life into it and it's been a pleasure and a joy," Saulsberry said. "In prayer with my wife, I just decided that it's time to shut it down, get some time back with the family and see what else is out there for me."

Saulsberry said he "plans to stay around football in another capacity" and "finds ways to help young men turn into adults." He hopes to have an announcement about any future football opportunity sooner than later.

The Whitehaven graduate said the hardest part is leaving his players, who went 7-5 and reached the 6A quarterfinals during the 2025 season.

"I love my players and I've poured my life into them," he said. "(The decision) is about opportunity and growth and choosing some me time. Telling them was the toughest conversation."

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Saulsberry said he'll have no say in his replacement, but that he's helped prepare many players or assistants along the way who would be good fits for the job.

"We've put work in and my motto is leave it better than you found it," Saulsberry said. "That was our mission to leave Whitehaven better than we found it, and I think we did that."

Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal's high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at wendell.shepherd@commercialappeal.com or on X @wendellsjr_.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Whitehaven football coach Rodney Saulsberry Sr. retiring after 22 years