Hawks announced his retirement on May 1, a day after the Patriots ended their 2026 season with a 12-3 loss to Rockvale in the District 10-4A tournament. He's the winningest coach in Rutherford County history,
It wasn't a rushed decision. Although not widely known, Hawks had decided in February this would be his final season.
"I had planned it," Hawks said. "It's something I had been thinking about the last couple of years. I just felt like it was my time, and I talked to (Oakland principal John Marshall) back in the first part of February and made the decision back then, win or lose. It's not something I decided over the last couple of weeks or season."
Siegel's Drew Hostetler (10) slides into third base safely under Oakland's Caden Wayman (2) during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Drew Hostetler (10) connects for a single against Oakland during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) throws a pitch Oakland during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Q&A
What is Mack Hawks' coaching record at Oakland?
Mack Hawks has a coaching record of 760 wins over 37 seasons.
How many state championships did Mack Hawks win?
Mack Hawks won two state championships during his coaching career.
When did Mack Hawks announce his retirement?
Mack Hawks announced his retirement on May 1, the day after the Patriots' 2026 season ended.
Why did Mack Hawks decide to retire?
Mack Hawks felt it was his time to retire, a decision he had been contemplating for the last couple of years.
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Oakland's Caden Baxter (9) pitches against Siegel during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Trey Baker (19) celebrates his two run home run against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Trey Baker (19) fields a ground-out hit by Oakland's Andrew Carver during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Jackson Zeltner (7) hits a single against Oakland during the third inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) celebrates the third out against Oakland during the third inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Trey Baker (19) steals second base under Oakland's Colton Brabender (5) during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) pitches against Oakland during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Oakland's Braxton Greever (22) steals second base past Siegel's Nate McDowell (1) during the third inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Keegan Lewis (18) hits a single against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) pitches against Oakland during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Oakland coach Mack Hawks watches his team face Siegel during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Trey Baker (19) hits a two run home run against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) pitches against Oakland during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel coach Craig Reavis watches his team face Oakland during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Oakland's Caden Wayman (2) fields a ground-out hit by Siegel's Nate McDowell during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Drew Hostetler (10) runs the bases on his RBI triple against Oakland during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) throws a pitch Oakland during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Drew Hostetler (10) warms up before batting during the fourth inning against Oakland at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Keegan Lewis (18) steals second base behind Oakland's Colton Brabender (5) during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Josh Duggin (8) hits a single against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Oakland's Banks Baron (3) scores on a wild pitch past Siegel's Colton Baron (27) during the sixth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) throws a pitch against Oakland during the sixth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Oakland's Asher Evans (10) fields a ground out hit by Siegel's Keegan Lewis during the sixth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) celebrates the third out against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
1 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Drew Hostetler (10) slides into third base safely under Oakland's Caden Wayman (2) during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
1 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Drew Hostetler (10) slides into third base safely under Oakland's Caden Wayman (2) during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
2 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Drew Hostetler (10) connects for a single against Oakland during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
3 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) throws a pitch Oakland during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
4 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Oakland's Caden Baxter (9) pitches against Siegel during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
5 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Trey Baker (19) celebrates his two run home run against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
6 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Trey Baker (19) fields a ground-out hit by Oakland's Andrew Carver during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
7 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Jackson Zeltner (7) hits a single against Oakland during the third inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
8 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) celebrates the third out against Oakland during the third inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
9 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Trey Baker (19) steals second base under Oakland's Colton Brabender (5) during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
10 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) pitches against Oakland during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
11 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Oakland's Braxton Greever (22) steals second base past Siegel's Nate McDowell (1) during the third inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
12 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Keegan Lewis (18) hits a single against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
13 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) pitches against Oakland during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
14 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Oakland coach Mack Hawks watches his team face Siegel during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
15 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Trey Baker (19) hits a two run home run against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
16 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) pitches against Oakland during the first inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
17 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel coach Craig Reavis watches his team face Oakland during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
18 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Oakland's Caden Wayman (2) fields a ground-out hit by Siegel's Nate McDowell during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
19 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Drew Hostetler (10) runs the bases on his RBI triple against Oakland during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
20 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) throws a pitch Oakland during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
21 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Drew Hostetler (10) warms up before batting during the fourth inning against Oakland at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
22 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Keegan Lewis (18) steals second base behind Oakland's Colton Brabender (5) during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
23 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Josh Duggin (8) hits a single against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
24 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Oakland's Banks Baron (3) scores on a wild pitch past Siegel's Colton Baron (27) during the sixth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
25 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) throws a pitch against Oakland during the sixth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
26 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Oakland's Asher Evans (10) fields a ground out hit by Siegel's Keegan Lewis during the sixth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
27 / 27
Oakland vs Siegel. Check out our best photos from TSSAA baseball game
Siegel's Colton Baron (27) celebrates the third out against Oakland during the fifth inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
The 66-year-old Hawks, a Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer, took over as head coach at Oakland in 1990 after George Hockenberry stepped down to focus solely on coaching girls basketball.
A 1977 Friendship Christian graduate, where he played baseball before playing at Cumberland, Hawks started teaching at Oakland and coaching football in 1987. He had previously coached football at Hendersonville and football and wrestling at Lebanon.
During his 37 years at Oakland he led the Patriots to five state tournament appearances, including the 1999 and 2000 Class AAA state championships. His 2007 team entered the sectional 42-1 before being upset by Cleveland (2-1).
Hawks earned his 700th win in April 2022. He was among the top 10 active coaches (Lausanne's Buster Kelso, CAK's Tommy Pharr and Friendship Christian's John McNeal, Greenfield's Johnny Growe, Columbia Academy's Richie Estep) and among the top 15 all time in Tennessee in victories.
"I've been very blessed," Hawks said. "I've had good players, of course, and very good assistant coaches who were a lot of fun to work with. I've also had very good administrators. All of that goes into the whole body of work for this program. We've been able to win a lot.
Oakland coach Mack Hawks watches his team face Siegel during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Oakland coach Mack Hawks watches his team face Siegel during the second inning at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Oakland won 12 district championships and seven region titles during Hawks' tenure.
Hawks, who is also retiring from teaching after 39 years in Rutherford County and 44 overall, said he was going to spend more time seeing his two sons and grandchildren. His youngest son, Will, is in the Washington Nationals organization as a minor league pitching coordinator and his oldest son, Ryan, is a lawyer in Birmingham.
"I may travel a little bit," Hawks said. "I'll probably play a lot of golf. I love golf."
You could hear some emotion in Hawks' voice when talking about his career. When asked if he thought his career would span this long ā or be this successful ā he answered quickly and emphatically.
"No way," Hawks said. "If you would have told me I would be a head coach for 37 years, I wouldn't have believed you. I just never envisioned it this long. If you would have told me (about winning state championships), I wouldn't have believed you either. Some good coaches coach all their life and never get that.
"I've been really blessed to be able to do it this long. I just decided in February that this was it, win or lose. It's best for me right now and also best for the program right now."
Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.
