Bill Gardner Fall Preview set for Oct. 6-7

MORRISTOWN, TN – The Walters State Fall Classic is getting a name change, beginning this year.

The tournament, held every fall at The Country Club in Morristown, will now be named the Bill Gardner Fall Preview after Walters State's Hall of Fame coach. This year's tournament will be October 6-7. 

"It is an honor to have coached so many young student-athletes who have competed successfully at every level," Gardner said. "This tournament has been a staple for us every fall, and so many good student-athletes have played in the event over the years. It means a lot to have this tournament named after myself, and I look forward to seeing everyone compete." 

Gardner spent 48 years at Walters State, coaching baseball, men's basketball and golf. Gardner was the only coach to take two different programs to the NJCAA National Tournament while at Walters State, as he made an amazing 29 national tournament appearances while also guiding the Senators to a 1984 JUCO World Series appearance in baseball.

In 2013, Gardner coached the Senators to an NJCAA Division II Golf National Tournament runner-up finish, and the following year, Walters State broke through for a national title, the only team national crown in the golf program's history, in Plymouth, Indiana. Gardner also coached the only individual national champion in school history, as Ryan Cabbage won the 1995 NJCAA national title.

Gardner earned the Dave Williams Award presented by Eaton Golf Pride as national coach of the year in 2013 and 2014. Gardner received multiple TJCCAA, TCCAA and NJCAA Coach of the Year awards. He is a member of the Tusculum College Sports Hall of Fame (1985), Golf Coaches Association of America (2014) and the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Hall of Fame (1997).