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The King’s Academy Cancels 2025 Football Season

Empty football field at The King's Academy

News Summary

The King’s Academy has announced the cancellation of its 2025 football season, marking a significant transition for its athletic program. The decision aims to refocus on student-athlete development and strengthen the football program in the future. The school plans to use this hiatus to emphasize its middle school football team, pivoting towards a successful return to varsity competition by the 2026-2027 season. Despite the cancellation of games, TKA will engage its community through various events to maintain school spirit during this period.

Knoxville, TN – The King’s Academy Announced Cancellation of 2025 Football Season

The King’s Academy (TKA) has decided not to participate in the upcoming 2025 Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) football season, marking a significant shift for the school’s athletic program. This decision was officially confirmed on July 25 through communication sent via email to families associated with TKA.

Details of the Cancellation

The cancellation is limited to the 2025 high school football season, and TKA is not permanently reducing its commitment to football. Instead, the school plans to use this period to rebuild and strengthen its program for the future. The school is the second in the TSSAA’s Division II-A East Region to cancel its football campaign for 2025, following Webb School in Bell Buckle.

School Officials’ Statements and Future Plans

Interim Athletic Director Matt Crowder clarified that the school’s decision reflects a focus on student-athlete development and long-term growth. He indicated that this pause is part of a broader developmental process, emphasizing the importance of supporting student-athletes in their growth both on and off the field. The school’s leadership is committed to continued investment in the current players through structured workouts and personalized athletic development programs.

Focus on Development at Lower Levels

The school is particularly emphasizing its middle school football program, which has been steadily growing each year. This effort aims to build a stronger foundation for a future return to the football field. TKA envisions resuming varsity competition by the 2026-2027 season, relying heavily on the progress made at the middle school level.

Context and Background

The decision to cancel the 2025 season comes approximately one month after former football coach and athletic director Jonathan Sellers resigned on June 16. He had assumed the coaching role in 2018 after the departure of Matt Lowe and guided the team through three winning seasons. During his tenure, TKA made six playoff appearances, including two quarterfinal runs.

Recent Challenges and Performance Trends

Since 2018, the football program experienced notable successes but has recently faced challenges. In particular, the team struggled with a 6-26 overall record since 2022. The 2023 season was winless, and the team finished the previous season with a 2-9 record, reflecting a decline in recent performance.

Leadership’s Perspective and Community Engagement

Kelly Sullivan-Connatser, interim head of school, described the cancellation as an opportunity to strengthen the entire school community. The school views this period as a strategic pause to improve both athletic and academic environments and to foster lasting development.

Upcoming Activities and Community Engagement

Although the traditional scheduled football games for 2025 will not take place, TKA has prepared a full schedule of community events to maintain engagement and school spirit. Among these planned activities is a rivalry game against Webb-Bell Buckle scheduled for October 31. The school aims to keep community connection strong during this hiatus from competitive football.

Conclusion and Outlook

Moving forward, The King’s Academy plans to focus on developmental initiatives with the goal of restoring its football program in the near future. The leadership’s emphasis remains on fostering growth, resilience, and community involvement, ensuring that the school’s athletic programs evolve with a view toward sustainable success.

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STAFF HERE VIRGINIA BEACH WRITER
Author: STAFF HERE VIRGINIA BEACH WRITER

VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER The VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREVirginiaBeach.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach City, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, East Coast Surfing Championship, and the American Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Virginia Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visit Virginia Beach, plus leading businesses in tourism and defense that power the local economy such as the Virginia Beach Convention Center and Northrop Grumman. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.

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