Coach Ernie Mac Clawson resigns as Cougars Head Coach

Clawson’s tenure as head basketball coach at Campbell High began in 2020

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- “When I saw the dads of my players watching their sons play back in December, it hit me. My son Keaton’s senior season at Cumberland Gap is coming up, and I just can’t miss being there for him,” said Coach Ernie Mac Clawson. The seventh head basketball coach in the 51 year history of Campbell County High School has resigned. In a 2:15pm meeting on Thursday, Clawson shared the news with his team.

“This team here is my family, too, but I need to be there for the rest of my family,” said Clawson. It was a very difficult decision for Clawson, because he has such a passion for the game and the players, and it’s all he’s ever done.

“Being able to coach with my brother (Branden) these six seasons has been so special,” said Clawson.

Clawson’s teams played for a district championship and made it to the regional tournament twice in his six seasons, hosting one year. The 2024-2025 team won 17 games, the most in a single-season in the Clawson Era.

After a highly successful coaching career at Cumberland Gap, and then a short time away from coaching, Clawson became the new head coach at Campbell County in the spring of 2020.

The news comes on the heels of a 5 and 21 season and the season’s final game on Wednesday night in the district tournament at Halls.

Clawson’s overall record at Campbell High is 64 and 94. The district mark is 19 & 45.

The search for a new coach begins immediately. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-02/19/2026-3PM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CLAYTON CARROLL)