THEY SAY that home is where the heart is, but a lot goes into finding where your heart lies. Finding a home is not just about finding a place to live; it’s about finding a sense of community and purpose. Because of this, George and Angel Allen’s hearts led them to Tullahoma.
The couple became part of the Tullahoma community in 2010 when George relocated with the United States Air Force to work at Arnold Air Force Base. Since then, they have supported local sports such as cross country, basketball, and soccer.
However, the couple were not strangers to the area.
“George is originally from Detroit, and I’m originally from Huntsville, but we both have area roots. Some of his paternal relatives are from the Middle Tennessee area, and my great-great grandparents were born and raised in Tullahoma. It was kind of like coming full circle to raise our kids in a community that we have ties to,” shared Angel.
“I am a clinical instructor at Motlow [College] for their nursing program and also a substitute nurse for Tullahoma City Schools. With these positions, I get to do what I love and have the opportunity to coach,” she continued.
Angel has always found joy in running and shares that love with her family and community.
“Our kids started running when they were young. We would run 5K [marathons] together when they were in elementary school, and now Grant is running in college. I started coaching Run Club five years ago as an opportunity to work with the elementary-age kids and get them interested in running, which was something I really enjoyed at that age.”
The opportunity for Angel to coach middle and high school cross-country came two years ago.
“Both of our kids were running cross-country and track, so I was already involved as a parent and excited to coach at that level. We’ve done very well the past two years with back-to-back state appearances and three state medalists! While we’ve had recent success, I get the most joy from seeing teammates supporting and motivating each other in practice and on the course,” she gushed.
George also became involved in youth sports by sharing his love of sports with his son, Gage. He coached elementary school basketball at Robert E. Lee and won back-to-back city championships several years ago. After coaching with the Tullahoma Soccer Association, he coached with a local travel soccer club alongside current Tullahoma High School Soccer Coach Richie Chadwick. That would lead to the opportunity to coach soccer for the boys and girls of Tullahoma Middle School. George led the boy’s middle school team to success, winning multiple championships
“We won three consecutive season and conference championships from 2021-2023. In 2022, the girls won the season championship and came in second in the conference tournament while also placing second in 2023. I am so proud of the effort that comes from these players,” he shared.
George added that while winning can be rewarding, it’s more about creating a family within the team.
“My philosophy is that we come together as a group, build a team, and leave as a family. That is something I believe in. After every season, I tell the players to keep me informed [about] what they are doing in the off-season. Angel and I continue to support all our athletes. It becomes an extended family of sorts. Some of our best friends have been made through volunteering and coaching in the community, and we’ve had the opportunity to coach with some amazing people.”
The couple said they are glad to call Tullahoma home and hope to continue serving their community through sports while creating long-lasting relationships.
Angel shared, “When [George] retired from the military in 2015, we could have gone anywhere. When we asked our kids, they chose Tullahoma. They felt like Tullahoma was their home, and it felt like home for us, too. We’ve had so much support and so much fun. I hope our boys want to raise their kids here, too.” GN
