Collierville High School is making a powerful statement on the court. The Dragons have officially tapped Memphis native and former Tennessee State assistant Erik Buggs as their new boys basketball head coach, the school announced on May 15.

Buggs steps in to replace Jarvis Stephen, who posted a 21-37 record over two seasons, including a 12-18 mark in 2026. But make no mistake—this hire signals a fresh, winning direction for the program.

“Coach Buggs brings tremendous passion for student-athletes, a strong commitment to excellence, and the leadership qualities that align with the proud tradition of Collierville High School,” said Principal Roger Jones. “I am confident he will make a lasting impact on our players, our school, and our community.”

Buggs isn’t just a coach—he’s a homegrown talent with deep roots in Memphis basketball. A former All-State standout at Mitchell High, he went on to become Valparaiso’s all-time leader in games played and helped the Crusaders claim two Horizon League championships. After a professional playing career overseas from 2013-16, Buggs returned to Memphis to launch his coaching journey, leading programs at Memphis Catholic and Kingsbury.

His resume is stacked with winning experience. In 2020-21, Buggs served as associate head coach under Mike Miller at Houston High, helping the Mustangs capture the TSSAA Class 4A state championship. He then spent three seasons as an assistant at Tennessee Martin, where the Skyhawks won the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title in 2023-24. Most recently, he served as an assistant at Tennessee State in 2024-25 and stepped in as interim head coach following Brian Collins’ departure.

With Buggs at the helm, Collierville fans have every reason to be excited. The Dragons are getting a coach who knows what it takes to win—at every level.