Nashville's high school football landscape is about to welcome a new program with a familiar face at the helm. Jamie Graham, the former Lipscomb Academy head coach, has been named the inaugural TSSAA football coach for Nashville Collegiate Prep, marking a significant step for the growing Antioch charter school.
The school, which opened its doors in 2021, is building its athletic foundation and is set to kick off its first varsity season in the fall of 2026. The team will begin play through a co-op with fellow south Nashville charter, Valor Prep, providing a crucial framework for the new program's launch.
Graham brings a wealth of local experience to this foundational role. A former two-sport standout at Whites Creek High School and Vanderbilt University, he most recently compiled a 6-15 record over two seasons at Lipscomb Academy. After being dismissed in January, he turned down an assistant position to pursue this unique opportunity to build a program from the ground up.
He won't be doing it alone. Joining him in 2026 will be Devin Arnold, a Lipscomb Academy alumnus and Graham's former director of operations, who has been named the school's future athletic director. Arnold, an Antioch graduate, brings his own leadership experience from serving as Antioch High's AD and football coach from 2022-23.
The TSSAA officially approved Nashville Collegiate Prep for membership starting in February 2026, with the football program expected to compete in Class 1A or 2A. Graham is optimistic about the potential, citing the school's prime location and impressive 82-acre campus, which already boasts a turf football field set in a valley and a turf baseball field.
"The campus is amazing... I think we’re in a good location for people who might be open to a charter school," Graham said, highlighting the appeal for student-athletes and families. With the upper school opening just last August and its first senior class graduating in 2028, this hire signals a major commitment to building a competitive athletic culture from the very beginning.