Brentwood Academy hires DCA's Paul Wade as head football coach

Decorated Middle Tennessee coaching veteran Paul Wade will be the next Brentwood Academy football head coach, according to an announcement made by the program on Thursday. 

Wade will be replacing Jacob Gill, who resigned after one season at BA in which the Eagles went 2-10 and lost in the quarterfinal round of the Division II-AAA state playoffs.

Gill followed in the footsteps of longtime BA head coach and athletic director Cody White, who resigned following the 2022 season. White won four state titles in his 11 seasons with the Eagles. 

Wade comes to Brentwood Academy with a full trophy cabinet of his own. While the head coach at Davidson Academy from 2004-09, Wade won three state titles (2005-06, 2008) and went 53-17. 

Following a long stint as an assistant coach under Ricky Bowers at Ensworth, Wade then became the head coach at Donelson Christian Academy. There, he compiled a 45-26 record in six seasons from 2018-23, including a state title in 2021.

Last season, Wade led DCA to a 7-5 record and a DII-A quarterfinal appearance. 

Although the 2023 season did not live up to expectations, Brentwood Academy returns a talented roster which includes 5-star quarterback George MacIntyre.