Tiger Coaching Staff

Terry Ward, Athletic Director and Head Football /Tennis Coach

Terry Ward is the Athletic Director/ Head football coach at Tenaha. Coach Ward is in his second stint at Tenaha in this role. In his first stint from 2009-2015, Coach Ward led the Tigers to two state championship games and won it all in 2011. Along with the state appearances, Coach Ward also led two other teams to the state semi-finals.

Coach Ward is beginning his 26th year as a coach, with 12 of those as the head football coach. In his career as a head football coach, he has won 8 district championships as well as qualifying for the playoffs 10 times. Coach Ward has an overall coaching record of 92-54 as a head coach.

Coach Ward has been married to Elizabeth for the past 24 years, and she is currently serving as the Elementary Principal at Tenaha. Coach Ward and Elizabeth have three sons, Andy (23) graduate of University of Arkansas, Cooper (21) current junior at Oklahoma State, and Luke (17) currently a senior at Tenaha HS.

Dee Lewis, Athletic Coordinator and Head Boys Basketball Coach

Coach Dee Lewis enters his 18th year in education. Coach Lewis is a graduate of Gladewater High School and went on to further his education at Kilgore College and Lamar University. Lewis is a former Teacher/Coach at White Oak ISD while serving as Girls Athletic Coordinator and Head Girls Basketball Coach. He has served at several school districts where he received various awards including being named "Coach of the Year 2022-2023". Coach Lewis continues to impact the lives of young people wherever he works.

Another attribute Coach Dee has is that he is a family man first and a professional second. Coach Dee gives God all the Glory for all his accomplishments and blessings. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his (own personal basketball team) aka "blended" family; including kids, Keaundra, Kenyatta, Princess, Ashaila, Dshun and G-Baby Kaden. Last but not least, he wants to thank his "biggest supporter and personal cheerleader" and the lady that keeps him straight, Stephanie Woods.

Coach Dee says his greatest accomplishment was taking the Union Grove Boys Basketball team to playoffs after 53 years, earning him the District Coach of the Year honor in 2014. Along with winning a district championship for the first time in 54 years in 14-15, Lewis went to the playoffs 5 of the 7 years while coaching at Union Grove.

Coach Dee motto in life is that he wants to inspire people. He wants them to look at him and say, "Because of you, I didn't give up"!

#FaithOverFear