Meet Our Coaches
Elite Empire Basketball features a wealth of knowledge and experience with local coaches from the KISL and TSSAA that have a passion for teaching the game the right way and challenging athletes to work to their highest potential. Our coaching philosophy centers on building the character of the person just as importantly as developing the skills of the athlete. We foster an environment that helps athletes build confidence and character while playing the game that they love. We model and teach players through our own words and actions the values of respect, resilience, empathy, teamwork and sportsmanship that will benefit them long after their youth sports days are over.
Coach Cody Graves
Program Director
Head Coach (17u Girls, 9th Boys & 8th Girls)
Coach Graves is the founder of Elite Empire Basketball and is in his 6th year of coaching. He has trained athletes from 3rd grade up to the college level and currently holds a position as head varsity girls coach with Bearden Middle School. He has also coached with Episcopal School of Knoxville and Christian Academy of Knoxville. Cody has played basketball all his life and is now focused on teaching the game to young people and helping them achieve their goals. He is extremely passionate about mentoring and teaching the game to all ages and has built this AAU program where athletes can come to a safe and fun environment to compete and work hard towards achieving their goals.
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Coach Tate Reddick
Assistant Director & Web Coordinator
Head Coach (8th Boys)
Coach Tate is in his 6th year coaching basketball. He previously coached the varsity teams at St. John Neumann and Clayton-Bradley Academy, competing in league championship games with each school. He now holds an Assistant Coach position with the Varsity Girls at West High School. In addition, he has led recreation league teams with Knox Youth Sports and West Bearden Basketball and was one of the lead instructors for West Bearden's summer skills training and development program. Tate has over 25 years experience as a player and coach and is excited to teach the game of basketball to the next generation of players.
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Coach Joe Storch
Head Coach (7th Girls)
Coach Storch has over 12 years coaching youth sports including 7 in basketball, and has 25 years experience training athletes in strength, conditioning, and athletic performance. In 2020 Coach Storch was awarded the ETEC Postma Award for Selfless Service at Work and in the Community. Joe chose coaching to share life lessons through sports and to help cultivate athlete's emotional and physical strength. He is dedicated to building a a supportive environment that helps athletes and teams achieve their greatest potential. His priorities include health & safety of the athletes, emotional & physical development, winning team culture, and continuous improvement.
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Coach Bryce Baxter
Head Coach (8th Boys)
Coach Baxter is in his 2nd year coaching and has trained athletes ranging from elementary school to high school. He has coached middle school varsity boys with Tate's School and currently is the head coach for Concord Christian Middle School boys teams. As a high school player he won 3 TSSAA All-District player 3 times and Team MVP 3 times.
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Coach Shane Reed
Head Coach (17u Boys)
Coach Shane has played basketball since he was 6 years old and played for the varsity team at Fulton High School. Coach Shane has worked with youth coaching basketball since 2008 at the middle school, and high school levels, and several different teams with AAU. Most recently he was the head coach for the middle school boys at Knoxville Christian and the high school boys assistant coach. He led his middle school boys to the division championship in 2021-22. Coach also holds an assistant teacher position with Knox County Schools and has worked mainly with high risk youth helping them overcome challenges to be the best version of themselves.
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