St. Cecilia Academy Names Director of Athletics

“I am delighted to have Mr. Bishop join our team,” said St. Cecilia Principal Sister Josemaria Pence, O.P. “We reviewed applications from across the country to find the perfect fit for St. Cecilia, and we are pleased to have found someone locally who understands our Catholic mission to foster virtue and has the vision to take our athletics program to the next level.”

A Nashville native with more than 20 years of experience, Bishop has had an extensive career in coaching, sales, marketing, and education. Most recently, he was a faculty member at James Lawson High School, where he served as the varsity girls’ basketball coach and took that team to five region playoffs since 2019. Other coaching roles include positions at Hillwood High School, Hillsboro High School, Harpeth Hall School, St. Matthew School, and Trinity Basketball AAU. In 2020, he was named 12-AAA Coach of the Year.

Bishop said he decided to apply for the role because of the strong sense of community and the emphasis St. Cecilia places on developing well-rounded students who are grounded in faith. He stated, “I believe athletics plays a key role in this development, and I’m eager to work tirelessly to raise the athletic program to complement the high academic standard of excellence that is already in place.” He recognizes how athletics can foster a competitive spirit that helps each student strive for her personal best. “I knew I wanted to be part of this mission and help establish a culture of excellence in all areas.”

With athletics identified as a key component of the Strategic Plan and with school leadership committed to programming, Bishop believes he can have a positive impact in the role. “I bring a blend of life experience, both professionally and personally, that makes me uniquely qualified to take SCA Athletics to the next level.”

“Athletics is an integral part of our Strategic Plan,” said Sister Dominic Quinn, O.P., President of Overbrook Catholic School and St. Cecilia Academy. “We recently announced the ‘For Every Girl’ Capital Campaign to build a state-of-the-art Athletic Center for St. Cecilia, and now we have the leadership and the right staffing in place to elevate our athletic programming to be in step with our new facility.”

“I couldn’t help but reflect on how this opportunity came together,” said Bishop. “It was truly God’s hand leading me into the next chapter of my life. I am humbled by this opportunity and can’t wait to be part of such an amazing campus.”

Bishop is a graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy and earned degrees in Management and Human Relations and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Trevecca Nazarene University. He is married to Rebecca Derrick Bishop, and they have four children and two grandchildren. He is a member of the Cathedral of the Incarnation Catholic Church.