By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
There was not one specific quality that led Union City High School administrators to Bill Kail as the new Tornado head boys’ basketball coach.
There was a collection of them.
Citing his previous head coaching experience, familiarity with players in the system, and high-quality character, Kail has been picked from a pool of candidates to lead the tradition-rich program forward by UCHS Principal/Athletic Director Jacob Cross and other top-level administration.
Kail follows Shane Sisco – the Twisters’ all-time wins leader with a pair of state championships – who retired after 26 years at the Purple and Gold helm last month.
The new Union City skipper has spent the past few seasons successfully piloting the Tornado Middle School program following a 12-year stint as head coach at Obion County Central where his teams won 180 games. UCMS went 31-9 the past two years under Kail’s guidance.
Kail will remain the vice principal at Union City Elementary School but will give up his middle school coaching duties and his job as a baseball assistant at the high school level.
“Coach Kail knows how to inspire young athletes and get the best from them,” Cross said. “He’s already familiar with almost all the kids in our program from having previously coached them, and that’ll make for a smooth transition.
“He is also a great family man who possesses high character, and I know he’ll be an excellent leader and role model for our guys.”
For his part, Kail, who met with the team this afternoon, has already pieced together a quality staff that includes former UCHS girls’ head coach Eddie Suiter – who led the girls’ program to an unbeaten run to the state championship in 2014.
Paraprofessional coach and former Union City standout player Ronald Ward will be the lone holdover from the previous staff, while Jeff Ward, a UCHS graduate who has spent the last several years at Dyersburg, will be an assistant.
“I’m thrilled with the coaching staff we have assembled to lead our boys’ program,” Cross added. “These men bring a wealth of basketball knowledge and coaching experience to the program.”
Kail was gracious and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Twister fortunes into the future.
“Union City has been good to me and my family, and I’m humbled to have the chance to be the head coach of the boys’ basketball program here,” he said. “I know there’ll be expectations to continue the excellent tradition already established, and I look forward to that challenge.
“I believe my familiarity with the kids who came through the middle school program will be a great asset. I think the community and our supporters know what they’re getting with me. We’re going to have standards, and we’re going to push the kids to be the best ball players and the best people they can be. It’s important to me that all experiences at Union City High School – from academics to athletics to the arts – are positive ones.
“I want to mold and shape young men who become good husbands and good fathers when basketball is over for them.”
Kail is admittedly pleased with his newly assembled staff.
“Coach (Ronald) Ward is an upstanding guy who I know will push the kids hard when they need it and will also love on them when they need encouragement and support,” Kail said. “Coach Suiter has an outstanding basketball brain. He’s proven that, and I know from a strategy standpoint, he’ll bring a wealth of positive things to the program.
“And I’m excited about what Coach Jeff Ward can bring to us as far as individual skill development.”
Kail said offseason workouts for the 2025-26 Golden Tornadoes will begin in the next few days.