It is with heavy hearts and profound sorrow that we remember the life of Coach Tanner Combs, a beloved figure in the Kingsport community and a dedicated assistant sports performance coach at Dobyns-Bennett High School. His sudden passing has sent ripples of grief through the halls of the school and beyond, leaving behind a void that can never truly be filled.
Coach Combs was more than a coach—he was a mentor, a motivator, a teacher, and most of all, a friend. His passion for helping young people grow into confident, capable, and disciplined individuals radiated through everything he did. Whether in the weight room, on the field, or in the classroom, Tanner gave his all. His energy was infectious, his support unwavering, and his belief in his students absolute.
Born and raised in Kingsport, Tennessee, Tanner knew the power of community. He was a product of the very soil he later gave back to, a proud member of the Tribe family, and a steadfast supporter of everything Dobyns-Bennett stood for. Through countless hours of training, encouragement, and personal sacrifice, Coach Combs helped mold a generation of athletes who not only excelled in their sports but also carried with them the character and resilience that he worked so hard to instill.
His commitment to excellence wasn’t just about building strong athletes—it was about building strong people. He taught young men and women to believe in themselves, to push past their limits, to be accountable to their teams and their goals. He celebrated their victories with genuine pride and stood beside them through challenges with steadfast reassurance. Coach Combs believed in lifting others up, and in doing so, he elevated everyone around him.
The legacy he leaves is immense. Every student who ran an extra sprint because of his encouragement, every athlete who lifted more weight because he believed they could, every young person who chose to stay in the fight instead of giving up—these are the living tributes to the life of Tanner Combs.
As the Kingsport community mourns, we also come together in gratitude—for having known him, for having learned from him, and for having shared in his vision of strength, unity, and perseverance. His influence will not fade; it will continue to echo through the halls of Dobyns-Bennett, in the sweat-soaked gyms, on the early morning practice fields, and most importantly, in the lives of those he touched.
Coach Combs is survived by his family, his friends, his colleagues, and hundreds of students and athletes whose lives are better because of him. We offer them our deepest condolences and our heartfelt thanks for sharing him with us.
In his honor, we carry forward his legacy: to work harder, to lift each other up, to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Because that is what Coach Combs would have wanted—not just to be remembered, but to be continued.
Rest in power, Coach Combs. Your Tribe will never forget you.
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