Some coaching searches can last months, especially if the right candidate doesn’t surface.

Halls High School, though, found its new head baseball coach in two weeks.

Halls school administration announced on Wednesday, May 27, that Cannon Duke is the baseball program’s new head coach.

He replaces Ryan Gentry, who parted ways with the program after three seasons in mid-May. Gentry had been a part of the Halls program as an assistant coach for five seasons under legendary coach Doug Polston before becoming Polston’s successor.

Duke grew up in West Tennessee but has spent the last four seasons at Grace Christian Academy as an assistant coach, helping the Rams finish in third place in the 2025 TSSAA Division II-A state tournament.

The Rams won 31 games this spring and have averaged roughly 27 wins per season over the last three campaigns.

Halls reminded Duke of home — over in Decatur County, Tennessee.

“Halls has a very community-like feel to it. It feels like everybody is moving in the same direction — wants good for everybody and every piece of the puzzle,” Duke said. “I think I can get those kids to work really hard. Obviously, one of the biggest draws, and all I’ve heard the last five years since I’ve been in Knoxville coaching, is: how good the middle school program and youth leagues are. I know there’s talent there. A big part of what I got to do now, and we’ve got to do now, is: keep all the kids at Halls.

“If we can do that, all the baseball stuff — the on-field stuff — is the easy part. With Halls kids at Halls, man, I think we can get that thing going.”

Duke, who is 28 years old now, played in high school in a successful program at Decatur Riverside, graduating there in 2017.

He then played juco ball at Southwest Tennessee before transferring to Oklahoma Wesleyan for a spell. He coached as an assistant at Anderson County for one season before hopping on the staff at Grace.

Duke has also been highly involved as a managing director and co-owner of the Tennessee Nationals travel baseball program.

“I’ve always had the dream of being a head coach. I want to run my own program. I don’t want the credit. It’s not that kind of thing. I hope the credit always goes to the players,” said Duke, adding he comes from a long lineage of coaches in his family.

“I’m just ready to run my own program, and I’m fully confident I can do so at a high level. The standard will always be the standard — no matter if I’m at Anderson County, Grace or Halls or wherever it might be.”

Duke told 5Star Preps he hoped to be a longtime coach at the same program. Perhaps that’s Halls.

At Halls, he’ll inherit a program that won 24 games during the 2026 season and reached the Region 2-4A consolation game, which means the Red Devils were a win away from securing a TSSAA state sectional (substate) berth.

Fisher Green, a Class of 2028 shortstop and right-handed pitcher, is expected to headline the roster at Halls for the 2027 season. He drove in 39 runs this spring and went 6-0 on the mound with 54 strikeouts in 34.1 innings pitched. He carried a 1.22 ERA.

Halls administration lauded Duke’s ability to get the most out of players.

“He brings an elite standard and a championship mindset for the development of our student athletes,” Halls athletics director Scott Cummings said. “He has been in the baseball community in the Knoxville and surrounding areas for several years as an instructor, travel ball coach and mentor. Backed by an exceptional reputation for player growth, Duke is a tremendous organizer and communicator.

“Coach Cannon Duke represents exactly what we want for the future of Halls Baseball. His meticulous practice planning, along with his reputation of being a relational coach to his players and parents, will be instrumental in fostering our great baseball community.”

Article written by Jesse Smithey/5Star Preps. To read more on area high school sports or to see photo galleries, videos, stat leaders, etc., visit 5StarPreps.com — and use promo code HAMMERS for 30% off your first year or month subscription.

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