In a historic move, Chloe Padilla has stepped in as Central High School‘s head coach of the wrestling program, becoming the first female head coach of boys’ wrestling in Knox County.
Padilla, a Central alumna with deep ties to the school and community, brings a unique combination of expertise, experience, and determination to create a legacy program for Central’s wrestlers.
Padilla’s path to head coach came after learning the program lacked leadership.
“I approached the athletic director and said, ‘I can build a program here. We have the resources, the space, and the coaching talent to take wrestling at Central to the next level,’” Padilla said.
Padilla’s proposal was simple but game-changing: Central wrestlers could train at FBS Combat Club, where they’d have access to proper facilities, a dedicated training staff, and year-round conditioning. The program now has a professional foundation from which to grow.
“What excites me the most is building a program that’s strong, cohesive, and recognized for its excellence,” Padilla said. “Central has never had a state champion wrestler, and my goal is to change that.”
Padilla’s high expectations for her athletes reflect her passion for both the sport and the students she coaches. Her program emphasizes team camaraderie and discipline, giving the wrestlers a sense of pride.
“If they have a match, I require that they wear their hoodies to school that day. They all love it, and they take pictures together,” she said. “It’s about building something bigger than just wins on the mat.”
As a woman in a male-dominated field, Padilla’s leadership stands as an inspiring example of trailblazing determination. Her journey to this role reflects a lifelong commitment to fitness, martial arts, and coaching.
Growing up immersed in the gym business alongside her father, Frankie Padilla, Chloe focused on gym management and martial arts training full-time following her graduation from the University of Tennessee.
When COVID-19 disrupted traditional training options, Padilla channeled her passion for martial arts into founding FBS Combat Club, a gym that offers Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, wrestling, kickboxing, and youth classes.
Today, she runs the successful program alongside state champion wrestlers Krickett Jones and Trevor Linderman, who serve as her assistant coaches. Together, they bring high-level training to Central’s wrestling team.
Padilla’s connections to Central run deep—her great-great-grandfather, Weenie Winegar, was a celebrated girls’ basketball coach at Central High School.
Today, Padilla is proud to continue that legacy of leadership.
“I have such strong roots here,” Padilla said. “My family’s history is part of Central’s history, and I want to give back by building a program the community can be proud of.”
With a team comprised mostly of freshmen, Padilla sees this year as a foundation for what’s to come.
“You better watch out,” she said. “We’re coming, and we’re building something special.”
As Chloe Padilla steps into her role as Central’s head wrestling coach, she brings more than just a plan to win—she brings a vision to transform the program for years to come. Her inaugural year marks a new chapter for Central High School and a historic moment for Knox County.
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