Brandon Green Obituary: Rockwood Coach and Thunderbats Founder Dies at 36, Community Mourns Husband, Father, and Faith Leader.

ROCKWOOD, TN — A community is in mourning following the sudden passing of Brandon Green, a 36-year-old husband, father, coach, and faith leader whose impact on the Rockwood area extended far beyond the baseball diamonds and softball fields where he spent countless hours mentoring young athletes. Brandon went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, dedication, and unwavering commitment to family and community .

Brandon’s unexpected departure has left his family, friends, players, and the entire Rockwood community grieving a loss that feels impossible to put into words. He was a man who wore many hats—devoted husband, incredible father, passionate coach, loyal friend, and faithful servant—and he excelled in every role .

The Tragic Circumstances

According to friends and community members, Brandon collapsed during a softball practice and was airlifted to Knoxville for emergency medical treatment. Despite the efforts of medical professionals and the prayers of an entire community rallying behind him, he ultimately succumbed to whatever medical emergency had struck him down while doing what he loved most—coaching young athletes .

The Rockwood DYS (Department of Youth Services) community felt his impact deeply. When news spread of Brandon’s collapse and subsequent airlift, the community mobilized in prayer. Social media filled with urgent requests for prayers, updates on his condition, and expressions of hope that he would pull through. When the worst news came, that same community shifted from prayer to mourning, left to process a loss that seemed unimaginable just days before .

A Devoted Husband and Father

Above all else, Brandon Green was a devoted husband and an incredible father. His love for his wife, Jenny, was evident in the way he supported her and their family every single day. Jenny often referred to him as her “yes man”—someone who could never say no to anyone in need, who would give the shirt off his back to help others, and who approached every day with a heart full of generosity and love .

Together, Brandon and Jenny built a beautiful life and raised two precious daughters who were truly the center of Brandon’s world. Marleigh Johnson and Piper Green were his pride and joy, the motivation behind everything he did .

Whether Brandon was simply being “Dad” at home or stepping into the role of “Coach” on the field, his heart belonged to his girls. He never missed a moment, never hesitated to show up, and never stopped cheering them on. His time was prioritized around family, and you could tell that coaching them was one of the biggest joys of his life .

The Thunderbats Legacy

Coaching was not just something Brandon did—it was one of the greatest joys of his life. What began in city league basketball and softball grew into something much bigger, as he became one of the founders and coaches of the Thunderbats competitive travel softball team .

Alongside his childhood best friends, Brandon poured his time, energy, and love into mentoring not only his own daughters but countless other young athletes. The Thunderbats became his second family, and he treated every player like one of his own. Together with his lifelong friends and their children, they built an organization that was about far more than wins and losses—it was about character, growth, and the bonds formed through sport .

Brandon’s approach to coaching reflected his approach to life. He led with kindness, coached with passion, and loved without limits. He was not only amazing to his own daughters but to the many girls he helped coach along the way. His influence extended far beyond the diamond, shaping young women who will carry his lessons with them for the rest of their lives .

A Lifetime as an Athlete

Brandon’s time as a coach was influenced by his lifetime of being an athlete. Growing up, he played everything, but football was by far his favorite. He was a proud Rockwood High School (RHS) alumnus and supported their Alumni Association in any way he could .

Brandon was part of some of the most special teams in RHS football and baseball history. Those formative years taught him the value of teamwork, discipline, and dedication—lessons he would later pass on to the young athletes he coached. His high school experiences shaped him as both a player and a person, creating memories and friendships that lasted well into adulthood .

Giving Back Through Officiating

After high school, Brandon pursued a hobby of being a referee. He officiated countless games around East Tennessee over the last few years, but always loved it when he got to be back at Tom Pemberton Stadium and Civitan Field—the places where his own athletic journey had begun .

His work as a referee demonstrated his continued commitment to the sports he loved and the community that had raised him. Even when not coaching, he found ways to stay involved, to give back, and to contribute to the athletic programs that meant so much to him .

The Alumni Football Games

Brandon’s passion for football extended to his involvement in the Rockwood Alumni Football games. He helped put together and played in these games, which brought together former players for one more chance to suit up and compete .

Although those games may not have turned out like he and the rest of the Tigers wanted, Brandon let anyone know that being able to put those pads on one more time was the most fun he ever had in his life. That joy—the pure, unadulterated happiness of playing the game he loved alongside friends he’d known for decades—captured something essential about who Brandon was .

A Man of Faith

Brandon and his family were members of First Baptist Church in Rockwood. Faith was the focus of their home, and Brandon always led by example. Christ lived within his heart, and if you knew Brandon—whether as a lifelong friend or even if you had just run into him at the store—you could see Christ in his actions, words, and how he cared for people .

His faith was not merely a private matter but a public witness. It showed in the way he treated everyone with kindness, in his willingness to help anyone in need, and in the genuine love he extended to all he encountered. Faith shaped his priorities, his relationships, and his approach to every aspect of life .

A Heart of Gold

We often describe so many people as being special, but those who knew Brandon insist that he REALLY was. Jenny often referred to him as her “yes man.” He could never say “No” to anyone in need. He had given the shirt off his back to many people and would continue to do so without hesitation .

His heart was pure and made of gold. To know Brandon was to know one of the most amazing people to ever walk this Earth. His friendship and presence were a blessing to so many, and his memories will continue to serve as blessings for all who knew him .

This description—pure, golden-hearted, unable to say no to anyone in need—appears consistently in tributes from those who loved him. It captures the essence of a man who lived not for himself but for others, who found joy in giving, and whose impact on those around him was profound and lasting .

Passions and Hobbies

Beyond family, coaching, and faith, Brandon had many passions and hobbies that enriched his life and connected him with others. Being a UT Vols fan wasn’t always easy, as any devoted follower of Tennessee athletics knows, but he never hesitated to rep the orange and white. He was as passionate a fan as you could meet, cheering through the highs and lows with unwavering loyalty .

Brandon was also big into fitness and weightlifting. He was responsible for inspiring a whole generation younger than him to pursue a better version of themselves in the gym. His guidance and influence is still felt today amongst that family he helped create—another community built around his encouragement and example .

When he had time, Brandon would often take up golfing with friends. He wasn’t as good at it as his competitive spirit wanted him to be, but that wasn’t really the point. Golf gave him time with his daughter at a young age and later helped him reconnect and spend time with his lifelong friends who he loved like brothers. The scorecard mattered far less than the company .

Community Impact

The Rockwood DYS community felt Brandon’s impact deeply. His passing has left an immeasurable void among the players he coached, the families he supported, and the friends who stood beside him on and off the field .

For the young athletes whose lives he touched, Brandon was more than a coach—he was a mentor, a role model, and a source of unwavering support. He saw potential in each player and worked tirelessly to help them realize it. He celebrated their successes and helped them learn from their failures. He taught them not just how to play softball but how to approach life with dedication, resilience, and heart.

For the families of those players, Brandon was a partner in the challenging work of raising children. He reinforced the values they were teaching at home, provided a positive and nurturing environment for their daughters, and became a trusted figure in their children’s lives.

For his fellow coaches and friends, Brandon was a brother. He stood beside them through thick and thin, sharing the joys and challenges of building something meaningful together. The Thunderbats organization, founded alongside childhood best friends, represented the culmination of decades of friendship and shared dreams .

Family Who Mourn

Brandon leaves behind a large and loving family who now must navigate life without his physical presence. He is survived by his wife, Jenny Green, and his daughters, Marleigh Johnson and Piper Green—the three girls who were the center of his world .

He is also survived by his father and stepmother, Eddie and Stephanie Green; his mother, Stephanie Ladd; his sister, Darian Green (Wes Summers) and nephew Evan Summers; his brother, Keenon Green; his grandparents, Patsy Green and Debbie Reagan; his stepfather, Dwayne Buckholtz and step-siblings Vince Buckholtz and Ashley Buckholtz, and nephew Jacob Buckholtz; his mother and father-in-law, Shelia and Toby Miles; his sister-in-law, Julie Venable; and several other extended family members and very special friends .

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Irene and Charles Ladd, and his paternal grandfather, Eddie Green .

Funeral Arrangements

The family will receive friends on Monday, February 16, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm ET at Evans Mortuary in Rockwood. This visitation provides opportunity for the community to gather, offer condolences, and share memories with the family .

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 11:00 am in the chapel of Evans Mortuary with Pastor Drew Stockton officiating. Following the service, graveside and interment will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Rockwood, where Brandon will be laid to rest .

Evans Mortuary is serving the family of Brandon Green during this difficult time .

A Legacy That Lives On

Brandon Green’s legacy is one of faith, family, friendship, and unwavering dedication. He led with kindness, coached with passion, and loved without limits. Though his time here was far too short, the lessons he taught and the lives he shaped will carry on for generations .

His daughters will grow up knowing that their father was a man who prioritized them above all else, who showed up for every moment, who cheered loudest from the stands, and who poured his heart into coaching them and their teammates. They will hear stories from the countless people whose lives he touched—players he coached, friends he supported, strangers he helped without hesitation.

The Thunderbats will continue, carrying forward the values Brandon helped instill. The young athletes he mentored will become mentors themselves, passing along what he taught them. The friends who stood beside him will honor his memory by continuing the work they started together.

The Rockwood community will remember Brandon Green as a loving husband, proud father, loyal friend, and a coach who gave his whole heart to the game—and to his girls .

A Community’s Prayer

As the Rockwood community processes this heartbreaking loss, thoughts and prayers remain with Jenny, their daughters, and the entire Rockwood DYS and Thunderbats family during this incredibly difficult time .

The same community that rallied in prayer when Brandon was airlifted to Knoxville now rallies in support of his grieving family. Meals will be prepared. Shoulders will be offered for tears. Memories will be shared. Presence will be offered.

In small towns like Rockwood, such support is not abstract—it is concrete and essential. It is the neighbor who drops off a casserole, the friend who sits in silence, the former player who shares a story about how Coach Green changed her life. It is the collective embrace of a community determined to surround a grieving family with love.

Conclusion

Brandon Green, age 36, went home to be with the Lord suddenly on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. He was a lot of amazing things, but being an amazing father and husband were first and foremost in his life. He loved Jenny and was always there to support her and their family. Together, they raised two beautiful girls, who were his life .

He was always there for his girls, whether at home as “Dad” or on the field as “coach.” He was not only amazing to them but to the many girls he helped coach along the way. As a founder and coach of the Thunderbats, he got to help raise and coach his girls alongside his childhood best friends and their own children .

His faith guided him, his family sustained him, his friends enriched him, and his community honored him. To know Brandon was to know one of the most amazing people to ever walk this Earth. His friendship and presence were a blessing to so many, and his memories will continue to serve as blessings for all who knew him .

Brandon will be deeply missed and never forgotten. May he rest in peace, and may comfort surround those grieving his loss. He will forever be remembered as a loving husband, proud father, loyal friend, and a coach who gave his whole heart to the game—and to his girls .

The family will receive friends on Monday, February 16, followed by funeral services on Tuesday, February 17. All who knew Brandon are welcome to attend and to celebrate a life that mattered, a life that touched countless others, and a legacy that will endure long after the last tear is shed .