Buying a new home is a big deal. For many homeowners, it's one of the most important decisions they ever make. When it comes to such a substantial choice, there are a lot of factors to consider, like:
Getting the answers to those questions can be hard but finding a trustworthy manufactured home company can be even more challenging. Sure, you could settle for a fly-by-night company or a shady mobile home dealer. But if you're like most folks, you want to work with a reliable company that has been in business for years. You need a team of professionals who can answer your questions, address your concerns, and sell you a quality home that will keep your family safe and sound.
Welcome to Ken-Co Homes Inc. - your premier choice for mobile home sales in Tatum, SC. Ken-Co Homes has been Lake City's go-to manufactured home since 1974. With several locations in South Carolina, we're the first choice for manufactured homes in the state. As longtime locals in the community, we pride ourselves on honesty, hard work, and running a manufactured home business that you can count on.
There's no secret sauce that makes Ken-Co Homes successful. We work hard, sell the finest Clayton, Destiny, Scotbilt, Homes, and treat our customers like we would like to be treated. That's why, when you meet our team for your home tour, you'll be treated with respect and greeted with a warm smile. Whether you have questions regarding financing or the fit and finish of a floorplan, we'll maintain that same level of kindness, courtesy, and honesty. That way, you know for sure that you have invested in a top-notch manufactured home that your family will love.
Unlike other manufactured home dealers, we have a full selection of Clayton Homes for sale with attractive floor plans to fit your unique lifestyle. When you choose Ken-Co Homes, you're also choosing:
We offer our valued customers a $500 guarantee that we will meet or beat ANY competitor who has a lower price on one of our homes with the same options. Don't believe us? Contact our office today!
With decades of combined experience, our team has the tools and know-how to make your buying process smooth and stress-free.
Buying a home can be challenging, especially with travel logistics and other factors at play. Our team can help answer any questions you have about buying a home and transporting it to a park or piece of private land.
When you buy from Ken-Co Homes, you're investing in a high-quality product that your family will love for years to come. With more than a dozen home choices, you're sure to find a new home that matches your lifestyle.
We'll work with you one-on-one to ensure you get the home of your dreams. If you have questions or concerns once you move in, give us a call - we're here to help.
We offer detail-oriented, experienced set-up crews that make living life in your new home easy and efficient.
At Ken-Co Homes, we offer flexible financing options to help make buying your dream home a reality.
Whether you're looking for a smaller two-bedroom manufactured home or a large, luxurious four-bedroom manufactured home, our friendly consultants are ready to help you build the home of your dreams.
"Is there a difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home?" is one of the most common questions we get online and in person. Today, many people use mobile home and manufactured home interchangeably. That's understandable because both types of homes share similar features and benefits for homeowners. However, understanding the minor differences can be valuable when searching for a new place to call home.
Unlike site-built homes, manufactured homes are built in a factory. Once completed, they're shipped to a specific location where the homeowner will live. The term "manufactured home" refers to any factory-built home constructed after June 15, 1976. That date is when the HUD or U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented guidelines centered around manufactured home construction.
HUD code requires manufactured homes to be constructed on a base frame with wheels with a minimum of 320 square feet.
Thanks to fast build times and lower material costs, manufactured homes for sale in Tatum, SC is often more cost-effective for home buyers. Compared to traditional site-built homes, many manufactured homes can be up to 35% less than more traditional houses.
Any mobile homes built after June 15, 1976, are considered manufactured homes today, though many people use the term mobile home casually. In the past, these homes were used to travel and were more like the expensive RVs that people use today than true manufactured homes. Back then, mobile homes received a bad reputation due to poor build quality, but they've come a long way since that time. Today, mobile homes are safe, comfortable, and structurally sound, with many types of amenities and floor plans.
Manufactured homes are more popular in the U.S. than ever, and for good reason: prospective homeowners are looking for affordable, quality alternatives to traditional homes. That's especially true today, with inflation on the rise, necessitating more budget-friendly options for anyone who wants to put a roof over their heads.
If you're used to living in a traditional, site-built home, you may be wondering what the advantages are of buying a manufactured home. Here are just a few of the most common benefits of buying a manufactured home:
When you boil it down to the basics, buying a new home is all about the money. One of the most attractive reasons for buying a manufactured home is that they are often much less expensive than traditional site-built homes. Today, manufactured housing is considered a crucial part of the housing shortage solution and a viable option with inflation rising. According to statistics, the average square-foot cost of a site-built home is $107, while the average price is only $49 in a manufactured home. Whether you're sticking to a strict budget or your finances have changed due to poor economic conditions, going manufactured might be your best choice.
Owning a manufactured home gives the homeowner long-term living options. Because basic manufactured homes are usually very affordable, families with enough land can start with a small home and add additional units as their needs change. Manufactured homes are also great as starter homes, especially for families that plan on building a permanent structure on their land in the future. Though it could be logistically challenging, manufactured homes can also be moved to a different site if the initial one was on rented property.
Manufactured homes have received a bad rap over the last few decades. In reality, most manufactured homes are purpose-built for longevity with structural integrity. Every manufactured home built today is subject to the HUD code adopted in 1976. This code is the only federally-mandated code in existence. It was designed to ensure that manufactured homes meet strict standards regarding fire safety, structural design, energy efficiency, transportation to home sites, and overall construction. All manufactured homes sold in the U.S. have a permanent red seal to confirm they meet HUD standards.
When you buy a manufactured home, you may be able to move in faster than you would via traditional routes. Some manufactured homes are even move-in ready in less than 45 days. Compared to a traditional home, once a new manufactured home is built in the factory, buyers usually find that installation is a quick process. Once the manufactured home is delivered, utility work usually moves quickly, regardless of whether you're moving to a park or transporting your home to a piece of land. Before you know it, you're eating, sleeping, and enjoying life in your new manufactured home.
When asked about the pros and cons, many buyers cite energy efficiency as one of the most significant benefits of owning a manufactured home. In general, manufactured housing is more energy efficient than traditional because HUD mandates ensure that homes have high energy efficiency ratings.
These ratings are achieved through upgraded insulation installation, on-demand water heaters, and energy-efficient windows. These upgrades often make entire manufactured homes Energy Star certified. It's no surprise that manufactured homes are 27% more efficient than they used to be with other additions like energy-saving appliances in kitchens and bathrooms.
If you've ever lived in an apartment complex before, chances are you heard sounds and noises through your walls that you never wanted to hear. If you hate hearing your neighbors and despise thin walls, looking for mobile home sales in Tatum, SC is a great idea. Why? Manufactured homes are typically built using separate modules, which reduces sound transference from room to room. When two or more modules are combined and insulated separately, buyers enjoy an even quieter, stronger home with less outside noise.
If there's one disappointing aspect of manufactured homes, the stigma seems to surround them. Yes, mobile homes from 30 or more years ago aren't exactly marvels of construction and deserve to be criticized. However, modern manufactured homes are cut from a different cloth and are often every bit as safe and luxurious as site-built homes.
Here are some of the most common (and annoying) mobile home myths debunked:
Modern manufactured homes are factory-built homes crafted with quality materials that meet comprehensive federal construction and safety standards. These standards, called the "HUD Code," outline how the homes must be built, including safety guidelines. For example, manufactured home builders must take strict measures to ensure their homes are resistant to wind. In terms of hurricanes and tornados, having such measures in place can prevent a tragedy from happening.
The bottom line is that manufactured homes are plenty safe and provide a quality product to people who want a lower-cost option over traditional housing.
One of the most repeated myths surrounding manufactured homes is that they are in poor shape and have an overall poor quality. Today, many manufactured homes are built with quality materials and care. It's not unusual to find a manufactured home with luxurious amenities and features lie state-of-the-art kitchens, high-end appliances, and chic open floor plans. At Ken-Co Homes, we can provide you with a complete list of available upgrades and amenities for you to enjoy in your new home.
Perhaps it's due to their popularity and lower prices, but we often hear that it's hard to find manufactured homes for sale. As seasoned home dealers, we can say this is categorically false. Whether you head over to Google and search for "mobile homes near me in Tatum, SC," or simply head to Ken-Co Homes' website, you'll see plenty of homes to choose from. Contact our office today for a full list of our homes for sale!
When it comes to home prices in today's day and age, manufactured homes are among the most affordable options available.
That's because manufactured homes cost less to construct than site-built homes, with the average price costing $92K for new construction and $60K for a pre-owned manufactured home, according to recent data. The cost of a traditional home is much higher, with an average of $408K, according to Statista data from 2021. Even though manufactured home living costs change depending on the community, they're often much less expensive than their site-built cousins in the long run.
This myth parallels the stereotype that manufactured homes are cheap and poorly built. Unfortunately, many people still believe that living in a manufactured home community isn't safe. They think that the parks are run down and riddled with reprobates. In reality, many manufactured home parks mimic gated communities with 24-hour security and mandated quiet hours. Some manufactured home neighborhoods even offer community-wide amenities like spas and pools. If you're a fan of the gated community lifestyle but don't want to pay hundreds of thousands for a site-built home, a manufactured home community could be your best bet.
Are you giving serious thought to buying a manufactured home for sale in South Carolina? You're not alone - more than 365K people in the Palmetto State live in manufactured homes. At Ken-Co Homes Inc., we're not your average run-of-the-mill manufactured home dealer. We only do business with manufacturing partners committed to building top-quality products that our customers are proud to own.
If you're looking for modern amenities, energy-efficient appliances, unique floorplans, and homes constructed with quality materials, Ken-Co Homes is the company for you. Contact our office today to learn more about our beautiful Clayton homes for sale in Tatum, SC.
We’re following up on our new and coming soon businesses story with a guide to development terminology. Check out these definitions of common terms paired with ongoing projects and examples you might recognize in the Holy City.These are projects that provide more than one purpose in the community, like a building with apartments on top and shops on the bottom. Expect to...
We’re following up on our new and coming soon businesses story with a guide to development terminology. Check out these definitions of common terms paired with ongoing projects and examples you might recognize in the Holy City.
These are projects that provide more than one purpose in the community, like a building with apartments on top and shops on the bottom. Expect to see combinations of housing and commercial components.
Think: Proposed plans for the Union Pier redevelopment, which feature a mixed-use neighborhood with housing, hotel rooms, civic spaces, and public parks. Check out the Master Plan.
This changes an area of land from the city’s designated use. Examples of rezoning requests include developers looking to build a high-rise in a neighborhood with a height restriction or open a business in an area marked residential.
Think: Zoning changes approved by the City of Charleston Planning Commission for a proposed luxury hotel on Meeting Street where the Days Inn used to be. (The Post and Courier)
PUD stands for Planned Unit Development, or land planned and developed according to an approved master plan. Developers work with local government to determine how the land will be used.
Think: Union Pier, again. The project’s PUD application is currently being reviewed by the city. The approval process includes review by the Technical Review Committee, Planning Commission, and City Council.
Opportunity Zones are a federal program in South Carolina that encourage private investments in low-income communities through tax incentives, bringing jobs and economic development to these areas.
Example: Use this map to search Opportunity Zones in South Carolina.
This type of path is separate from vehicular traffic and may be used by pedestrians, bicyclists, skaters, joggers, and other non-motorized users.
Think: A county project is underway on James Island to build a 10-ft-wide multi-use path along Riverland Drive to the Lowcountry Senior Center, with work set to continue through September.
This is a building made for and occupied by one family. They can be attached, meaning they share a wall or walls with another one-family dwelling, or detached, meaning they are freestanding.
Example: Row houses on the peninsula are one-family attached dwellings.
This is a building that contains multiple housing units.
Think: Apartment buildings and residential condominiums.
Principal use is the primary or predominant function of a property.
Example: Living in a home within a residential zone is the principal use.
This is the use of a property that is subordinate or incidental to the principal use.
Example: The garage or shed on your home property may be labeled an accessory use.
Adrian native Tatum Borton has been playing soccer since she was three years old and recently took another step forward in her career on the pitch.The eighth grader who goes to Blissfield Middle School accomplished something only eight other girls from the state of Michigan accomplished back in November, as Borton traveled to Florida as part of the Midwest team as part of the U.S. Olympic Development Program.“I felt honored that I got to go represent the Midwest, Blissfield and my soccer club,” Borton...
Adrian native Tatum Borton has been playing soccer since she was three years old and recently took another step forward in her career on the pitch.
The eighth grader who goes to Blissfield Middle School accomplished something only eight other girls from the state of Michigan accomplished back in November, as Borton traveled to Florida as part of the Midwest team as part of the U.S. Olympic Development Program.
“I felt honored that I got to go represent the Midwest, Blissfield and my soccer club,” Borton said. “It was really exciting, but kind of scary too. The most important thing I learned was that you’re not always going to be the best and you have to learn to play and adapt with other people, not just play how you normally play, but adapt to a new playing style.”
Borton, who played for a travel club out of Toledo, Pacesetter SC, before transferring to Saline FC so she could be eligible for high school soccer when she leaves middle school, went through a process to make the Midwest team.
After making the cut at the state level, Borton, whose favorite player is U.S. national team star midfielder Julie Ertz due to her work ethic, traveled to Rockford, Illinois for another tryout.
She was vying to be one of 140 girls from 14 different states, to be part of a 36-player Midwest region’s team.
To be part of a team competing at one of the top competitions in the country, with and against girls from unfamiliar environments to Borton, was overwhelming at first, but was an enlightening trip.
“I feel like it was a really good experience and it kind of got my name out there a little bit,” Borton said. “One of the games, there were a lot of college coaches that came, so it kind of gave me some exposure to different college coaches and I felt like it was a really good experience, meeting new girls that you’d never seen before, rooming with them and playing with them for a couple days.”
It’s no surprise Borton, who plays for the Saline travel team as a center attacking midfielder, is as good as she is on the pitch. In addition to being a multi-sport athlete, competing in cross country, track and basketball, both of Borton’s parents both played sports in college. Her mother Lyndrea not only played soccer at the NCAA Division I level, but was also Tatum’s first coach from the age of three to until she turned nine.
“It’s really awesome the fact that she made that team," Borton's mother said. "Such a small percentage of girls make that cut to go to the regional level. When I played, I did not make that cut, but I did go on to play at a DI school. Her dad went on to play basketball in school, so we both have the sports backgrounds through the school and we’re incredibly proud of her. She’s a straight-A student and she also manages the different sports she plays, with soccer being her number one and favorite. We love watching the U.S. women’s national team play in person or on the TV and I love watching her grow into her own person on the field.”
When Tatum Borton graduates to the high school in Blissfield, she will join a Royals girls soccer team, under first-year coach Emily Loar last season, went 7-4 in an abbreviated campaign as the team made the Division 3 district finals.
Tatum has a bit more to do before joining Blissfield, but now has learned valuable lessons from her experience last November that she can carry forward.
“One of the things that the ODP group continuously says to these girls, and it’s something that Tatum has been doing really, really good at, when you can learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, that’s where you will see growth,” Lyndrea said. “It's hard and scary to room and play with these girls you don’t know, but when you’re open to it and willing to go do that and be your best, you get better every time, whether it’s with her school, or with ODP or her club team. Continuing to trying to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, we see Tatum growing and meeting all of the expectations she sets for herself with no problem.”
Storms are constantly changing. Check NOAA for live updates.This isn’t our first go-around this hurricane season, but you can never be too prepared. Here’s what we know so far about Tropical Cyclone Nicole and how you can stay informed and ready.As of Thursday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m., there was a ...
Storms are constantly changing. Check NOAA for live updates.
This isn’t our first go-around this hurricane season, but you can never be too prepared. Here’s what we know so far about Tropical Cyclone Nicole and how you can stay informed and ready.
As of Thursday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m., there was a Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Watch in effect for parts of the Lowcountry including Charleston County.
The storm’s greatest local impacts were expected to be felt on Thursday lasting into Friday. Prepare for possible coastal flooding, tornadoes, beach erosion, dangerous surf and rip currents, tropical-storm-force winds, and heavy rainfall.
Rainfall | Charleston County could see between 2-4 inches of rain. Check TIDEeye for tidal flooding reports.
Gas | Wondering which gas stations are still open? Use this map from GasBuddy to find an open gas station near you.
Power outages | You can track or report power outages using Dominion Energy’s online map. You can also check Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina’s outage map.
Road closures | Use the City of Charleston’s GIS map to track potential road closures.
Stay informed | Follow Nicole’s path here. Stay up-to-date with the SC Emergency Management Division here, keep an eye out for a City of Charleston news flash, and sign up for Charleston County alerts.
Pets | This article wraps up a few tips to keep your furry friends safe whether you’re hunkering down at home or heading to a shelter.
Hurricane kits | Restock your hurricane kit with supplies from this list.
Schools | Stay informed about potential SC school closures.
Additional resources | Go here for resources including emergency phone numbers and maps.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is creating much excitement in the summer league. The rookie is showing shades of a couple of the greats.Who will be the next big star to lead the Boston Celtics? With Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford and now Gordon Hayward walking through that door...
Who will be the next big star to lead the Boston Celtics? With Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford and now Gordon Hayward walking through that door, there is a couple young guys who are preparing to knock on that door.
Okay, I may be getting ahead of myself – a little bit. But, with what 19-year-old Jayson Tatum has showcased through two games in the summer league, the Celtics have drafted themselves a very special player.
Along with Jaylen Brown, last year’s No. 3 pick overall, Tatum is leading the young Celtics in scoring. While Brown has looked like a man amongst boys, Tatum has shown shades of Paul Pierce with his debut performance Monday night and elements of Kobe Bryant with his 23-point effort in Wednesday night’s 81-70 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Jayson Tatum wants your attention. He’s got ours. #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/ri5TTciK1f
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 6, 2017
It is his versatility on the offensive end, particularly his post-up game, that has provided reminders of the Los Angeles Lakers great. In fact, Tatum shared a little something about himself that may not exactly please most Celtics fans.
“Yeah, that’s my favorite player,” Tatum said following the game when asked if he modeled his game after Kobe Bryant. “He was – then I went to the Celtics.”
So far, Boston Celtics fans are thrilled the team drafted the former Duke star. The 23-point, 10-rebound performance something fans and the team could get used to. Granted, this is only the summer league, but the potential is there and it is showing.
With more experience and growth, Tatum could turn Danny Ainge into a genius. His maturity as a player as well as his skillset may just prove the Celtics president of basketball operations was correct in trading the No. 1 overall pick for a player he believed was the actual No. 1 player.
“He’s gonna be a pretty good player in this league for a long time,” Celtics summer league coach Jerome Allen said, via ESPN. As the days pass I think I’m beyond being surprised by what he’s able to do on the floor from a number of different spots on the floor.”
It’s only been two summer league games, but his array of offensive moves could make him an elite scorer. While it’s not fair to compare the kid to either Paul Pierce or Kobe Bryant, any combination of the two would make Jayson Tatum a very special player indeed.
Next: New England Patriots: Mike Gillislee most likely to lead crowded backfield
For more Boston Celtics roster news, keep it locked here at Chowder and Champions.
Of the new players the New England Patriots added this offseason, ESPN’s Mike Reiss believes running back Mike Gillislee will have the greatest impact of the team’s free agent additions in 2017.
While Stephon Gilmore and Rex Burkhead will certainly contribute in their roles, Gillislee will really have an opportunity to secure a role left vacant by LeGarrette Blount. It will be some big shoes to fill, but the former Buffalo Bills running back has the tools to become even more effective than Blount.
His downhill running ability as well as his yards after contact average will make him a tough guy to bring down. The Patriots certainly saw first-hand accounts of that when they faced him twice while he was with the Bills in 2016.
In fact, his yards after contact is what makes him a better option than Blount was this past season. According to Pro Football Focus, his 3.3 average yards after contact per attempt ranked him second in the league. Blount, on the other hand, averaged just 2.5 yards after contract per attempt.
Burkhead, the team’s other free agent running back, was impressive in that category also with a 3.0 average. The competition provided by Burkhead and Dion Lewis should be great, but I do agree with Reiss in Gillislee’s ability to make the biggest impact in the Patriots offense this season.
In making the jump from the Bills to the Patriots, Gillislee knows what is expected of him and appears up for the challenge. He knows hard work will earn him a big role. Combine that with what he is capable of on the field and the Patriots may have a more dynamic weapon out of the backfield.
Related Story: Mike Gillislee: New England Patriots work harder than Buffalo Bills
Running backs coach Ivan Fears likes what he has seen of Gillislee prior to him joining the Patriots.
“Let’s put it this way. I like that he was productive on film. That’s all,” Fears said back in May, via Patriots Wire. “I like that he made things happen. Now, let’s see what he does here. He’s got to show us what he’s going to be here. He did a good job in Buffalo – whatever they did, it was fine. That’s last year, let’s see what he gets done here. Let’s see what he can do for us. I’m not going to close my mind to anything he could possibly do or possibly be. I’m going to let him show it out on the game field. I think he’s got a lot of talent, so let’s see what he puts out.”
In 2016, Mike Gillislee rushed for 577 yards on 101 carries. His eight rushing touchdowns as well as his performance against the New England Patriots was enough for the team to pry him away from their AFC East rivals.
He will certainly have the opportunity, but whether or not he has the type of impact Reiss and myself feels he can have is totally up to his work ethic off and on the field.
Dustin Pedroia may not have monster numbers or be even playing in the all-star game, but he continues to show how vital he is to the success of the Boston Red Sox.
And in case you forgot his worth, Pedroia put all of his skills on display in Monday night’s victory over the Texas Rangers.
At the plate, Pedroia drove in four of Boston’s seven runs. He had three hits, two of which came with two strikes.
In a season in which home runs are flying out of the park, Pedroia did the unsung act of simply putting the ball in play.
Basic fundamentals led to this defensive play by Pedroia in the bottom of the ninth inning:
By running to back up first base on the short hopper to third, Pedroia did something taught to players from their earliest days in organized baseball.
And it might have saved the game. (The ball took a lucky carom right to Pedroia, but hey, right place, right time.)
Plays like this–whether at the plate or in the field–in which younger players should be paying extra attention to Pedroia. And sometimes, it’s leadership alone Pedroia provides.
Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi are among the young stars providing the offense in 2017 for Boston. Betts was last week’s American League Player of the week, including an 8-RBI day on Sunday.
Benintendi drove in six runs of his own against the Rangers on Tuesday.
But for the Red Sox, Pedroia is the veteran–if not mostly quiet–leader.
The 2008 MVP and four-time all-star and Gold-Glover has 1,760 career hits and two World Series titles to his name. This season he is batting .301 with a .385 OBP in 2017 (ranking near his career-high of .387 in 2011).
And not to mention, he has never struck out more than 100 times in a season.
Over the years, Pedroia has experienced both peaks and valley with the Red Sox. This has allowed him to contribute as both a player and mentor.
His leadership was called into question during the great Baltimore Orioles dust-up of 2017. Pedroia was called out for not being a leader, while others accused him of throwing his teammates under the bus.
The Red Sox moved on and subsequently moved up in the standings. I’m not saying it was all Pedroia, but as a veteran, I’m sure he was able to find a way to smooth things over in the clubhouse.
Pedroia is a class act and will go down as one of the best second basemen in Red Sox history. Magical hall of fame thresholds like 3,000 hits might be a way off, but if continues to give fans games like the one he gave Monday night, Pedroia will one day reach enshrinement.
Next: Tzu-Wei Lin has been a pleasant surprise
And if not, fans can look back on a successful career for Pedroia. One in which he gave a master class on doing the little things to help his team.
Sometimes, those plays are worth more than every home run or strikeout combined.
Bryan Tatum had basically just arrived to oversee strength and conditioning for the Lady Vols basketball team last summer when he found out he had advanced stage cancer.The director of women’s basketball sports performance had established a great rapport with the players and then suddenly was staring down a series of chemotherapy treatments amid an ongoing pandemic that would limit his ability to be around the team.On Saturday, Lady Vols basketball social media accounts told the story of Tatum’s journey and return....
Bryan Tatum had basically just arrived to oversee strength and conditioning for the Lady Vols basketball team last summer when he found out he had advanced stage cancer.
The director of women’s basketball sports performance had established a great rapport with the players and then suddenly was staring down a series of chemotherapy treatments amid an ongoing pandemic that would limit his ability to be around the team.
On Saturday, Lady Vols basketball social media accounts told the story of Tatum’s journey and return.
Tatum and his wife, Alison, have four children, Jaxson, Jett, Hensley and Jude. Coach Kellie Harper hired Tatum, who was on her staff at Western Carolina and N.C. State, and he arrived in Knoxville on June 11, 2021. He had spent the past seven years as an assistant athletic performance coach at Auburn, working with the Tiger football team.
“We worked together before, and she really values you are a person, and it’s always felt like family,” Tatum said in a YouTube video by Tennessee Athletics that can be viewed HERE and is embedded at the end of this article.
Strength and conditioning coach Bryan Tatum's transition to Tennessee came with an unexpected hurdle: a lymphoma diagnosis.Supported by his faith, family, and a disciplined mental toughness, Tatum is back living his passion and sharing his toughness with the Lady Vols. pic.twitter.com/WC3j3uZ1zO
— Lady Vol Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) March 12, 2022
Tatum was reunited with Casi Dailey, the associate director of sports medicine for women’s basketball, because they had worked together at N.C. State. It was Dailey who saw a bump on his neck. Tatum, who earlier had been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that attacks the glands that make tears and saliva, mentioned he wanted to get it checked by a physician in case it was related to Sjogren’s.
The results of an ultrasound and biopsy came June 30, 2021, with a diagnosis of Stage 4 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
“That’s a punch to the gut for lack of better term,” Tatum said on the video. “How do you really handle that news. It’s like everything just stopped for a second.”
The cancer was treatable, but it would be an ordeal as anyone who has ever battled cancer knows.
“We wanted to support him the best we could,” Harper said on the video. “He just moved to Knoxville, they just bought a house, their family’s just now going to get settled, and then he’s got to start working through chemotherapy.”
Tatum absorbed all the information he could find on his type of cancer, continued to try to work and realized the treatment would weaken him physically, but he could control his mental approach – the same lesson he has taught to hundreds of athletes in 15 years.
He has since completed treatment with a clean slate and returned full-time to the team.
Everything has been a whirlwind,” he said. “The good thing about Tennessee is I’ve had support from day one, from the administration, from the staff … at the root of all of it is Ali. She’s kind of the glue that holds us together. … Every day I wake up is a victory.”
The video includes interviews with Tatum, his wife, Dailey and Harper, along with images of his treatment and return to the sidelines, along with his longtime philosophy of E+R=O – events, response, outcome.