Former Dallas Cowboy and Tennessee Vol Bill Bates Headlines This Weekend’s C-N Coaches’ Clinic
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Eagle head coach Ken Sparks and the Carson-Newman football coaching staff will hold their 21st Annual Championship Coaching Clinic beginning on Friday at the Music Road Hotel and Inn in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Eagle head coach Ken Sparks and
the Carson-Newman football coaching staff will hold their 21st
Annual Championship Coaching Clinic beginning on Friday at the
Music Road Hotel and Inn in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Former Tennessee Vol and Dallas Cowboy Bill Bates will be the
clinic’s keynote speaker.
“We’re excited about our 21st clinic,” said
Sparks, who begins his 31st season at Carson-Newman this fall.
“We’re grateful Bill (Bates) is willing to spend his
time at our clinic. He’s been tremendously successful as a
player and coach, and we’re excited to have him join
us.”
Bates played for Sparks at Farragut High School in 1977 and 1978.
He would later go on to play at the University of Tennessee, and
become an All-Pro for the Dallas Cowboys.
The two coached together earlier this month in the Texas vs. the
Nation All-Star Game.
Baylor head coaching legend Grant Teaff is also scheduled to speak.
He coached at Baylor for 21 seasons, leading the Bears to four bowl
wins and two Cotton Bowl appearances.
The Carson-Newman coaching staff will also speak throughout the
weekend, including offensive coordinator Mike Turner, whose
split-back veer option offense has led Division II in rushing in
two of the last three seasons.
Also speaking at the clinic are Naples (Fla.) High School head
coach Bill Kramer, Highland Park (Tex.) High School head coach
Randy Allen, nationally-known motivation speaker Dr. Farris Jordan,
and chaplain Ken Smith.
Carson-Newman will practice on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Burke-Tarr
Stadium as part of the clinic.
Registration for the event is still open. The clinic begins Friday
evening and concludes on Sunday morning. For information, call
(865) 471-3466.
