Pope makes leadership change in Carson-Newman’s football program
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Vice President for Athletics Matt Pope has announced a change in leadership for the Eagles football program.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Vice President for Athletics Matt Pope has announced a change in leadership for the Eagles football program.
"While Mike Clowney will no longer be the head coach of our football program, I'd like to thank Mike for his years of service to this university as a player, assistant and head coach," Pope said. "We wish him and his family nothing but the best moving forward."
Carson-Newman's 19th head football coach, Clowney spent four seasons (one of which was the one-game, CoVID season) on the banks of Mossy Creek mentoring the football program. He accumulated 13 wins against 20 losses in his head coaching career, going 11-16 in South Atlantic Conference play.
In four years as head coach, Clowney has coached 20 All-SAC honorees, nine CSC Academic All-District selections, two all-region choices, a SAC Freshman of the Year, a Harlon Hill Trophy candidate and one All-American. In the summer of 2022, he was nominated to be the honorary head coach for the AFCA Good Works Team.
Clowney was one of the best linebackers in Carson-Newman history and still holds the single-game tackles record, set in 1996 with 23 against Wingate. Clowney led the team with 153 tackles that season, the third highest total in Eagles football history.
Clowney was recognized as a first team All-American in 1996 by the Associated Press and several other organizations. He was the South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, C-N Male Athlete of the Year and was the cornerstone of the defense that led the Eagles to their first NCAA Division II National Championship game appearance. He is a member of both Carson-Newman's and the South Atlantic Conference's Halls of Fame.
Larry Slade will lead the football program's recruiting and day-to-day operations until a head coach is named.
A national search for Carson-Newman's 20th head coach is already underway.
