Bio

Tyler Almond was introduced as Carson-Newman Football's 21st head coach on Jan. 1, 2026.  He is in his first year as head coach of the program and his third overall after spending his first two seasons working as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.  

The Sacramento State graduate becomes just the fifth non-alum to lead the football program. Almond joins Ashley Ingram (2024-25), Johnny Wike (1973-77), Richie Gaskell (1966-69) and Bob Davis (1964-65) as the only football coaches since the 1920s who have been the program's head coach without also graduating from C-N. 

On Dec. 9, 2025, Almond was named the American Football Coaches Association Division II Assistant Coach of the Year.  Almond becomes the fourth coach at Carson-Newman to win the award, joining Mike Turner (2003), David Needs (2009) and Deno Waites (2013). With Almond's selection in 2025, Carson-Newman becomes the only program with four AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year honorees.

In his second season as Carson-Newman's defensive coordinator, Almond has turned the Eagles into one of Division II's top units after arriving in 2024 as linebackers coach.

In 2025, his defense finished third in the South Atlantic Conference and No. 17 in Division II in total defense (296.7 ypg), first in the SAC and No. 5 in the nation in scoring defense (14.5 ppg).

His first defense ranked third in the SAC and top 20 nationally in total defense (269.5 ypg) and scoring defense (20.1), helping Carson-Newman to a division title and playoff appearance.  

Almond coached All-America safety Major Williams, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs following the 2024 campaign. He saw Williams and linebacker Cruz Temple earn All-Region honors.  He has mentored nine all-conference selections and two all-region honorees in two years. 

Almond's defense ranked third in the SAC and top-20 nationally in total defense (269.5 yds/gm) and scoring defense (20.1) in his first season at C-N in 2024.  

Almond came to the banks of Mossy Creek after three years at the FBS level. He spent 2023 as a defensive analyst at ECU after spending the 2022 season as a defensive quality control specialist at Georgia Tech. An 18-year coaching veteran at the high school and college levels, he spent the 2021 season at South Florida (QC/special teams) where the Bulls ranked ninth national in special teams efficiency. 

His on-field college coaching career includes two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Dixie State (2019 and spring 2021), six seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Sacramento State (2011-16), and two seasons as running backs coach at Sierra College (2009-10). As defensive coordinator at Dixie State, he coached a defense that ranked among the NCAA Division I FCS top 20 in takeaways (seventh), pass efficiency defense (16th) and pass defense (16th) during the 2021 spring season and ranked third nationally in sacks in 2019.

He was also selected to participate in the 2020 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 35 under 35 Leadership Institute.

At Sac State, he served as assistant defensive line coach in 2011, then spent five seasons as the Hornets' linebackers coach, and coached eight all-Big Sky Conference honorees, four FCS all-Americans and two semifinalists for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year).

Almond's coaching resume also includes two seasons as head coach and assistant athletics director (2017-18) and four seasons as an assistant coach (linebackers, running backs and special teams – 2005-08) at Christian Brothers (Calif.) High School (2017-18). As Christian Brothers' head coach, he led his squad to consecutive league championships and was named the 2017 Capital Athletic League Coach of the Year.

In 2015, Almond mentored Darnell Sankey who became the first player in Sacramento State's Div. I era to earn consensus All-America honors. Sankey was was recognized by STATS, Inc., the Associated Press, the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the AFCA. He as also a first team all-Big Sky selection after finishing second in the FCS and first in the Big Sky with 153 total tackles. The senior's total was the second most in school history, placing him just one off the record set by Ryland Wickman in 1997. Along with 57 solo tackles, Sankey also had 9.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, 5 pass breakups and forced a fumble. During the year, he had at least 10 tackles in nine of the team's 11 games, including setting the school record with 27 stops at Weber State. That performance was also the most by an FCS player during the year.

in 2014, Almond coached a pair of all-Big Sky linebackers in Sankey and Henry Fernandez. Sankey was named to the second team and was among the nation's elite until a knee injury derailed his season. He finished the year ranked seventh in the FCS and third in the Big Sky with 11.0 tackles per game. Sankey also had at least 10 tackles in all seven complete games in which he played, including a career high 21 against Montana State. He finished the year with 99 tackles, eight for loss, forced two fumbles, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble. Fernandez was an honorable mention all-league selection after leading the team with 106 stops. He had at least 11 tackles in each of the final three games.

During the 2013 season, linebacker Todd Davis was named to the all-Big Sky Conference first team and honorable mention All-America. Davis led the league and ranked fifth nationally with 10.9 tackles per game. His 131 total tackles were the first most in school history while his 351 career tackles placed him second in the Hornet record book. True freshman Russell Smith ranked second on the team with 78 stops while starting all 12 games.

In 2012, Almond coached Davis and Jeff Badger to honorable mention all-Big Sky honors. Davis led the team with 103 tackles, including 13.5 for loss. Jeff Badger concluded his career with 79 total stops giving him 206 for his career. That total places him 13th on the Sacramento State career list.

During his first year with the program, Almond served as a defensive assistant where he primarily assisted with the defensive line. Among the players he coached was defensive end Zack Nash who earned All-America honors, was a first team all-Big Sky Conference selection and a Buck Buchanan Award finalist. Nash left Sacramento State as the school's all-time leader in sacks and signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

A native of Northern California, Almond was the running backs coach at Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif., during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. While with the Wolverines, Almond assisted in the development of the weekly offensive game plan, implemented practice drills and oversaw the kick returners on special teams. In his first year with the team, Sierra won the Valley Conference championship and he coached running back Deonte Williams to all-conference honors.

In his four years, he coached one Sierra Valley Conference MVP, two SVC Defensive Players of the Year and 13 first team all-SVC selections.

Almond graduated from Sacramento State with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2009. He earned his master's in athletic administration from Concordia in 2014. Tyler and his wife, Marissa, were married in July of 2012 and have four children, three daughters - Genevieve, Dottie and Lillian - and a a son - Mick.