Deaton Returns to Eagles' Staff
Jan. 20, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman has named Jim Deaton as Assistant Head Football Coach, Eagle head coach Ken Sparks announced today.
Deaton will be in his third stint at Mossy Creek when the Eagles begin spring practice next month.
When the Eagles take the field in the fall, Deaton will begin his 25th season as a part of Sparks' staff. He rejoin outside linebackers and special teams coach Mike Whitley (30th) and offensive coordinator Mike Turner (26th) as coaches that were on coach Sparks' original staff in 1980.
A 1974 graduate of Carson-Newman, Deaton spent 24 seasons as defensive coordinator at Mossy Creek. His defenses have produced 52 All-Conference selections and 14 All-Americans. Many of whom - David Pool, Joe Fishback, Clayton Holmes, Marq Cerqua, Todd Collins, Cedric Killings and Steve Josue - went on to play in the NFL.
A member of the 1972 Carson-Newman team which played in the first national championship game in school history, Deaton has installed a winning attitude in all of his defenses at C-N. In his 24 seasons with Sparks, Deaton has been a part of 18 South Atlantic Conference championships, including 15 in his last 17 years.
Coach Deaton first left C-N to become athletic director at Campbellsville University in 1999. He returned to the Eagles coaching staff in 2001 to again become defensive coordinator. After four more seasons in Jefferson City, Deaton went back to Campbellsville, this time as Head Football Coach.
Deaton will inherit a defense that returns three All-South Atlantic Conference performers, led by first team selections Mario Russell (Columbus, Ohio), at safety, and Brian Brown (Hartwell, Ga.) at linebacker. He has also already coached two Eagles he'll have on next year's unit. Senior Denares Waites (Alma, Ga.), a preseason All-American in 2008 before a wrist injury, was a redshirt in 2004, while defensive end Donte' Strickland (Louisburg, N.C.) was a true freshman that year.
The Eagles were 7-4 in 2008, claiming a share of the South Atlantic Conference title and reaching the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Jim Deaton on returning to Carson-Newman:
"C-N has been a big part of my life and a special place for both me and my family...Few programs are as unique as C-N in the way that so many coaches have committed to this program for so many years...I'm at a point in my life where being back here feels like the right time and the right place, and I can see myself being enriched by joining this group...Defensively, we have a large, experienced group of players with a number of years already invested in Carson-Newman, and that should pay dividends for us in the coming season."
Sparks on naming Deaton as Assistant Head Coach:
"We're very grateful to have him back with us...This will be his 24th year with us, so the learning curve will be small...He has been a very large part of building this program through the years...As Assistant Head Coach, he'll take a major load off of me...He is a great coach, who does so many things behind the scenes, and is not someone who will step out and look for fame or recognition."
-C-N-
