July 10, 2024

Pope promotes Showler-Davis to lead C-N track program

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – A mere 24 hours after David Needs retired after 27 years at the helm of the C-N track & field program to move into a roll within the athletic department leading the Eagle Club, Vice President for Athletic Matt Pope didn’t need to look long or far to find the next head coach in the program’s history.

VIDEO: Kieran Showler-Davis Introductory Presser

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – A mere 24 hours after David Needs retired after 27 years at the helm of the C-N track & field program to move into a roll within the athletic department leading the Eagle Club, Vice President for Athletic Matt Pope didn't need to look long or far to find the next head coach in the program's history.

Pope introduced Associate Director of Track & Field, Sprints Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Kieran Showler-Davis as the program's seventh head coach during a press conference Wednesday morning in the Maddox Student Activities Center.

"We wouldn't be having today if it wasn't David Needs accepting my offer to become the Director of the Eagle Club," Pope said. "I'm grateful that he took that role, but I'm also grateful that he filled the track program with such excellence that we can turn to Kieran. We're blessed to have a man of faith and a man of integrity in Kieran lead our program moving forward. He has a pedigree to bringing in and coaching up elite talent."

Showler-Davis has spent the last five years as an assistant at Carson-Newman, working his way up from a graduate assistant to the number two man with the program. He is a two-time USTFCCCAA Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year, most recently winning the award at the conclusion of the 2023 outdoor season.

He has coached some of the most successful athletes on Carson-Newman's campus in his run with the program.

"I'm blessed and excited, and understand I have a tough act to follow. David Needs has done great work with the program for the time he has been here since the moon landings," Showler-Davis said with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. "I'm looking forward to jumping in and seeing where we can take this in the coming years."

Among his pupils, Showler-Davis counts three-time national champion Maka Charamba and 12-time All-American Devon Moore. He is also responsible for the development of Carson-Newman's first women's sprint All-American Sade De Sousa, as well as men's All-Americans Ashwin Jood, Sipo Boya and Sterling Melancon.

In fact the last track sprinter to earn All-America honors who wasn't coached by Showler-Davis was the man himself in 2018.

As a student, Showler-Davis made his way to Mossy Creek from Florida State in 2015. The Winchester, England native blew everyone away his senior season, earning All-American honors in the 60 meter during indoor nationals and the 100 meters the NCAA Outdoor National Championship Meet. Showler-Davis was also an All-Conference selection in 2017 and was the SAC Champion in the 100 meter dash.

Showler-Davis also competed for his home country in 2018, competing in the Manchester Invitational as well as participating in the British and European National Trials.

He and his wife Alexandria reside in Knoxville with their son Frankie.