C-N DC Almond named AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year
WACO, Texas – Carson-Newman defensive coordinator and safeties coach Tyler Almond has been named the AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year, the organization announced Tuesday morning.
VIDEO: Tyler Almond Interview
VIDEO: Tyler Almond finds out he's the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year
WACO, Texas – Carson-Newman defensive coordinator and safeties coach Tyler Almond has been named the AFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year, the organization announced Tuesday morning.
"I'd like to congratulate Tyler Almond on being named AFCA D2 Assistant Coach of the Year," Carson-Newman head football coach Ashley Ingram said. "Tyler did a great job leading our defense and our defensive staff. Defensively we gave up 14 points a game. That is an impressive feat in today's game. What's more though is how valuable Tyler is to our community. We are blessed that Tyler is at C-N."
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.
Almond also becomes the third member of Carson-Newman's coaching staff to win the honor. Offensive coordinator Chuck Petersen won the award as a member of the Air Force staff in 2003. Assistant linebackers coach Tony Ierulli won the award in 2002 as a member of Shippensburg's staff.
"It is a great testament to the players we have, the staff we have and the program we have," Almond said. "It's really a program award. I know that's cliché to say, but by all means it is. If we didn't have good players, I wouldn't be getting this recognition. If we didn't have a good staff putting players in good positions to make plays, it'd be the same."
In just 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 and now working with the safeties.
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. He saw Williams earn All-America honors. He has mentored nine all-conference selections and two all-region honorees in two years.
A former defensive analyst at East Carolina and Georgia Tech and a 2020 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute member, Almond has spent 18 years coaching at the college and high school levels.
He coordinated FCS top 20 defenses at Dixie State and developed multiple All-Americans at Sacramento State
Almond remains active in community engagement, supporting literacy events, school outreach, and team service initiatives in East Tennessee.
One assistant coach from the five divisions of college football has been selected for their dedication to their teams and communities. A total of 71 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, and NAIA were nominated in 2025.
Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, the winners are selected by the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Committee.
The Assistant Coach of the Year award was first presented in 1997 and was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.
The 2025 honorees are as follows:
FBS–Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Indiana University
FCS–Keith Clark, Offensive Line, Dartmouth College
Division II–Tyler Almond, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Carson-Newman University
Division III–Eric Jones, Offensive Line, Central College
NAIA–Peter Davila, Defensive Coordinator, Keiser University
The criterion for the award is not limited to on-field coaching ability or the success of the team and the players whom these assistant coaches work with. Service to the community through charitable work and other volunteer activities, participation in AFCA activities and events, participation in other professional organizations and impact on student-athletes are all considered in the selection process.
Winners of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award will receive a plaque to commemorate their recognition. They will be honored on Sunday, January 11, during the 2026 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
