January 1, 2026

New Year, New Coach – Almond elevated to Eagles head coaching position

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Vice President for Athletics Matt Pope announced the promotion of C-N defensive coordinator and reigning AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Tyler Almond be the Carson-Newman football program's 21st head coach during a press conference Thursday morning at the Ken Sparks Athletic Complex.

VIDEO: Tyler Almond Introductory Press Conference

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Vice President for Athletics Matt Pope announced the promotion of C-N defensive coordinator and reigning AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year Tyler Almond be the Carson-Newman football program's 21st head coach during a press conference Thursday morning at the Ken Sparks Athletic Complex.

"Coach Almond has distinguished himself on the defensive side of the football as one of the top coaches in the nation," Carson-Newman University President Dr. Charles A. Fowler said. "He is committed to Carson-Newman's brand of triple option football and I feel confident he will continue building a winning tradition. Thankfully he is committed to doing so while prioritizing character development and academics. We've watched him coach for two years. He has embodied the best of C-N's legacy in football while demonstrating an ability to continue growing the program. I anticipate great successes from his players on the field, in the classrooms, and in life following Jesus Christ. Great days are ahead for our great program."

The decisive move comes a mere 42 hours after Ashley Ingram announced his resignation to take over the reigns at VMI.

"This is a critical transition and we wanted to move quickly," Vice President for Athletics Matt Pope said. "We received a tremendous amount of correspondence from people who either wanted the job or wanted to suggest someone for the job. I appreciate that our head football coaching position is worthy of that national attention with just the announcement that Coach Ashley Ingram was leaving us for VMI.

"We wanted someone with strong Christian faith and character. Someone who could lead. Someone who is a good recruiter and knew this area, region and conference well. We wanted a lot of things, and to make sure that this person was a good fit for this institution. God's man presented himself to us in Tyler, and for that we are grateful."

The Sacramento State graduate becomes just the fifth non-alum to lead the football program. Almond joins Ingram, 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.

"I told my wife, God is going to put us exactly where he wants us to be and where He intends for us to be," Almond said. "There's no doubt in my mind that God has put us exactly where we need to be and where he intends for us to be."

On Dec. 9, 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.

"I'm thankful for Matt Pope and Dr. Fowler for entrusting me to serve and lead this storied program," Almond said. "They understand the landscape of college football today. Most hiring committees take two weeks to get a coach to the podium, they did it in 42 hours. They have set us up for success to retain our current roster and hit the ground running in recruiting a 2026 class that Carson-Newman will be proud of. I promise you that you have hired a tireless coach who will continue to serve these young men, their hearts and not their talents. We will make this university proud, that's my promise."

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 and linebacker Cruz Temple earn All-Region 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.

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.

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.

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.