Story byWATE KnoxvilleCasey KayFri, January 2, 2026 at 2:14 AM UTC·1 min readJEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. (WATE) – Carson-Newman defensive coordinator Tyler Almond has been promoted to lead the Eagles. Almond, the 2025 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year, is the program’s 21st head coach. He has spent the last two years as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, helping to create one of the strongest defenses in Division II football in both seasons. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement ‘Give it all for the Power T’: Tearful Jalen McMurray on playing injured in final game as a Volunteer In 2024, Almond’s defense finished in the top 20 nationally in both total and scoring defense.