Ken Sparks
American football player and coach
Ken Sparks (February 25, 1944 – March 29, 2017) was an American football coach and player. He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Knoxville, Tennessee | February 25, 1944
Died | March 29, 2017 Knoxville, Tennessee | (aged 73)
Playing career | |
Position(s) | Wide receiver |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1977–1979 | Farragut HS (TN) |
1980–2016 | Carson–Newman |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 338–99–2 (college) 29–5 (high school) |
Tournaments | 19–5 (NAIA D-I playoffs) 19–15 (NCAA D-II playoffs) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
5 NAIA Division I (1983–1984, 1986, 1988–1989) 21 SAC (1982–1984, 1986, 1988–1991, 1993–1999, 2002–2004, 2007–2009) | |
Awards | |
NAIA Division I Coach of the Year (1984) | |
Career
changeSparks served as the head football coach at Carson–Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee from 1980 until his retirement at the end of the 2016 season. He was the record-holder for the most wins as a coach in NCAA Division II history. He won five NAIA Championships (1983–1984, 1986, 1988–1989). He retired on November 2016.[1]
Death
changeSparks died March 29, 2017 in Knoxville from prostate cancer, aged 73.[2]
References
change- ↑ "Legendary Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks announces retirement - Wate.com - November 14, 2016". Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ↑ Ken Sparks, coaching icon at Carson-Newman, dies at 73
Other websites
change- Carson–Newman profile Archived 2017-03-31 at the Wayback Machine