Ken Sparks facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 25, 1944 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | March 29, 2017 (aged 73) Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1967 | Carson–Newman |
| 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) | |
Ken Sparks (born February 25, 1944 – died March 29, 2017) was a famous American football coach and player. He was the head football coach at Carson–Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. He coached there from 1980 until he retired at the end of the 2016 season.
Ken Sparks holds the record for the most wins as a coach in NCAA Division II history. His team, the Carson–Newman Eagles, won five national championships. These were the NAIA Championships in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1989. They also finished second three times in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Contents
Early Life and Playing Career
Ken Sparks was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. He loved football from a young age. He played college football as a wide receiver for Carson–Newman. He graduated from the school in 1968.
Coaching Journey
After college, Sparks started his coaching career. He coached football at Gibbs High School in Knoxville. The next year, he earned a master's degree from Tennessee Technological University. While there, he also coached quarterbacks and receivers. He later coached at Morristown East High School in Morristown, Tennessee.
In the early 1970s, Sparks became an assistant coach at Carson–Newman. The football team reached the NAIA championship game. He also coached the school's track team. He was even named the Southern Collegiate Track Coach of the Year. In 1977, he returned to Carson-Newman to coach the track team again.
In the fall of 1977, he coached at Farragut High School in Knoxville. He had a great record there, winning 29 games and losing only 5. One of his players was the future NFL star Bill Bates.
Success at Carson–Newman
Ken Sparks became the head coach at Carson–Newman in 1980. He led the team to many victories. His success was so great that Carson-Newman built a new football stadium in 2005. It was named Burke–Tarr Stadium.
Sparks was known for his strong Christian faith. He believed that football could be a way to help people. He once said that if football could bring people closer to God, then "it has done something." He added, "If it hasn't, we haven't done a thing, no matter how many games we won." He was also named the Fellowship of Christian Athletes National Coach of the Year.
Retirement and Legacy
After 37 years as the head coach, Ken Sparks announced his retirement. This was on November 14, 2016. He made the announcement at a press conference. It was held at the Ken Sparks Athletic Complex on the Carson-Newman University campus.
Sadly, Ken Sparks passed away on March 29, 2017. He had been battling prostate cancer for four years. His legacy as a coach and a person of faith continues to inspire many.
See also
- List of college football coaches with 200 wins
- List of presidents of the American Football Coaches Association
