VIDEO: Kevin Day Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head football coach Mike Turner has named former Eagle center Kevin Day as the program's new offensive line coach.
Day takes over for the man who hires him. Turner relinquished the duties of positon coach when he was hired to replace Ken Sparks as Carson-Newman's head football coach.
"He's a tremendous addition to our staff because of the man that he is and the example that he set while he was here as a player," Turner said. "He was a leader early in his career, and that speaks well to his desire and the man that God has grown him up to be. We're excited to have him around the players here at Carson-Newman."
The Soddy Daisy, Tenn.-native was a consensus All-American for the Eagles in 2012 en route to being named the university's Male Athlete of the Year and Rimington Award-winner as the top center in Division II that year.
A member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works team, Day was also a finalist for the Upshaw Award as the top lineman in Division II.
"I know what this place did for me, which was to give me a chance and give me the opportunities that I have now in my life," Day said. "Between Coach Sparks and Coach Turner, they helped turn me into a man and figure out what it means to grow up. This is an opportunity
A three-time All-SAC selection and winner of the SAC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy as a senior, Day helped clear the way for the nation's top rushing offense in Division II in 2012. The Eagles piled up nearly 380 yards a game while scoring 52 rushing touchdowns. The 52 scores on the ground were the most among all schools in all divisions that year. Only FCS' Georgia Southern averaged more yards rushing a game than C-N.
"I was fortunate to have a great career here because of Coach Turner, because of Coach Sparks and because of the guys who played alongside me," Day, who was 5-11 and weighed 225 pounds his senior year, said. "That being said, I know what can be accomplished with limited athletic ability and limited size. All the things that people say are impossible if you don't have those metrics, those intangibles. They're wrong. They are possible. I know that because I lived it. I think that's something that can help get through to our players."
Day helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in every season blocking along the offensive line. He concluded his career by starting 46 consecutive games.
Day has spent the last four seasons coaching in the high school ranks. He helped West High School in Knoxville to a pair of state title appearances, winning a title in 2014. The past two years, he has been on the staff at Cleveland High School.
"We had some young offensive linemen last year who had to grow up in a hurry," Turner said. "Kevin's the kind of coach who can bring those guys along as players and men. He can make them as tough as he was and even better."
Day is engaged to Amber Shelton.