JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman head volleyball coach Dave Franklin has introduced Ashley Tiernan as the program's new head beach coach and assistant indoor coach, Franklin announced Thursday.
"We are ecstatic about the addition of Ashley as our head beach volleyball coach," Franklin said. "We went looking for a leader who we felt could grow the culture of our program and provide our student athletes with an overall experience in and out of the sand, we found that in Ashley. Ashley's passion for teaching and learning shined bright in our conversations together and I am excited for what she will bring to our young beach program as we continue to grow it."
Tiernan is joining the Eagles staff after two years as the head volleyball coach at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.
"I am extremely excited to be joining the Carson-Newman family in this position," Tiernan said. "Taking on a beach program has been something I have been looking forward to for a while. I am also very grateful that I will be working with the indoor team as their assistant coach. I have felt so welcomed by the coaches, administrators, staff and athletes and I already feel like part of the family."
While at LeTourneau, the 2018 season saw Tiernan coach the ASC Conference Freshman of the Year, and three athletes named to the All-American Southwest Conference East Division Team. Two athletes from the 2018 squad finished in the top-10 in single season school record categories. The 2017 season saw Tiernan coach two All-American Southwest Conference East Division Athletes, while also coaching LETU's ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor recipient. Three athletes from the 2017 squad finished in the top-10 in single season school record categories.
Before her two year stint at LeTourneau, Tiernan spent four seasons at Porter High School as the head volleyball coach. While at Porter High School, Tiernan helped turn a new program into a successful one. She led the Spartans to three consecutive playoff appearances in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
In the 2014 season, Tiernan coached her team to a District 21-5A championship. Her team then continued on to collect bi-district and area championships before their regional appearance. At the end of the 2014 season, Tiernan was selected as the District 21-5A Coach of the Year and the All Area Coach of the Year.
In 2016, Tiernan ended her last season as head coach for the Spartans by coaching in her third playoff appearance and picking up her second bi-district championship. While at Porter, Tiernan posted a 91-52 record in four seasons and is the winningest coach in school history. Prior to her time at Porter, she also served as an assistant coach at Cypress Creek High School for two seasons and one year at Klein High School.
Over the past 15 years, Tiernan has been coaching at various clubs with her last 4 seasons ending at TAV Houston. She spent three seasons assisting with Beach Volleyball programs. Her extensive knowledge of volleyball is backed by her years playing club volleyball in high school.
After high school, Tiernan received a scholarship to play at the University of Illinois at Springfield. While at UIS, she earned her bachelor's degree in Mass Media Communication with a minor in psychology as well as her master's degree in Interpersonal Communication.
She is making the transition to Jefferson City with her husband, Benjamin Tiernan.