JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – A pair of assistant coaches at Carson-Newman have found new homes as a head coach in their respective sports.
Bryan Walker – Tennessee Wesleyan – Women's Soccer
Former goalkeeper coach Bryan Walker will return to Tennessee Wesleyan after accepting the job to become the team's head women's soccer coach earlier this month.
Walker spent the 2017 season with both Carson-Newman soccer programs leading the women's team to a historic 21-1-1 season en route to the National Championship match, helping the team claim its third-consecutive regular season and tournament titles in the conference.
He also helped guide the men's team to a 9-7-2 overall record, 6-2-2 in league play.
Walker helped coach one of the best goalkeepers in the nation in Jackie Burns who posted a historic season of her own. Burns is all-time winningest goalkeeper in women's soccer history at Carson-Newman and holds the title for the most career shutouts with 25.3. She claimed United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-Southeast Region, Second-Team D2CCA All-Region, and First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference during her sophomore campaign.
Walker made his way to Mossy Creek in the fall by way of the Bulldogs program where the team was ranked as high as No. 22 nationally during his time there, including an 11-4-4 season in 2016-17. While with the Bulldogs, he served as the assistant men's coach under current Eagles head coach Stephen Lyons.
He also served as the interim women's lacrosse head coach, leading the program to a 13-5 record and the first Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Lacrosse Championship in the program's history.
The head women's soccer coaching position at Tennessee Wesleyan was left open by the departure of long-time coach Naomi Kolarova.
A former student-athlete at Maryville College, Walker spent all four years in the goal for the Scots as they went on to win the conference championship all four years. He was a three-time all-conference player in the Golden State Athletic Conference from 2007 to 2009.
After graduating with a BA in Outdoor Recreation, he returned to Maryville College in 2011 to get his first glimpse of coaching, serving as the assistant coach for men's and women's soccer for five years. He won a GSAC championship with the women in 2015.
Walker has spent a number of years coaching in the state of Tennessee since his days with Maryville College. Aside from leading teams at high schools around Knoxville, he has been the assistant coach for National Premier Soccer League Knoxville Men's Force and for Women's Premier Soccer League Knoxville Lady Force. The Lady Force won back-to-back region titles in 2015 and 2016 while the Men's Force won the Eastern Region regular season championship in 2017, posting the most successful season the club has had.
Tony Ierulli – Limestone College - Football
Tony Ierulli replaces former NFL wide receiver Mike Furrey as the new head coach of the Limestone Saints after spending six seasons working with Carson-Newman, four as the defensive ends coach with the Eagles.
Ierulli has more than 30 years of college coaching experience. His coaching career started at Bowling Green State University which was followed with 2 years at the University of Missouri. Ierulli has been the defensive coordinator, linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator at Salem College, Samford University, Susquehanna University and Shippensburg University.
In January of 2003, he was introduced as the 27th head coach in nearby Maryville College's 118-year history. Ierulli ranked third all-time in wins at Maryville with 39, and was the assistant athletic director at his alma mater for nine years. In addition to his coaching duties, Ierulli served on the NCAA Football Rules Committee from 2008-11 and was the South Head Coach at the Division III All-Star Game in 2010.
In 2002, Ierulli was named the Division II Assistant Coach of the Year while at Shippensburg University. Throughout his career, Ierulli and his wife Carol have established a mentoring and tutoring program at local elementary schools. These started while Ierulli was an assistant at Missouri. The Ierullis believe football players should be used as role models for children in the community.
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