Matt Pope is in his sixth year as Vice President for Athletics at Carson-Newman.  He was announced by University President Dr. Randall O'Brien on June 27, 2018. He was introduced to the Carson-Newman community in a press conference on July 9.  He officially began his tenure on Aug. 6, 2018. 

Pope, who has more than 30 years of professional experience in intercollegiate athletics, has played a role in shaping nearly every aspect of Eagle Athletics as a NCAA DII intercollegiate athletic program, providing leadership for the Eagle’s 21 sport programs, the co-ed Spirit Squads, and more than 80 full-time, part-time, and volunteer administrative and coaching staff members. 

Since 2018, Pope has overseen many strategic changes to his administrative staff as well as hiring head coaches in the sports of Football, Men & Women’s Tennis, Women’s Golf, Men & Women’s Swimming, Beach & Indoor Volleyball, and Men & Women’s Track & Field. 

Athletically, Carson-Newman has tallied its second and fourth-highest finishes in the Learfield Director's Cup under Pope's tutelage also winning five individual NCAA DII National Championships in women’s swimming (two) and men’s track and field (three).  The Eagles have won multiple SAC regular season/tournament championships and appeared numerous times in NCAA tournaments and national rankings. 

The Athletic Department has seen six consecutive years of growth in the number of individuals recognized on the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll.  Numerous Eagles have earned All-SAC honors, All-American honors and Academic All-American honors. The department's Eagle Scholar award recipients have escalated since inception from 72 in 2013 earning a 3.25 or better GPA to 306 in 2023.

Facility upgrades under Pope’s direction include new turf surfaces at Baseball, Softball, Soccer & Football, an Eagle Club Hospitality suite, handrails and a new gym floor for basketball/volleyball in Holt Fieldhouse; a new Jumbotron at Football; a new scoreboard, warning track and outfield wall at Baseball; and new weight equipment and flooring in the Ken Sparks Athletic Complex.

Prior to Carson-Newman, Pope’s professional experience includes stops at Tennessee Tech University as Associate AD for Development, Towson University as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Finance and Operations, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as Senior Associate AD for Administration & Internal Operations (named interim Athletic Director in 2006), UNC Chapel Hill as Athletic Business Accountant, Western Kentucky as Associate Athletic Director for Business Affairs, and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock as Athletic Business Manager. 

During his tenure, Pope has held many NCAA and Conference committee appointments, most recently serving on the NCAA Division II Nominating Committee, SAC Constitution and Bylaws Committee as well as SAC AD Liaison for Men & Women’s Golf and Men’s Basketball Committees. He is also a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the National Association of Athletics Development Directors (NAADD), and the NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA).
 
Pope earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education in 1989 and a Master of Arts in Sport Administration in 1994 – both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He is also a graduate of the Sports Management Institute's Executive Program (The University of Notre Dame in 1998 and The University of South Carolina in 1999).
 
A native of Durham, N.C., Pope and his wife, Claudia, also a North Carolina graduate, have adult children, Anna and Tyler.