JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Vice President for Athletics Matt Pope has announced the hiring of Blake Cantrell to be the department's new Assistant AD for Development/Eagle Club Director.

"As a talented professional who has a pedigree for development and donor club oversight and an extensive knowledge of the intercollegiate industry, Blake is uniquely positioned to excel as our new Eagle Club Director." Pope said. "We are thrilled to have Blake coming back home to join our Carson-Newman University family; carrying forward his successful experience working in revenue generation at similar institutions across our geographic footprint."

A native of Dandridge, Tenn., Cantrell counts stops at Western Carolina and Tusculum among his latest athletic stops. 

Cantrell has spent the last three years in Cullowhee where he served WCU as both the Associate and Assistant Director of the Catamount Club.  While with the Catamounts, he helped raise 4.6 million dollars in athletic fund/scholarship support. 

Meanwhile, Cantrell also secured a 400,000 dollar commitment for the renovation of the WCU men's and women's basketball locker rooms – the second largest cash gif in WCU Athletics' history. 

Cantrell was appointed to the position of Director of Athletic Development at Tusculum in the spring of 2016.

While in that role, the East Tennessee State alum increased cash gifts by 122 percent and Pioneer Club membership by 87 percent. 

Cantrell was hired by Tusculum as Associate Director of Constituent Relations and Major Gifts in October, 2014, before transitioning to his role in the athletic department. As Director of Athletic Development, Cantrell was responsible for leading the fundraising efforts for the athletic department, including major gifts, annual fund gifts, and gifts to capital projects.

Cantrell also headed the Pioneer Club, which works to raise funds for the athletic department through connections with parents, alumni, staff and other supporters of the University. While overseeing the Club, Cantrell increased membership by 45 percent and gifts by 128 percent.

Cantrell was employed by the Tennessee Valley Authority in Knoxville from 2008 to 2014, first as a procurement agent and later as a contract manager. During his tenure at the TVA, Cantrell managed a diverse contract portfolio with a budget of more than $120 million. He initiated more than $900,000 in cost savings while with the TVA, and also volunteered as an event coordinator for the TVA's Combined Federal Campaign from 2012 to 2014.

While an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee, Cantrell was a student manager from 2002-03 through the 2004-05 season under head coach Buzz Peterson as well as, at the time, assistant coach Chuck Benson. He subsequently earned a bachelor of business administration degree in logistics/supply chain management from East Tennessee State University in 2008, with a minor in marketing. In May 2018, Cantrell graduated with honors with a master in business administration from Tusculum.

Cantrell also served as an intercollegiate softball umpire from 2006 to 2009, working games at the Division I, II and III level in the Southeast region.