VIDEO: Joe Fishback Induction Speech

PHOTO Gallery: Hall of Fame Photo Gallery

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Legendary Carson-Newman defensive back Joe Fishback officially became the eighth member of the Carson-Newman football program inducted into the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame Monday night. 

Fishback was recognized at the AC Marriot Greenville Downtown during The 2023 South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame Banquet along with Anderson cross country runner Whitney Bishoff, Wingate volleyball alumna Stormi Gale, Lenoir-Rhyne cross country runner Kate Griewisch Ryan and former Tusculum baseball coach Doug Jones. 

The SAC will also honored the recipient of the Conference's Distinguished Alumni Award, former Mars Hill men's basketball player Mike Kelly.

Fishback is the 17th Carson-Newman Eagle, and the eighth person affiliated with the football program to be set for induction into the prestigious body.

Fishback, a 1990 graduate of Carson-Newman, is considered one of the best defenders in Carson-Newman football history.

The 1989 SAC Defensive Player of the Year helped lead the Eagles to three SAC championships in 1986, 1988, and 1989. He was a two-time All-SAC section and was the runner-up for the National Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1989. He is among the all-time leaders at Carson-Newman in several statistical categories including being career leader in solo tackles with 247, he is fourth all-time in tackles with 381, he is third in yards per punt return with 18.22, and he had two top-20 tackle seasons with 119 in 1989 and 110 in 1988. He had 11 interceptions in his career, returning three for touchdowns and had 41 career pass breakups.

Following his career at Carson-Newman, Fishback spent eight seasons in the NFL playing for the New York Giants (1990), Atlanta Falcons (1991; 1992-1993), New York Jets (1992), Dallas Cowboys (1993-1994), and Denver Broncos (1995). He was a member of the Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXVIII Champion team and after his playing career ended, he spent time coaching, serving as the secondary coach for the Tennessee Thundercats.

Fishback was inducted into the Carson-Newman Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013 and was inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Currently, he serves as the Operational Excellence Manager for the Dart Container Corporation.

Carson-Newman in the SAC Hall of Fame

Class of 1999-200

Albert R. Sloan – College Administrator

Cordell Maddox – President

Class of 2002-03

Todd Collins – Football

Class of 2003-04

Heather Randolph – Softball

Class of 2005-06

Boyce Green – Football

Class of 2006-07

Ken Sparks – Football coach

Carol Zachary Mitchell – Softball

Class of 2007-08

Danny Sanders – Football

Class of 2008-09

Leah Jackson Smith – Women's Basketball

Class of 2011-12

Sammi Hatcher Chafin – Softball

Class of 2012-13

David Barger – Athletic Director

Class of 2013-14

Vickee Kazee-Hollfield – Softball coach

Class of 2014-15

Mike Clowney – Football

Class of 2015-16

Marci Whiteside – Softball

Class of 2016-17

Leonard Weaver – Football

Class of 2021-22

Kenneth Tyson – Football

Class of 2022-23

Joe Fishback – Football