Denares Waites begins his eighth season as a Carson-Newman assistant coach.  It is his seventh year with the defensive backs.  He returns to coach the position that he played after a year with Carson-Newman's wide receivers.  He is also the Eagles' special teams coordinator.  

Waites was named the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year for his efforts as C-N's defensive backs and special teams coach in 2013.  

Waites kickoff return units were some of the best the nation had to offer in 2014. Lonnie Williams earned All-America honors as a kick returner.  He was one of 10 players in the country with multiple kickoff return TDs and was second in the nation in kick return average. 

Waites coached his first All-American in 2013 when Eien Jacob picked off five passes to lead the team.  He was second in the SAC with the tally as the transfer garnered All-American honors from Don Hansen's Football Gazette.  

He has also been instrumental in the development of TraShaun Ward as a return man. Ward ended his Carson-Newman career as the school record holder for total kickoff return yards, a record he set in his junior season.  

Under Waites tutelage in 2012, safety Issac Kinley earned all-South Atlantic Conference honors.  Kinley was C-N's third leading tackler.  As special teams coach, Waites oversaw a kickoff unit that pinned opponents to their own 25-yard lines.  The Eagles' punt coverage teams only allowed four yards a return.

Waites was a former standout safety for Carson-Newman for three seasons. Waites was a preseason All-SAC selection twice and helped the Eagles record a 10-1 record in 2007. Waites had a five-year career with the Eagles but saw both his final seasons end early with injuries. In 2007 Waites finished fourth on the team in tackles, led the team in pass break ups with 10, pass defenses with 11 and had one interception.

Waites and his wife, Maddie, have two sons, James Apollo and Titus and one daughter, Rose. They reside in Jefferson City.