Carson-Newman football coach Mike Turner retires

Aaron Torres | Knoxville

Show Caption Hide Caption Carson-Newman football: Coach Mike Turner's retirement press conference Carson-Newman football coach Mike Turner resigned Monday afternoon after three seasons as head coach.

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman football coach Mike Turner retired Monday afternoon after three seasons as the Eagles' coach. Turner led the Eagles to a 9-3 record in 2019 and to the second round of the Division II playoffs, where they lost to Lenoir-Rhyne 49-21.

Turner, 68, finished with a 24-10 record in his three seasons as the Eagles coach. He led Carson-Newman to its first playoff appearance since 2015 this season. He said he didn't start thinking about retiring until after the season ended.

"I've done this for 46 years of my life, and now maybe it's time to go on and move on to another part of it – another story," Turner said at a press conference Monday afternoon. "From July to the end of November the only thing that's been in my mind is trying to get the football team ready to play."

An hour before his press conference, Turner met with players to inform them of his decision to retire.

Turner played center at Carson-Newman and graduated in 1973. After assistant coaching stops at Randleman High School in North Carolina, Lees-McRae College and Catawba College, he became the offensive line coach at Carson-Newman from 1980-84, during which time the Eagles won two NAIA national championships.

Turner then was the offensive coordinator at North Alabama (1985-86) and Carson-Newman (1987-92) before being the head coach at Science Hill for two seasons. He then returned to Carson-Newman in 1994 and became the offensive coordinator again in 1995, a position he held until he was named the program's 18th head coach in 2016.

"Mike is an elite coach, and his program has excelled both on and off the field," said Matt Pope, Carson-Newman's vice president for athletics.

Pope declined to mention whether there are any finalists for the position. As Pope spoke, Turner stood to his left, holding back tears.

"We've coached former players' children now, and that's been a great opportunity," Turner said. "There's a special bond between players and coaches. People don't understand everything it takes to get to a Saturday to play a football game."

Turner said he would be Carson-Newman's biggest fan. But he said he couldn't see himself sitting in the stands during a game.

"I don't think I could ever sit in the stands. I don't think I could handle that very well," Turner said. "I'll be way off to the side and stay out of the way but still enjoy watching a Carson-Newman football game."