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Ken Sparks enters 36th season at Carson-Newman

Sixth winningest coach in college football history
Carson-Newman coach Ken sparks enters his 36th season

JEFFERSON CITY (WBIR) -- Ken Sparks is entering his 36th season as the head coach of Carson-Newman football.

With a record of 325-89-2 Sparks is the sixth winningest coach in college football history, after passing Bear Bryant last season.

"It's always people," Sparks said. "There's been so many quality people who have come through this program."

Sparks has his good days and bad days.

He was diagnosed in 2012 with prostate cancer.

Sparks has touched countless lives in his decades-long coaching career.

"When meaningful things happen to the players I've coached," he said, "it makes my life meaningful."

The 2015 Eagles lose 12 starters from a team that missed the playoffs last season, despite a 7-3 record and a second-place finish in the South Atlantic Conference.

Carson-Newman is young, and not very deep.

"We need to protect some guys, you know that thin line in there between giving kids enough reps to get ready to play without getting them hurt," said Sparks. "We've got to develop a whole lot of depth on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively. we're very thin in some places and we've got to develop some depth in a hurry."

Carson-Newman is four spots out of the AFCA Top 25 in Division II, the first time since 2012 the Eagles have not landed in the preseason poll.

They open the season at home on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m., against the University of the Cumberlands.

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