Achord Resigns As Head Baseball Coach at Carson-Newman, Griffin to Take Over Program
August 1, 2005

Courtesy Carson-Newman College Sports Information Office

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head baseball coach Brent Achord has resigned his position for personal and family reasons, the C-N athletic department announced late Saturday afternoon. Tom Griffin has been elevated to head coach effective immediately, C-N athletic director David Barger announced.

“I want to express my deep appreciation to the administration at Carson-Newman for the opportunity to coach the baseball team over the past three years,” Achord said. “I also want to thank our players and coach Griffin for the special seasons we have had. This is a sad time in many ways for me but also a very happy time as I am confident this is the best decision I could make for my family.”

“I know this was a difficult decision for coach Achord but he felt this would be in the best interest of both he and his family,” Barger said. “We wish him the very best in the future. We are also very happy with the hiring of coach Griffin. Tom has earned the right to become the next head coach at Carson-Newman. His growing relationship with God, his personal commitment to his family and his passion for the game of baseball make him the perfect fit.”

“This is a dream come true,” Griffin said. “Carson-Newman has changed my life. To work here as the head coach is exactly how I want to lead young men, both on and off the field. I want our student-athletes to develop not just on the baseball field, but I want them to grow spiritually, to become good leaders in the community and in all aspects of their lives. I am really looking forward to this opportunity.”

“There have been many administrators on this campus who have been supportive of me and my family from the very first day I arrived. They have always made me feel like I was a part of the Carson-Newman family. I have a vision for this program which is more than just winning. I want to go outside the lines of the baseball field and take our program to a new level in facilities, academics, church relations and community involvement.”

Griffin has been an assistant with the Eagles on two different occasions, serving from 1998 to 2001 and then again from 2003 to 2005. In his first stint with the Eagles, Griffin worked with the catchers, infielders and outfielders and was an assistant coach on the 1999 team that won the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II World Series.

In 2002, coach Griffin took over the reigns of the Morristown East High School baseball program and completely turned around the Hurricanes program. He led East to a 24-16 overall record and the district championship. For his efforts, Griffin was named the Northeast Tennessee Coach of the Year in 2002. He returned to the Eagles program in 2003 where he helped coach the Eagles to another SAC championship and a 31-21 record. Griffin has served as the recruiting coordinator, hitting coach and has worked with the infielders and catchers.

Prior to his arrival at Carson-Newman, Griffin was the head coach at Tusculum College where he compiled a 184-178-1 record. Under his guidance, the Pioneers earned four straight trips to the NAIA District 24 Tournament, captured the 1995 TVAC Tournament title and made their first-ever regional tournament appearance at the 1995 NAIA Mid-South Regional. Griffin also led Tusculum to a school-record 34 wins in that same season.

Griffin was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Tennessee Wesleyan, in 1989. He earned a B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education from TWC in 1988 and completed his M.S. degree in Education from Tusculum in 2005. Griffin was a four-year starter for the TWC Bulldogs and was a three-time All-TVAC selection and a member of the All-District team in 1988. He was twice named the team Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player. Griffin, 40, and his wife Christy are the parents of three girls, twins Carlin and Cori (4) and Delaney (7 months).

Griffin becomes the sixth head coach in the modern era of Eagles baseball (1924-present). The Eagles’ program is rich in history as they have won five regular season SAC titles (1991, 1993, 1999, 2002 and 2003), three SAC Tournament titles (1992, 1993, 1997), have advanced to the NCAA Tournament twice (1999, 2002) and have played in three World Series (1965, 1993, 1999), winning the 1965 NAIA National Championship.

“I am going to miss Brent but I know this is what he feels is best for he and his family. He is one of my best friends and we had a great relationship and I wish him the best in all he does in the future,” Griffin said.

Achord has served as head coach of the Eagles for the past three seasons, leading C-N to a 94-71-1 record. In his first season at the Eagles’ head coach, he led C-N to a 31-21 overall record and the team’s second consecutive SAC championship. He was named SAC Coach of the Year in 2003. The team played their best down the stretch as they went 16-4 in their final 20 games of the season. In 2004, the Eagles were 31-26-1 as they played one of the most challenging schedules in the nation, taking on five-nationally-ranked teams. One of the biggest wins in the history of the program came when the Eagles traveled to Knoxville on April 14, 2004 and defeated #6 Tennessee 8-7 in 12 innings. C-N was 34-24 in 2005 and advanced to the finals of the SAC Tournament.

Prior to becoming head coach, Achord was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at C-N for two seasons. His pitching staffs led the conference in team earned run average for three consecutive seasons. Achord coached numerous All-SAC and All-region selections and coached Brian Chapman, an All-American selection in 2005.

Achord joined the Eagles staff after serving as the head baseball coach and assistant football coach at Centreville Academy in Mississippi where he was 47-18 in two seasons. His 1999 team advanced to the state finals and broke school records for wins. Achord was a student assistant at the University of Mississippi, his alma mater, from 1997-98. The Baton Rouge, La. native was a pitcher for the Ole Miss Rebels and was an All-American selection at Mississippi Delta Community College where he finished second in the nation in strikeouts with 116 and set a school record for wins with 11.