Carson-Newman coach passes Bear Bryant for career wins

Carson-Newman coach Ken Sparks earned his 324th victory Saturday, passing Paul “Bear” Bryant and moving into sixth place on the NCAA’s career victories list as the Eagles rallied from a 28-7 second-quarter decifit to a 35-34 win over North Greenville in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Sparks, in his 35th season at Carson-Newman, improved his career record to 324-87-2. Bryant went 323-85-17 for Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Alabama from 1945-82. The top five coaches in career victories are John Gagliardi (489-138-11), Eddie Robinson (408-165-15), Bobby Bowden (377-129-4), Pop Warner (336-114-32) and Larry Kehres (332-24-3).

Associated Press