Tusculum College Athletic Staff Directory

Administrative Staff | Athletic Training Staff | Sports Information | Coaching Staff

Tusculum College Athletics Administration

FRANKIE DeBUSK(email Frankie DeBusk)
Director of Athletics

Frankie DeBusk was in his first year as Director of Athletics at Tusculum College. He served as interim director for three months before being named the post, permanently in November, 2007. DeBusk has just completed his 10th season at the helm of the Pioneer football program.

DeBusk oversees the day-to-day operations of the Tusculum athletic department and the 14 sports that the College sponsors.

The winningest football coach in school history, DeBusk has built the Pioneers into year in and year out contender in NCAA Division II, resulting in seven winning seasons in the last eight years.

Over the past eight seasons, TC has posted a 52-33 mark including a 9-2 tally sheet in 2003, while claiming the program’s first ever South Atlantic Conference Championship. From 2000-05, the Pioneers have recorded five consecutive winning seasons, a first in school history.

The 2003 team finished listed in the top 50 nationally in 10 statistical categories and finished the year ranked 19th in NCAA Division II. That squad also featured five All-Americans, including Harlon Hill Trophy national finalist and Pittsburgh Steelers’ second round draft pick Ricardo Colclough.

In 2001, the Pioneers posted an 8-2 record as that squad tied for second place in the conference and finished ranked 21st in the nation. That team also went undefeated at home (6-0) for the first time in the modern era of football at Tusculum. The .800 winning percentage made TC the second winningest gridiron squad of the 19 four-year institutions that sponsor football in the state of Tennessee in 2001. Only the University of Tennessee (11-2/.846) had a better season.

DeBusk’s 2000 club posted the fifth-best win-improvement in the country by going from 2-9 in 1999 to 7-4 a year later.

In 1998, the energetic DeBusk took over a program that won only three games in its two previous seasons, becoming the third gridiron skipper since the program’s reinstatement in 1991.

In 10 seasons, his teams have rewritten the Tusculum record book by equaling or establishing over 100 team and individual marks. Since joining the South Atlantic Conference in 1999, 57 players have earned All-Conference recognition, including 21 All-Region honorees and 12 All-Americans. Since his arrival at Tusculum, 24 players have continued their playing career at the professional ranks, including two in the National Football League. Colclough was the 38th overall pick by the Steelers, becoming the highest drafted player in South Atlantic Conference history. Colclough became the first player in school history and the third in SAC history to earn a Super Bowl ring as the Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Colclough is now playing for the Cleveland Browns. Kevin Wolcott, a 2003 All-American receiver, who led the nation in receptions, signed as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans. Two-time All-American tackle Alan Dunn, the 2003 recipient of the Jim Langer Award, which is presented annually to the NCAA II Offensive Lineman of the Year, signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

In 2006, DeBusk mentored Glen Black, who became the first football Academic All-American® in school history. Black also became the first male recipient of the prestigious South Atlantic Conference President's Award, which recognizes the top student-athlete in the league. Black also became on the second football player to earn this honor in the 17-year history of the award.

DeBusk came to the Greeneville campus after five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Chattanooga. DeBusk, a 1991 Furman University graduate, established 11 school records at quarterback for the Paladins, while compiling an impressive 31-6 record. In 1988, DeBusk led Furman to a 13-2 mark while capturing the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship. His collegiate career also included three Southern Conference titles and three trips to the NCAA I-AA playoffs. He ended his playing career holding school records with 6,726 total yards, including 5,851 yards passing. He was also responsible for 55 touchdowns (38 passing, 17 rushing). For his efforts, he was honored as Southern Conference Player of the Year in 1990. He also earned All-SoCon accolades in his final two collegiate campaigns. In 1998, DeBusk was inducted into the Furman Athletic Hall of Fame.

Following graduation, DeBusk joined the Furman coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach in 1991 and was a restricted earnings assistant coach at his alma mater in 1992. The Paladins went 13-9 during that two-year span.

DeBusk stayed within the league as he joined the Chattanooga staff in 1993 where he worked with the Moc receivers and quarterbacks for four seasons, before assuming the role of offensive coordinator in 1997. The Mocs posted their most successful season since 1991, with a 7-4 tally sheet in 1997. He also coached current Dallas Cowboys’ standout Terrell Owens, while at the Chattanooga school.

DeBusk was a two-sport star at Greeneville High School, where he guided the Greene Devils to TSSAA playoff appearances on the gridiron as well as a guard on the basketball hardwood.

He is not the first member of the DeBusk family to garner the TC black and orange. His brother, Doug, was a Tusculum Hall of Fame point guard for the Pioneer basketball team from 1991-95.

In 2003, DeBusk was the recipient of the prestigious Art Argauer Award, which is presented to the Tusculum coach of the year as selected by his peers.

Frankie DeBusk is married to the former Jennifer Coffey of Bristol, Tenn. They are the proud parents of their six-year-old son, Ty.

DEBORAH DAVIS (email Deborah Davis)
Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator/NCAA Compliance

Deborah Davis is in her 13th year on the Tusculum College Athletic staff. Davis, a native of Milan, Tenn., has served the Pioneer athletics department in a variety of roles. Davis holds the titles of Associate Athletic Director, Senior Woman Administrator and oversees NCAA Compliance for Tusculum’s 14 intercollegiate sports.

As Associate Athletic Director, Davis is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the athletics department. Davis is entering her fourth year as Tusculum’s NCAA Compliance Officer. She is responsible for tracking student-athlete eligibility and Tusculum's continued compliance with NCAA rules and regulations.

She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Tusculum College. In 1997, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Managment, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Davis followed that in 1999 with her Master’s degree in the same field from Tusculum.

She is married to Mr. Scott Davis and they are the parents of two children, Kandice (24) and Amber (23) and have one grandson, Ty (2).

CHRIS LENKER (email Chris Lenker)
Head Athletic Trainer

Chris Lenker is in his fourth year as Head Athletic Trainer at Tusculum College after serving as Assistant Athletic Trainer for four years. Lenker directs the overall operation and medical treatment of the student-athletes of the 14 intercollegiate sports offered by the College.

His duties include overseeing all phases of the Athletic Training program, coordination of all athletic insurance matters, direction of the College’s athletic drug testing program, prevention, management and rehabilitation of athletic injuries and the development of athletic training room policies and procedures. This year, he will continue to serve the athletic training needs of the Pioneer football and baseball programs. Since coming to the Greeneville campus, he has served as athletic trainer for men and women's soccer, men and women's basketball and baseball.

Lenker, 32, joined the Tusculum staff after serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at East Carolina University for two years. While at ECU, Lenker assisted in the management and rehabilitation of athletic injuries for 500 student-athletes in the 19 sports offered at the NCAA Division I program. His primary responsibilities included men's soccer, baseball and football, which played in the 1999 inaugural Mobile, Alabama Bowl.

Prior to his stint at ECU, Lenker served as head athletic trainer at White Oak High School in Jacksonville, N.C. He was responsible for the medical coverage and rehabilitation for the student-athletes at White Oak, while also serving on the faculty.

The Iowa native is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association (N.A.T.A.) and is a licensed through the Tennessee Board of Athletic Training Examiners. He is a certified examiner with the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Cerification and is an approved clinical instructor with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. He is an American Red Cross instructor of CPR for Professional Rescuers and CPR/AED/First Aid in the Workplace. Lenker was recently named chair of the South Atlantic Confernece Athletic Trainer Committee through July of 2009.

Lenker earned his Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science at East Carolina in 1997, and later earned his Master's in Health Education at ECU in 2000.

Lenker is married to the former Laura Sharp of Ocean City, New Jersey. Their son Addison Cade was born in May of 2007.

ROBIN TIPTON (email Robin Tipton)
Faculty Athletic Representative

Robin Tipton is in her third year serving as Tusculum's Faculty Athletic Representative.

Tipton came to Tusculum College in 2003 and teaches Environmental Science, General Chemistry I & II, and Organic Chemistry I & II.

She earned her Masters of Science Degree in Chemistry at Western Carolina University and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Science from Tusculum College. As an undergraduate at Tusculum, the former Robin Newberry lettered on the Pioneer cross country team. The Cookstown, N.J. native was a member of the Tusculum Dean's List and a recipient of the Alpha Chi Excellence award. She was also a recipient of the Duffield Academic Award.

She is currently the chair of the Environmental Science Department and also serves as advisor for the Pioneer Student Athlete Council. She just completed a two-year term on the Tusculum Sports Hall of Fame Committee.

She is a member of the American Chemical Society, the National Science Teacher's Association and the Tennessee Environmental Education Association. Robin Tipton also attends Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church and is currently the recreation coordinator for the church's Wednesday evening program, LOGOS. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family.

Robin and her husband Steve are the proud parents of two sons, Seth, 2 and Trent, 1.

DOM DONNELLY (email Dom Donnelly)
Director of Sports Information

Dom Donnelly is beginning his 10th year as Director of Sports Information at Tusculum College. The Louisville, Ky. native is responsible for all media relations of Tusculum’s 14 intercollegiate sports. Donnelly has over 10 years sports information experience at both NCAA Division I and II levels.

He joined the Pioneer staff in June 1999 after serving one year as Assistant Sports Information Director at Elon University. While at the Elon, N.C. school, Donnelly served as the primary media contact for the Phoenix' seven women’s sports, while also assisting with all 14 NCAA Division I sports offered.

From 1997-99, Donnelly oversaw the sports information operation at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Prior to that, he served as SID at South Atlantic Conference member Lenoir-Rhyne College for two seasons. While at L-R, Donnelly also served as media director for the NCHSAA Western Regional Basketball Tournament.

Donnelly began his sports information career at Georgia College & State University where he served as Assistant SID and men’s golf coach. While at the Milledgeville, Ga. school, he led the Bobcats to an 88-44 record and finished third in the Peach Belt Conference, the best league finish in the program’s history to that date. He also served as media/tournament director of the NCAA Division II District Tournament in 1992.

Donnelly, a Western Kentucky University graduate, has worked several national events including the NCAA II women’s basketball regionals and the 2001 NCAA II Women’s Golf National Championship. In 2002, he served as media director of the inaugural NCAA II South Regional Women's Golf Championship, which was hosted by Tusculum.

He is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Selection Committee. Donnelly just completed a two-year term as chairman of the South Atlantic Conference Sports Information Directors Committee. He is also in his second year serving as Southeast Region Chair for the Gene Upshaw Award, which recognizes the NCAA Division II Football Lineman of the Year. He is entering his third year as chairman of the Tusculum Sports Hall of Fame Committee.

He is married to the former Melissa Curran of Nashville, Tenn., who earned her Master's degree from Tusculum in May 2006. Melissa is the Marketing and Membership Director at the Greene County YMCA.