Cumberland University Director of Athletics Ron Pavan announced the hiring of Tim Mathis as head coach for the Phoenix on January 22, 2018. He becomes the sixth head coach since Cumberland restarted the football program in 1990. Mathis is entering his second season as the Phoenix Head Coach.

In Mathis’ first season at Cumberland, he led the Phoenix to a 5-6 (MSC 3-3) record.The Phoenix upset the number 4 ranked ranked Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders 24-21at home on Senior Day. The offense averaged 20.0 points per game while averaging 324.9 total yards per game.

Mathis served as an assistant coach for 10 seasons at Shorter University when the Hawks started their program in the NAIA in 2005. He was the team’s offensive coordinator his last five years at Shorter, including during the transition to NCAA Division II.

Mathis was a member of the Shorter staff for the inaugural season in 2005 and served five years as the team’s offensive line coach. The Hawks led the NAIA in rushing, won the Mid-South Conference championship and earned the program’s first-ever postseason playoff berth in 2008. Two players earned All-America honors and a dozen offensive linemen were named All-Mid-South during those five seasons.

He moved into the role of offensive coordinator from 2010-14, working with running backs for two seasons and quarterbacks and fullbacks the final three. Shorter ranked second nationally in rushing at 310.9 yards per game and posted 30.5 points per contest in 2010 and ranked third in the country in rushing (271.9), averaging 30.0 points per outing in 2011, the program’s last in the NAIA.

In 2012, the first transition year to Division II, the Hawks ranked ninth nationally in rushing at 268.5 yards per game and ranked third the Gulf South Conference in rushing (227.9) and second in time of possession. Shorter ranked third in total offense in 2013, with fullback Bradley Moon leading the GSC and ranking sixth in rushing yards and quarterback Eric Dodson ranking fifth in the conference in total offense.

Shorter ranked third in the Gulf South and 22nd nationally in rushing in 2014 with 225.3 yards per contest.

Mathis was the head coach the last two seasons at St. Francis High School in Alpharetta, Ga., posting a 2-8 record in 2016 with freshmen and sophomores making up 74 percent of the roster. He registered a 4-6 mark in 2017 with the Knights.

He also served one season as head coach at Franklin County High School in Eastpoint, Fla., helping the Seahawks break a 23-game losing streak and finishing the season 3-7 overall.

Prior to his time at Shorter, Mathis worked four years at Trion City Schools in Trion, Ga., coaching the offensive line all four seasons as well as serving as defensive coordinator for two years. He was also the wrestling coach for two years and the golf coach for two seasons.

Mathis earned his bachelor’s in History with a minor in Political Science from Georgia Southern in 1996 and received his master’s in Leadership from Shorter in 2010. He is married to the former Mesha Layman and the couple has two children – Abby and Hunter.

Former Christian Brothers University player and coach Shane Keely joins the Cumberland staff as a full-time assistant coach for the 2017 season.

Over the past two season at Cumberland, the Men’s Soccer program has achieved Mid-South Conference Regular Season Champions and Tournament champions. Keely primarily coachs the goalkeepers and assisted Bennett Strutz on achieving First Team All Mid-South Conference in both 2017 and 2018 as well as MSC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.

In the summer, Keely is an assistant coach for the USL League 2 Reading United in Reading, Pa. In 2018, the Reading United club went undefeated in the regular season on their way to USL League 2 Mid-Atlantic Conference Champions, Eastern Conference Champions, and National Champions Runner-Up. This past summer the team won the USL League 2 Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship for the second year in a row.

Keely served the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Christian Brothers, organizing travel, recruiting international as well as local players for the program while managing and delegating scholarships. He designed and implemented practice plans and organized and maintained team videos and analysis technology.

As a player the Dublin, Ireland, native posted three goals and one assist as a senior at CBU in 18 matches in 2014, including a pair of game-winning goals. The Bucs finished that season 14-3-1 overall, reaching the NCAA South Regional.

He spent two seasons at the University of Memphis, seeing action in 12 matches with 10 starts and registering one assist in 2012. He recorded four goals and four assists in 18 outings with nine starts in 2013, including three game-winning goals.

Keely holds a USSF D License, U18 Division 1 coach with NUSA and a U16 Division 2 girls with NUSA licences.

Keely earned his bachelor’s in Professional Studies with disciplines in Sports Management and Health Promotion from Memphis in 2014. He received a certificate in Project Management from Christian Brothers in 2014 and a master’s in Business Administration from CBU in May 2017.

Christian Kiesel began his first year as an Assistant Athletic Trainer in the Athletic Training program in August 2020. Kiesel oversees athlete care, injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation for men’s basketball, men’s soccer, and men’s and women’s bowling.

Kiesel spent the past two years as a graduate assistant at SUNY Cortland providing primary team coverage to both the men’s ice hockey and women’s field hockey programs. He also spent time providing split coverage for the Cortland baseball program. 

Prior to his graduate assistant position, Kiesel gained experience through several clinical rotations at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. He helped provide care for several of the university’s athletic teams as well as local high schools. While at Heidelberg, Kiesel also worked as a Finish Line First Responder at the Akron Half-Marathon and the Chicago Marathon.

Kiesel played soccer at Heidelberg from 2014-2017 as a forward. He saw his most action his senior season starting three games and seeing action in 16 of the team’s 17 games. Kiesel was a member of the 2014 team that won the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament championship. He earned Academic All Ohio honors in 2016, Academic All-OAC in 2016-17, Landess Award winner in 2015, 2017-18, and on the Dean’s List each of the four years.

Kiesel earned his Bachelor of Science, Athletic Training with minors in History and Wellness from Heidelberg University in May 2018. From there he went to SUNY Cortland as a Graduate Assistant for Athletic Training where he received his Master of Science, Exercise Science degree

Ryan Hunt begins his first season as the head baseball coach at Cumberland after spending the last six seasons as the head coach at Vol State Community College.

Hunt compiled a 110-100 record entering the 2021 campaign which he is currently 124-110. Prior to Vol State, Hunt was a longtime assistant coach under Woody Hunt from 2002-2015.

Cumberland has won four Tran South Conference and one Mid-South Conference regular-season championships and six Tran South Conference and one Mid-South Conference Tournament title during his tenure as an assistant. The Bulldogs have also claimed five regional championships, four super regional titles and played in six NAIA World Series, winning national championships in 2004, 2010, and 2014. CU was also the NAIA World Series runner-up in 2006 and finished fourth in the nation in 2005.

Hunt has coached 20 NAIA All-Americans and 22 players who signed professional contracts during the previous 12 campaigns.

During his five years at Cumberland as a player, the Bulldogs claimed five conference championships, four conference tournament titles, and two regional championships, advancing to the NAIA World Series in 1997 and 1998.

Hunt graduated from Cumberland with a bachelor’s in Physical Education in 2003 and earned a master’s in Education in 2007.

The Lebanon, Tenn., native was a four-year starter at second base at Lebanon High School from 1993-96, earning All-District honors as a sophomore and senior and All-Midstate Honorable Mention as a sophomore.

He is married to the former Melissa Lauper of Gallatin, Tenn., and the couple has two daughters – eight-year-old Rylee and three-year-old Lyla Noelle.

Hollis is a graduate of the University of Pikeville and a four-year member of the Bears program from 2010-2014. During her collegiate bowling career, she was a part of the Bears 2012 NAIA National Championship team as well as 2013 and 2014 Xbowling National Collegiate Team Championship Runner-Up 2013.

Hollis earned First-Team NAIA All-American honors, National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-American, and First-Team Mid-South Conference in 2014.

After graduating, Hollis began her coaching career as a Graduate Assitant for the Women’s Bowling program at Pikeville from 2014-2016. She assisted with recruiting, practice plans, and statistical entries for tournaments. After Pikeville, she went to Union College assisting their men’s team to a Mid-South Conference Runner-Up, was an assistant coach at Life University in Marietta, Georgia, and most recently an assistant coach here at CU since August 2020.

“I am excited that Christina will be our Interim Head Men’s and Women’s Bowling Coach. She brings a wealth of experience to help build strong programs. Christina has already been a volunteer for the program so she knows the players and the Cumberland University culture|” Director of Athletics Ron Pavan said. 

Hollis graduated from the University of Pikeville with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Business in 2014 and a Masters in Business Administration in 2016.

Brad Higginson is entering his first season with Cumberland as the linebacker coach for the Phoenix Football Program. He comes from Manchester University where he spent the past twelve seasons as an assistant football coach. During his time with Manchester, he had the roles of Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs Coach, Linebacker Coach, and Defensive Line Coach. He has mentored two NCAA Division 3 All-Americans and 26 All-HCAC Players for 40 All-HCAC selections. While at Manchester, the Spartans had some of the best teams in school history with multiple 6-4 finishes. Higginson coached 5 Spartans that would break records while at Manchester.
Prior to Manchester, Higginson was a Graduate Assistant Coach at NCAA Division 2 Gannon University. During his time with the Golden Knights, he coached the Defensive Backs in 2007 and the Corners in 2008. While coaching the Golden Knights, Higginson had one PSAC-West All-Conference selection in the secondary.
Higginson’s playing career was at Kentucky Wesleyan College where he was a four-year starter for the defense as a Free Safety and a D2.com honorable mention All-American. He finished his career with the Panthers ranked 6th in Interceptions and 7th in Passes Defended. He holds the single game record of 21 tackles against Campbellsville in 2003 and is also in the top 10 for his efforts against Bacone in 2005.  Higginson also tallied 5 interceptions in 2004 which makes him 10th in single-season rankings. He completed his career with 171.5 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 10 total interceptions in a total of 39 games played. During his time with KWC, Higginson also competed for two years with the basketball program.
Higginson is a native of Poseyville, IN and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer information Systems from Kentucky Wesleyan College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Gannon University. Higginson and his wife Sydney live in Lebanon, TN.

James Hicks begins his fifth season as head coach at Cumberland in 2019-20 after serving three years in the same capacity at Darton State College in Albany, Ga.

Hicks led the Phoenix to the Mid-South Conference Tournament championship in his first year at the helm of the program, tying for the team title for the program’s first-ever MSC title. For his efforts he was voted Mid-South Conference West Division Coach of the Year. Sammy Rosario, Nate Croley, Orlando Nawade, Kyle Delaune and Dustin Harris all earned Second Team All-Mid-South honors and Croley went on to garner All-America accolades at 157.

In addition eight student-athletes were named Academic All-Mid-South Conference and Peter Donchev and Nick Paden were recognized as NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Last season two athletes recieved All-America honors – Anothony Maia and Nathan Walton. Maia reached the national tournament semifianls and Walton reached the seventh pplace event.

In 2016-17, three student-athletes earned All-America honors for the Phoenix – Rosario, Croley and Delaune – tying for the most All-Americans in a single season in program history. Croley was voted Second Team All-Mid-South while nine athletes were named Academic All-Mid-South and Matt Carroll, Evan Cole and Peter Donchev were reconized as NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Hicks produced two national champions and six junior college All-Americans during his three seasons at Darton State. The Belle Glade, Fla., native was named Region III Eastern District II Coach of the Year in each of the last two seasons for the Cavaliers and the team won the Eastern District II Championship in both campaigns as well.

Twenty-two wrestlers qualified for the NJCAA national tournament over his three years, including nine in 2015 and eight in 2014. The team finished in the Top 25 at the national tourney all three seasons, including 14th in 2015 and 17th in 2014. Darton State also placed third each of his last two years in the non-scholarship division of the NJCAA National Championships. In addition, five wrestlers garnered Academic All-America honors under Hicks’ tutelage.

Hicks served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Campbellsville University, for four years, with the Tigers placing in the Top 7 at the NAIA Championship in three of those campaigns. Campbellsville won the East Region Qualifier in his final season as an assistant in 2012 and finished in the Top 5 at the NWCA National Duals in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Tigers also won the Mid-South Conference regular season title in each of his last three years with the program.

During his time as an assistant coach, Campbellsville produced a pair of national champions, 19 NAIA All-Americans, 47 national qualifiers, 10 East Region champions, 17 Mid-South Conference champions and seven NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

Hicks was a three-time NAIA national qualifier and a Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete during his wrestling career at Campbellsville as well as a three-year starter for the Tigers. He was a member of the 2006 NAIA National Championship club at Dana College in Blair, Neb., ranking as high as sixth nationally and receiving the team’s Freshman of the Year award. He placed fourth as a senior at the FHSAA State Championships for Glades Central High School.

Hicks received his bachelor’s in Physical Education from Campbellsville in 2009.

Thomas Denney begins his first year as Associate Broadcasting Director at Cumberland.

Denney will be responsible for broadcasting all home sporting events, working closely with the radio and video teams. 

Denney has spent the last 11 years working as a videographer at Cumberland for the home football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s volleyball. He has also undertook broadcasting audio, and video with Lebanon High School football. Denney is employed full-time at System Integrations, working with various audio and video products.

He and his wife have been married for 13 years.

Scott Davidson joined the Cumberland women’s soccer coaching staff as a full-time assistant in March 2018.

Davidson spent the last year serving as head coach for Nashville Rhythm FC in the Women’s Premier Soccer League as well as serving as Age Group Director and Lead Coach for the Nashville United Soccer Academy. He was also the Assistant Executive Director/Director of Coaching for the Williamson County Soccer Association for one year.

He worked the 2015 season as an assistant men’s coach and goalkeeper coach at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga., assisting with team and individual workouts as well as recruiting. The Lions earned a berth in the NCCAA National Tournament that season, finishing the year 7-9-3 overall.

Davidson spent the 2014 campaign as assistant men’s coach at Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Ga., serving as camp director as well as leading recruiting for the Bears.

He worked two years as a graduate assistant for the women’s program at Trevecca University, helping the Trojans improve from 4-11-2 in 2010 to 8-8-2 the following season. Davidson also spent two years as an assistant for the men’s team at Bryan College, with the Lions registering marks of 12-4-2 and 11-8-0 in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

The Newarthill, Scotland, native played collegiately at Bryan College, scoring 23 goals with six assists as a senior to earn Honorable Mention All-America honors. The Lions compiled a 49-26-3 mark during his four seasons in Dayton.

Davidson played professionally with the Sioux Falls [SD] Spitfires (2007) and Spokane [WA] Spiders (2008) as well as two years with the Nashville Metros (2009-10). He also spent time with Albion Rovers FC Youth (1998-99), Hamilton Academicals FC (2000-02) and Lanark United (2003) in his native Scotland before enrolling at Bryan.

He received his bachelor’s in Communications from Bryan College in 2008 and earned a master’s in Teaching K-6 from Trevecca in 2013. He has earned USSF National “D” and “E” coaching licenses as well as Goalkeeping Levels I and II from United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA). He has also received a Director of Coaching Diploma and Advanced National Diploma from the USC.