East Tennessee State President Brian Noland uses the old term, “front porch to the university,†to describe what athletics means to the school.
It has been over a decade long commitment that Noland and his staff have made to ETSU sports. In his opinion, some of the most important decisions of his tenure were to bring back football after a 12-year hiatus and to rejoin the Southern Conference.
“More than a decade ago, we made a decision as a university to change athletic conferences and start football,†Noland said Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. “All of that was part of a full comprehensive strategic plan to advance the university through athletics.â€
He pointed to some of the football milestones such as ETSU beating Western Carolina 34-31 in front of a record crowd at BMS and former coach Randy Sanders leading the Bucs to SoCon titles and FCS playoff appearances.
Noland talked about the other parts of the equation that comes along with the football program. It gives more students scholarship opportunities and not just those on the field.
“We’re now prepping for the things that are coming the fall. It gives a sense of spirit. It gives a sense of community,†Noland said. “But it’s more than just athletics. This past fall, our marching band was the first Tennessee collegiate marching band to participate in the Macy’s Parade in 50 years. We wouldn’t have that band if we didn’t have the football team. So it all comes together.â€
Obviously, football and men’s basketball get more attention than other programs as they draw the largest crowds. Noland talked about new football coach Will Healy having success bringing in Power 4 transfer quarterbacks Cade McNamara and Jacolby Criswell, as well as the men’s basketball team winning 19 games each of the last two seasons.
Other successes include the baseball team winning 41 games and sweeping SoCon regular-season and tournament championships in 2025, and the men’s golf team winning a fifth consecutive league championship.
“We won the Commissioners Cup for the outstanding men’s athletic department in the Southern Conference last year,†Noland said. “Across the board, from our golf program which has been to the NCAA postseason year after year after year, tennis, it’s been outstanding. Basketball has had a great, great run, and we’re excited for what’s to come there. But top to bottom, we’re recognized as the number one men’s athletic department in our league, and a lot of that’s because the leadership of (athletic director) Dr. Richard Sander.â€
Noland and Sander were on hand with ETSU baseball coach Joe Pennucci when it was announced that Major League Baseball and Bristol Motor Speedway would donate the turf from the Speedway Classic to the Bucs.
“I had a chance to be a part of the opening of Thomas Stadium, and now we have a chance to not only upgrade the turf, but to upgrade the stadium,†Noland said. “When we open in the spring, there’ll be new locker rooms, new offices. There’s a new facility on site. So this is a significant upgrade to the stadium, and it’s badly needed and well deserved.â€
The taste of success on the diamond has Noland wanting more. It’s why he’s thrown so much support behind the baseball program.
“Coach Pennucci, his team had an outstanding season, SoCon champs, went and played in the NCAA playoffs in Nashville,†Noland said. “This is a continued investment in his program, so he can continue to do special things on the field.â€
