University Presents Morgan with Founders’ Day Medallion

Carson-Newman University presented Allen Morgan with the 2024 Founders’ Medallion on Oct. 31 during its annual Founders’ Day Ceremony. The award is one of the most prestigious accolades given by the University.

Morgan entered C-N in the fall of 1964 as a freshman baseball player and was part of the team that won the 1965 NAIA National Championship, Carson-Newman’s first athletic national title. 

After graduating in 1968, he began a career in education and service to his community. His 22 years of public-school administration included serving as assistant principal of Karns High School and as principal of Powell High School. His commitment to professional excellence and student growth led Powell to be the first Knox County School named “BEST” by the Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce; it was one of just four Tennessee high schools to be named a finalist in the National Schools Recognition Program. His outstanding career in education culminated in becoming superintendent of Knox County Schools. In 1997, he was selected as Superintendent of the Year by Tennessee’s State PTA.

Upon his retirement from Knox County, he joined Clayton Homes as president of CMH Parks, its communities and subdivision group, a position he held for a decade.

Though many years removed from first becoming a Carson-Newman alumnus, love for his alma mater remained constant. He returned to Mossy Creek in 2011, serving as a member of C-N’s Board of Trustees. It was a year later that he was named the University’s Director of Athletics.

In his six years as AD, Carson-Newman teams appeared 29 times in NCAA postseason play among its teams and another 22 student-athletes qualify for championship play as individuals. Both men’s and women’s soccer programs earned spots in their respective national title games, while Carson-Newman saw its first individual national champion in track and field since 1978.

Morgan also oversaw athletic facility upgrades across campus. Locker room facilities were upgraded for the basketball programs, the soccer programs, the volleyball program, the golf teams and the baseball and softball teams.

During this time, academics received a renewed focus through the formation of the Eagle Scholars program under Morgan’s stewardship. After an initial class of 72 student-athletes with a GPA of 3.25 or higher in 2013, membership in the program grew to 206 athletes. The tally included 66 individuals who attained a GPA of at least 3.75 and were presented with Gold Scholar status.

Morgan’s love for Carson-Newman and its community is beyond reproach. There may be no better example of this than when in between his duties as AD, the Knoxvillian was often found on the back of heavy machinery, cleaning up a large overgrown section of Mossy Creek on the eastern portion of campus. Over the course of two and a half years, Morgan tirelessly logged hours operating a backhoe, forestry cutters and chain saws. The result not only beautified the area, but allowed the community to once again see the historic creek so strongly tied to the University’s past.

His retirement in 2018 did not mark the end of his service to Carson-Newman. A stint as acting vice president for Advancement was followed by once again joining C-N’s Board of Trustees, which he continues to serve.

The vice president for Athletics Emeritus is married to Phyllis Mitchell Morgan. The couple are active members of Knoxville’s Wallace Memorial Baptist Church. Their son Chris is a 1997 alumnus.