Frank T. DeBusk (born c. 1969) is an American former college football coach and player. He was the head football coach at Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tennessee, from 1998 to 2015.

Frankie DeBusk
Current position
TitleAthletic director
TeamDobyns-Bennett HS (TN)
Biographical details
Bornc. 1969 (age 54–55)
Greenville, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma materFurman University (1991)
Playing career
1987–1990Furman
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1991Furman (GA)
1992Furman (WR)
1993–1995Chattanooga (QB/WR)
1996–1997Chattanooga (OC/QB)
1998–2015Tusculum
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2007Tusculum (interim AD)
2007–2015Tusculum
2019–presentDobyns-Bennett HS (TN)
Head coaching record
Overall96–100
Tournaments1–1 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 SAC (2003, 2008)
Awards
  • First Team All-SoCon (1989–1990)
  • SoCon Offensive Player of the Year (1990)
  • Furman Hall of Fame (1997)
  • Tusculum Hall of Fame (2023)

Playing career

edit

DeBusk was the starting quarterback for Furman, where he was a member of the 1988 Furman Paladins football team, which defeated Georgia Southern in the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game.[1] He was a two-time First Team All-Southern Conference (SoCon) selection in 1989 and 1990. During his senior year, he was also named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year.[2]

Coaching career

edit

1991, DeBusk began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for his alma mater, Furman.[3] In 1992, he returned as a restricted earnings wide receivers coach.[3] In 1993, he was hired as the quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach for Chattanooga.[3] While in that position he coached future National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer Terrell Owens.[3] In 1996, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and retained his role as quarterbacks coach.[4] After two seasons he was hired as the head football coach for Tusculum. In eighteen seasons as head coach he led the team to a 96–100 record.[3] He also won two South Atlantic Conference (SAC) titles, including the team's first-ever in 2003. He finished with 96 wins which was good enough for first all-time in Tusculum history. He was fired following the 2015 season.[5][3]

Athletic director career and honors

edit

In 2007, DeBusk was named interim athletic director for Tusculum.[6] He was promoted as the full-time athletic director later that same year.[7] He maintained that position until he resigned in September 2015.[7] In 2019, he was hired as the athletic director for Dobyns-Bennett High School.[8]

In 1997, DeBusk was inducted into the Furman Hall of Fame.[2] In 2023, he was inducted into the Tusculum Hall of Fame.[9]

Head coaching record

edit
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs AFCA#
Tusculum Pioneers (South Atlantic Conference) (1998–2015)
1998 Tusculum 5–6 0–0[n 1] N/A[n 1]
1999 Tusculum 2–9 0–8 9th
2000 Tusculum 7–4 4–3 4th
2001 Tusculum 8–2 5–3 2nd 18
2002 Tusculum 7–4 3–4 5th
2003 Tusculum 9–2 6–1 T–1st 17
2004 Tusculum 6–4 4–3 T–2nd
2005 Tusculum 3–7 1–6 8th
2006 Tusculum 6–5 3–4 T–5th
2007 Tusculum 6–5 4–2 T–3rd
2008 Tusculum 9–4 5–2 T–1st L NCAA Division II Second Round 16
2009 Tusculum 3–7 2–5 T–6th
2010 Tusculum 6–5 2–5 7th
2011 Tusculum 3–8 2–5 T–6th
2012 Tusculum 2–9 1–6 T–7th
2013 Tusculum 4–7 2–5 T–6th
2014 Tusculum 6–5 4–3 3rd
2015 Tusculum 4–7 2–5 7th
Tusculum: 96–100 50–70
Total: 96–100
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Notes

edit
  1. ^ a b Provisional conference member as Tusculum transitioned from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II

References

edit
  1. ^ "Frankie DeBusk no longer at Tusculum". WCYB. December 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Frank T. DeBusk (1997)". Furman University. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Tusculum College Announces Frankie DeBusk No Longer Head Football Coach". Greeneville Publishing Company. December 1, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  4. ^ "Frankie DeBusk - QBs/Offensive Coordinator". University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Greene, Adam (December 1, 2015). "Frankie DeBusk out as Tusculum coach after 18 seasons". knox news. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  6. ^ "Frankie DeBusk Named Tusculum Interim AD". tricitiessports.com. July 31, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Tusculum's DeBusk stepping down from athletic director position, to remain head football coach :: Tusculum University". Tusculum University News. September 1, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "DeBusk named athletics director at Dobyns-Bennett". Kingsport Times-News. July 9, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "2023 Tusculum Sports Hall of Fame class announced". Tusculum Pioneers. August 1, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
edit