GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- After serving the last four months in an interim role, Frankie DeBusk has been named the permanent Director of Athletics at Tusculum College announced interim president Dr. Russell Nichols.

DeBusk, who also just completed his 10th season as head coach of the Pioneer football program, has been leading the College's athletic department since August, following the resignation of Ed Hoffmeyer.

During his brief tenure, of the six Tusculum teams that competed for South Atlantic Conference championships in the fall, four finished in the top half of the league standings, including the men's soccer team that claimed a share of the SAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for a third straight time.

The Women's soccer program finished fourth in the league, but gained the top ranking in the NCAA Southeast Region, punching its ticket for the NCAA postseason for a third straight time and fourth of the last five years. The Pioneers finished with a 15-7 worksheet and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for a second consecutive season.

The Tusculum volleyball team enjoyed its best season since becoming a NCAA II member in 1998 as the Pioneers went 25-10 and finished second in the conference. TC had its first Division II All-American in Vivian Lacy, who was also named the SAC Volleyball Player of the Year.

On the gridiron, DeBusk rallied the Pioneers from a 0-3 start to win six of their last eight games to finish third in the SAC. The 6-5 record gives Tusculum its seventh winning season in the last eight years.

"Frankie DeBusk has proven himself not only as an excellent coach, but also a fine interim Athletic Director," said Nichols. "He has the respect and admiration not only of the athletics staff, but also his colleagues across the College and in the community. The excellence he has demonstrated in his interim role made it easy to take the next step and offer him the permanent position. I am very pleased that he has chosen to accept that invitation."

The Pioneers have also enjoyed numerous individual achievements under DeBusk's watch. Twenty-one (21) student-athletes have earned All-Conference honors, while five have received All-Region distinction so far.

Tusculum student-athletes have also shined in the classroom, with three Pioneers earning the SAC Scholar-Athlete Award for the sports of football, Women's soccer and volleyball. This marks the third straight year that a Tusculum football player has earned this prestigious honor and fifth in the last six seasons. Eight Tusculum athletes have also been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

"I would like to thank Dr. Nichols for his vote of confidence in myself and our athletic department for this opportunity," said DeBusk. "Tusculum College and the Greeneville community has been very supportive of our efforts over the years and I'm very proud to serve as athletic director. I also wish to thank my fellow coaches, staff and especially our student-athletes who have worked so hard both on the field and in the classroom. I'm very proud to be associated with such fine people."

The winningest football coach in school history, DeBusk has posted a 59-48 record and has the sixth most victories in South Atlantic Conference history. 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 recorded five consecutive winning seasons, a first in school history.

In 2001, the Pioneers posted an 8-2 record as that squad tied for second place in the conference and finishe