GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- A new defense and the return of an All-American quarterback are just some of the highlights as the Tusculum College football team began its spring practice on Sunday afternoon at the TC Indoor Practice Facility.

Tusculum head coach Frankie DeBusk, who just completed his 14th season on the Pioneer sidelines this past fall, has brought in new defensive coordinator Mike Iezzi, who comes to the Greeneville campus and accumulated a wealth of college and professional coaching experience at all levels, including 16 years as defensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator.

Participating in practice drills for the first time since suffering a broken foot on Sept. 17, 2011 at North Greenville, is quarterback Bo Cordell, the 2010 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy.

"I'm very excited and pumped, more so than I have been in a long time because we are starting the spring with some new coaches and a new scheme, defensively. We are also starting the spring with the return of our quarterback (Cordell)," said head coach Frankie DeBusk. "I've got a different feeling. I'm not saying if it's good or bad. I'm very interested to see how much improvement we can make and how quickly we can learn what we are trying to get accomplished on defense."

Also new to the defensive coaching staff is Tim Tobin, who will be coaching the TC linebackers. Tobin comes to Tusculum after serving the last six seasons at Kutztown University, where he mentored the defensive line and kickers, including this past year as Kutztown captured it first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship, while advancing to the NCAA II Playoffs for a second straight year.

Assistant head coach Kevin Weston, who is entering his eighth year on the Tusculum coaching staff, returns to coach the TC defensive line, where he has excelled in the past in mentoring numerous All-SAC selections.

"We are putting in a new scheme and we are going to do some different things," DeBusk added. "Coach Iezzi is coming in with a great plan and a great idea. I'm excited about our athleticism and potential, but I hope we can learn a whole lot from the first practice to the very end."

Per NCAA regulations, the Pioneers will practice in helmets only for their first two practices, before going in full gear this Thursday. TC will conduct the first of three scrimmages this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Spring drills will culminate with the Tusculum Spring Game, tentatively slated for March 24th at 2 p.m.

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