MARS HILL - After 49 years of coaching and 32 seasons leading Mars Hill University's football program, Tim Clifton will retire following the 2025 season, marking the end of one of the most successful tenures in Division II football history.
The university announced Kevin Barnette, who has served as defensive coordinator for the past 31 years, will take over as head coach, ensuring continuity for a program that has become a South Atlantic Conference powerhouse under Clifton's leadership.
Clifton's decision to step away stems from a desire to spend more time with family, particularly his four grandchildren, including a granddaughter born this summer. His retirement closes a remarkable chapter that saw him become the winningest coach in Mars Hill history with 173 victories while ranking second in the SAC in both overall and conference wins.
The veteran coach's resume speaks to sustained excellence. He's coached 20 All-Americans, mentored over 100 All-Conference players, and developed six athletes who reached the NFL. Most notably, he coached Jonas Randolph, who won the 2011 Harlon Hill Trophy, the SAC's only winner of Division II football's highest individual honor.
Recent success reinforces Clifton's enduring impact. Over the past four seasons, Mars Hill captured two Mountain Division Championships while posting a 28-12 overall record and 24-9 conference mark.
Director of Athletics Rick Baker, who worked alongside Clifton for 31 years, praised the retiring coach's commitment to developing character alongside competitive success.
Barnette brings deep institutional knowledge to his new role. A Mars Hill native and alumnus, he played defensive back from 1981-84, earning second-team All-American honors and setting school records for interceptions in a game and season. Inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, Barnette returned to campus in 1988 after coaching stops at Asheville Junior High, Wingate University, and Forest Hills High School.
His 37 years on staff, including more than three decades as defensive coordinator, position him uniquely to maintain the program's culture while advancing his own vision. Barnette holds a master's degree in sports science and serves on the physical education faculty. He and his wife Recy have three children.
Baker emphasized that Barnette shares Clifton's values-driven approach, prioritizing leadership development that extends beyond the playing field.
The Lions open their 2025 season September 6 at home against Winston-Salem State University, beginning a transition year that honors the past while embracing the future.
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