Deas named regional sports director
He will oversee Florida region and Tennessee
Tommy Deas has been named regional sports director for the Tennessee and Florida region of the USA TODAY Sports Network.
Deas will oversee sports coverage for The Tennessean, Knoxville News Sentinel, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal, Clarksville Leaf Chronicle and Jackson Sun, as well as Gannett properties in Florida.
Deas joined The Tennessean staff as sports enterprise reporter last November.
He began his career with the Nashville Banner in the 1980s and spent 25 years with The Tuscaloosa News in Alabama, including a decade as executive sports editor.
He oversaw coverage of University of Alabama athletics as well as high school and community sports.
“Sports is a big deal in Tennessee. And Tommy knows sports and how to tell a great story,” said Michael Anastasi, editor and vice president of The Tennessean and regional editor for the USA TODAY Network in Tennessee and Florida.
“So his addition to our team will help us carry on a tradition of groundbreaking sports journalism at The Tennessean and across the region.”
Deas was part of The Tuscaloosa News’ 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning team that covered a tornado that ravaged the city and is past president of the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
He replaces Dave Ammenheuser, who was promoted to Director of Sports for the USA TODAY Network.