Denares Waites begins his fourth season as an assistant defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator.

Under Waites tutelage in 2012, safety Issac Kinley earned all-South Atlantic Conference honors.  Kinley was C-N's third leading tackler.  As special teams coach, Waites oversaw a kickoff unit that pinned opponents to their own 25-yard lines.  The Eagles' punt coverage teams only allowed four yards a return.

Waites was a former standout safety for Carson-Newman for three seasons. Waites was a preseason All-SAC selection twice and helped the Eagles record a 10-1 record in 2007. Waites had a five-year career with the Eagles but saw both his final seasons end early with injuries. In 2007 Waites finished fourth on the team in tackles, led the team in pass break ups with 10, pass defenses with 11 and had one interception.

Waites and his wife, Maddie, have one son; James Apollo. They reside in Jefferson City.