Chris Gillies joined the department in a full-time capacity prior to the 2015-16 season and was elevated to Director of Sports Performance for Olympic Sports in October 2018. He serves as the strength and conditioning coordinator for cross country, track and field, golf, soccer, softball, women's tennis, volleyball and women's basketball.

Gillies joined Skyhawk athletics in the summer of 2012 and has coordinated the strength and conditioning program for the UT Martin volleyball, softball, tennis and baseball teams. He also worked closely with the Skyhawk football team in 2013 and was an assistant coach for the UT Martin baseball team in 2014.

Before that, Gillies was the head baseball coach at Morristown-Hamblen High School East in northeast Tennessee from 2008-12. He earned 2009 All-Inter Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year accolades after leading the Hurricanes to a conference championship and regional semifinalist berth.

Gillies played collegiate baseball under head coaches Brent Achord (2005) and Tom Griffin (2006-07) at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tenn. A right-handed pitcher, Gillies pitched alongside current Miami Marlins closer Steve Cishek and helped the Eagles to a 103-64 record and 42-20 slate in South Atlantic Conference play. During Gillies’ senior season, Carson-Newman tallied a 36-20 record, a SAC Tournament championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division II South regional tournament.

Overall, Gillies made 40 appearances in his three seasons at Carson-Newman, tallying three victories and two saves on the mound.

Prior to his playing days at Carson-Newman, Gillies was part of a successful run at Grand Rapids Community College. Playing for head coach Doug Wabeke, Gillies helped guide the Raiders to a 75-32 record (including a 50-8 mark in Michigan Community College Athletic Association play) and back-to-back Division II junior college national championships in 2003-04.

Gillies made 14 career appearances for Grand Rapids, logging one win to go along with a pair of saves. His best season came in 2004, when he posted a stellar 2.66 ERA in 10 appearances.

Gillies, whose wife Leslie is an assistant coach for the Skyhawk soccer team, graduated from Carson-Newman in 2007.