East Tennessee real estate firm builds on its longstanding support of Tennessee athletics by partnering with Vols running back and Knoxville native DeSean Bishop

KNOXVILLE, TN — For Hometown Realty LLC, supporting Tennessee athletics has become about more than having a company name associated with game day. The Knoxville-based real estate firm has made an ongoing commitment to investing in University of Tennessee student-athletes through NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) partnerships—connecting its business, its community involvement and its support of the people who represent East Tennessee. The company's current partnership with Tennessee Volunteers running back and Knoxville native DeSean Bishop continues that commitment and reflects a broader philosophy at Hometown Realty: invest locally, build lasting relationships and support the communities where the company does business. Hometown Realty has participated in college-athlete NIL partnerships since the early years of the NIL era, working specifically with University of Tennessee athletes. Rather than treating NIL as a single-season advertising campaign, the company has continued to incorporate student-athlete partnerships into its long-term involvement with Tennessee athletics and the East Tennessee community. For Ryan Coleman, Founder, Principal Broker and CEO of Hometown Realty LLC, the connection is a natural extension of a company built around East Tennessee. “East Tennessee is where we live, where we work and where we've built our company, so we believe in investing back into the people and institutions that make this area special,” Ryan said. “Supporting Tennessee student-athletes through NIL gives us an opportunity to do that in a meaningful way. These young men and women work incredibly hard to represent the University of Tennessee and our community, and we're proud to be part of their journey.”

A Hometown Partnership with DeSean Bishop

Few athletes represent the local connection behind Hometown Realty's NIL strategy as directly as DeSean Bishop. A Knoxville native, Bishop starred at Karns High School before continuing his football career at the University of Tennessee. During his high school career, Bishop rushed for 8,347 yards and 102 touchdowns and earned consecutive Tennessee Titans Class 5A Mr. Football honors. His path at Tennessee was built on persistence. Bishop joined the Volunteers as a walk-on, worked his way through the program and earned a scholarship in the spring of 2025. He then emerged as a major contributor for Tennessee, rushing for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns during the 2025 season while earning Second-Team All-SEC recognition. He entered the 2026 season as Tennessee's first returning 1,000-yard rusher in a decade and with national preseason recognition. That journey—from a Knoxville high school to earning an opportunity at Tennessee and developing into an SEC standout—is one of the reasons Hometown Realty saw Bishop as a strong fit for the company. The partnership reflects values that translate well beyond football: preparation, persistence, teamwork, leadership and a willingness to work for an opportunity. “DeSean's story represents so much of what we appreciate about East Tennessee,” Ryan Coleman said. “He's from Knoxville, he earned his opportunity, and he continues to represent Tennessee at a high level. Hard work, preparation, teamwork and taking pride in where you come from are values that matter in athletics, in business and in the way we serve our clients.” The partnership will be visible throughout the 2026 Tennessee football season through television, digital and social media content, appearances, fan engagement, ticket giveaways and autographed DeSean Bishop memorabilia. But those promotional elements are only one part of the story.

A Continuing Investment in Tennessee Student-Athletes

NIL has changed the landscape of college athletics by allowing student-athletes to benefit commercially from their name, image and likeness. For locally owned businesses, it has also created a new way to support athletes while building stronger connections between universities, communities and the businesses that serve them. Hometown Realty was an early participant in that changing landscape and has continued working with University of Tennessee athletes as NIL has developed. That continuity matters to Ryan. The company's goal is not simply to attach its brand to a successful athlete or a winning season. Hometown Realty views NIL as another way to invest in the community and support student-athletes who help represent the University of Tennessee on a regional and national stage. The relationship is particularly relevant because Tennessee athletics and East Tennessee are so closely connected. Game days bring generations of families together. Former students remain connected to the university. Local businesses benefit from the economic activity surrounding Tennessee athletics, while Tennessee athletes become recognizable representatives of the region. For a company whose business is centered on helping people put down roots in East Tennessee, that connection is significant.

Local Real Estate Experience Across East Tennessee

While Hometown Realty's involvement with Tennessee athletics provides a visible connection to the community, the company's foundation remains real estate. Led by Ryan Coleman as Founder, Principal Broker and CEO, Hometown Realty serves buyers, sellers, homeowners and real estate investors throughout Knoxville and communities across East Tennessee. The company works across a range of residential and investment real estate needs—from helping first-time buyers and families find a home to marketing properties for sellers, assisting homeowners considering their next move and working with investors evaluating opportunities throughout the region. According to company records, Hometown Realty has proudly served several thousand families throughout their real estate journeys. That volume of experience has given the company perspective across different neighborhoods, property types and market cycles. Real estate decisions are often among the largest financial decisions a person or family will make. Market conditions change. Inventory changes. Interest rates, property values and buyer expectations change. Local knowledge becomes especially important when those conditions are shifting. Hometown Realty's approach is built around combining that market experience with local knowledge and direct client service. For homeowners, that can mean understanding how today's market affects the value and marketability of their property. For buyers, it can mean identifying opportunities and negotiating effectively. For investors, it can mean evaluating properties with a clearer understanding of local demand, pricing and long-term potential.

Investing in the Community Hometown Realty Serves

The common thread connecting Hometown Realty's real estate business and its NIL partnerships is East Tennessee. The company earns its business here. Its clients live and invest here. Its agents work in communities throughout the region. And many of the athletes Hometown Realty supports represent those same communities when they compete for Tennessee. That is why Ryan Coleman sees community investment as part of the company's long-term responsibility. A local company's reputation is not built only through advertising. It is built through relationships, consistency, involvement and the way a business contributes to the community over time. Hometown Realty's continuing support of Tennessee student-athletes is one part of that effort. The company also uses its Tennessee athletics partnerships to engage directly with fans, including ticket giveaways to Tennessee home football games, special experiences and autographed memorabilia. During the 2026 season, select giveaways will include Tennessee football tickets, parking and items personally signed by Bishop. Those initiatives provide an opportunity to share the excitement surrounding Tennessee athletics while giving something back to the people who support both the Vols and local businesses.

Where Tennessee Athletics and Real Estate Meet

At first glance, college football and real estate may seem like two very different businesses. For Hometown Realty, however, the connection is straightforward: both are ultimately about people, preparation, relationships and home. The same region that fills Neyland Stadium on Saturdays is the region where Hometown Realty helps families purchase homes, homeowners sell properties and investors build portfolios. That creates a larger purpose behind the company's NIL involvement. Hometown Realty isn't simply advertising around Tennessee athletics. It is investing in student-athletes, strengthening local relationships and supporting an institution that is deeply connected to the identity and economy of East Tennessee. And for consumers, that local commitment provides another point of consideration when choosing a real estate company. A homeowner preparing to sell needs more than a sign in the yard. A buyer needs more than access to online listings. An investor needs more than property alerts. Each needs experienced guidance, local market knowledge, strong communication and a company capable of helping navigate a major financial decision. Hometown Realty's message is simple: the same long-term commitment it has made to East Tennessee is the commitment it brings to its clients. Local company. Proven real estate experience. Long-term investment in Tennessee. Supporting student-athletes and the communities Hometown Realty serves. For East Tennessee homeowners considering selling, families preparing to buy, or investors looking for their next opportunity, Hometown Realty invites them to start a conversation with a local real estate team that knows the region and has invested in it for years.

About Hometown Realty LLC

Hometown Realty LLC is an East Tennessee real estate firm led by Ryan Coleman, Founder, Principal Broker and CEO and April Coleman, Co-Founder, COO, Broker. Based in Knoxville, the company serves home buyers, sellers, homeowners and real estate investors throughout Knoxville and communities across East Tennessee. Hometown Realty combines local market knowledge, real estate sales experience and community involvement to help clients make informed decisions when buying, selling or investing in real estate. Hometown Realty has proudly served several thousand families throughout their real estate journeys. The company is also a longtime supporter of Tennessee athletics and has participated in NIL partnerships with University of Tennessee student-athletes as part of its continuing investment in the East Tennessee community.