Alan, a native of East Tennessee, has resided in the Smyrna area for over 40 years. A graduate of Carson Newman University with a B.A. in Political Science/Education and a M.A. from Central Michigan University, Alan began his teaching and coaching career at Campbell High School in 1978.  He retired from teaching in 2010, after 32 years at Campbell. During his time there, he coached football for 28 years and served as the School Athletic Director for 21 years. He also served as the Head Track Coach for 14 years and Head Golf Coach for 12 years. He has won numerous Coach of the Year and Athletic Director of the Year honors during his career. He was recognized as the Campbell High Teacher of the Year three times (1984, 1992, 2002), the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award  recipient in 2004 and Star Teacher in 2009. In 2009, the football stadium Press Box was named in his honor.

In 2006, Alan joined the staff at Smyrna First United Methodist Church, on a part time basis, as Director of Missions. Upon retiring from teaching, he joined the Smyrna First UMC staff full time. Over the next 15 years he helped Smyrna First UMC develop and expand missions and outreach  not only in the in the Smyrna community, but throughout the Southeastern United States and internationally. In 2018 he played a major role in the founding of Tillman House Resource Center in Smyrna, the Mission and Outreach arm of Smyrna FUMC.