GOLDEN EAGLE FOOTBALL Mark
WILSON
v Director of Athletics
University of Maine, 1991
Tennessee Tech’s Mark Wilson was named in June as one of four winners of the Athletic Director of the Year Award for the Football Championship Subdivision, an honor that is selected and presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). “I am humbled that Tennessee Tech’s faculty athletic representative, Dr. Jeff Roberts, nominated me, and I’m honored to be selected by my peers at NACDA for this award,” Wilson said. “I love working hard for our student-athletes and community so they have pride in everything Tennessee Tech Athletics.” TTU President Philip Oldham recognized the efforts that led to Wilson’s selection. “Mark Wilson’s accomplishments and leadership have earned him this award and the respect of his peers and col-
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leagues,” Oldham said. “Most importantly, Mark measures his own successes by how well TTU student-athletes perform in the classroom and on the field. His expectations and vision for our athletic programs continue to represent the university well.” Upon his arrival at Tennessee Tech in 2004, Wilson embarked on an ambitious enhancement program to improve every facet of intercollegiate athletics at Tennessee Tech. Tennessee Tech’s annual team GPA improved from a 2.79 in 2003-04 to 3.16 in spring semester 2013, including an all-time high semester of 3.2 in the spring of 2010. Private fundraising has enhanced facilities for TTU studentathletes, highlighted by the construction of a 25,000 square-foot Athletic Performance Center and state-of-the-art basketball offices. He initiated a new branding and standard graphic identity program for regional and national recognition of TTU athletics and under his leadership, TTU’s teams have been highly active supporting community outreach programs such as Habitat for Humanity and Mustard Seed Ranch (a local home for disadvantaged youth). Wilson’s hiring decisions have also paid off. Twenty-two Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) regular season and tournament championships have been won, along with the 2012 OVC Sportsmanship
Award. The 2011 football team under Watson Brown won its first conference championship since 1975. Sytia Messer’s (TTU’s first female African-American head coach) and Jim Davis’ women’s basketball teams have won two OVC championships in the last three seasons. The tennis team, under the direction of two-time OVC Coach of the Year Kenny Doyle, has gone unbeaten in OVC play while winning the regular season championship each of the past two years. Wilson, 44, has served as chair of the OVC Board of Director of Athletics and represented the OVC on the NCAA Leadership Council. Wilson currently serves on the FCS ADA Executive Committee and the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee and Football Issues Committee. Wilson’s first nine years as Director of Athletics at TTU have showcased his vision, energy, and enthusiasm for providing outstanding experiences for Tech’s student-athletes and fans. In addition to major improvements in Tennessee Tech’s athletics facilities, high graduation and APR rates by Golden Eagle student-athletes, and outstanding academic success, Wilson has also cultivated excellent relationships with the campus, community and alumni. In short, Wilson has facilitated growth and excellence in all areas of TTU Athletics Following an appointment on the NCAA Leadership Council, Wilson is currently serving a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee and Division I Football Issues
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