ATHLETICS Career BestADMINISTRATION Times/Distances
Mark
WILSON
v Director of Athletics
University of Maine 1991
Mark Wilson’s first eight years as Director of Athletics at Tennessee Tech have showcased his vision, energy, and enthusiasm for providing outstanding experiences for Tech’s student-athletes and fans. Highlights of his efforts include major improvements in Tennessee Tech’s athletics facilities including the Basketball Coach’s Complex and the Athletic Performance Center, high graduation and APR rates by Golden Eagle student-athletes, outstanding academic success, and excellent relationships with the campus, community and alumni. In short, Wilson has facilitated growth and excellence in all areas of TTU Athletics. In June, Wilson agreed to a fiveyear contract extension, keeping him
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at the helm of the Golden Eagle athletic program through 2017 Coming off an appointment on the NCAA Leadership Council, Wilson is beginning a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee and Division I Football Issues Committee, and has been very active in the Ohio Valley Conference governance structure. Wilson, 43, has led Athletics to several milestone accomplishments during his first eight years, including enhanced facilities and fund raising, high profile staff additions, and compliance and academic success. Under Wilson’s guidance, the program has continued to focus on the academic success of its student-athletes, with soaring numbers each semester on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. Tech’s studentathletes have achieved their highest overall combined semester GPAs Wilson also developed a strategic plan for Tech’s athletic facilities and has already seen some of those plans become reality. During the past five years Tech has completed several construction and renovation projects to athletic facilities, including a spectacular, new Athletic Per-
formance Center on the western edge of campus, a spacious, new basketball office complex in Eblen Center, a new natural grass practice field, installation of new turf in Tucker Stadium, renovating the running track, renovating the football offices, meeting rooms and locker rooms, and new lights at Tucker Stadium. Additional building plans call for a new student-athlete center and an oncampus tennis center. Another step achieved under Wilson’s direction has been increased fund raising and development efforts with the goal of providing the necessary facilities and resources for Tech’s student-athletes, coaches and staff. All of those accomplishments have come while the department has continued to stay focused on compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations. The most recent NCAA announcements show that all 14 of Tech’s athletic programs are comfortably above the benchmark for compliance in the Athletic Progress Rate (APR), including two Tech teams winning Public Recognition Awards. Prior to that, the Golden Eagle softball team ranked first in the nation for cumulative team GPA for the second time in four years. Just as important are the relationships that Wilson has developed and nurtured, including the CookevillePutnam County Chamber of Commerce, the student body, the campus
GOLDEN EAGLE 2012 CROSS COUNTRY / 2013 TRACK & FIELD