Nov. 9, 2016 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 81 No. 11
PHOTO BY IZZIEL LATOUR
Kyle Williams, soon to be interim athletic director, and Suzanne Shipley, university president, watch the Heartland Conference semi-final game on Nov. 4.
PHOTO BY BRADLEY WILSON | THE WICHITAN
Charlie Carr, athletics director, speaks to the Board of Regents at the meeting on Aug. 4.
Athletic director to enter phased retirement
JEROMY STACY REPORTER
U
niversity President Suzanne Shipley announced the phased retirement of Athletic Director Charlie Carr earlier today. Carr spoke about phasing into retirement in a telephone interview this afternoon. “It was time. I was ready to do it,” Carr said. Carr looks forward to spending time working with the student athletes in a way he didn’t have time for, before now, like with the Mustangs 360 program. Mustangs 360 program is a program that teaches athletes life skills before graduation. “I’ll be here through the rest of the academic year, doing some things I’ve been wanting to do for the program that I haven’t had time to do. Some life skills things for our student athletes. We’re just so close to having something special in that area, and I want to pursue that,” said Carr. He also wants to use this transition to pass on his work to Kyle Williams, assistant athletic director.
“I want to give a chance for one of our serving staff members to step into the role, Kyle Williams. It’s the perfect time. It couldn’t be better.” Carr believes Williams has what it takes to step in and carry on what he has brought to athletics over the past 10 years. Carr said, “He’s the kind of person that has similar values that will keep things going, hopefully, that I would keep myself.” According to Carr, Williams will be applying for the athletic director position when the time comes. “He went to school here. He’s a former basketball player. He loves this place. It’s a great opportunity for him,” said Carr. Carr said that in his case making changes and moving on is bittersweet, but knowing that Williams will take his place makes the situation very special to him. Carr put less focus on his own legacy than the athletic department’s, and focused on what they have done together as a team. “I’m not sure I’ve done anything that is worth a legacy, but I think we’ve all together,
not just me, instilled a fabric of student athlete first. Do what’s best for the kids. We have certainly perpetuated, not myself, but the coaches and players, a winning tradition that has kept Midwestern in the right place. It’s really nothing to do with me. Sometimes, if you can keep the car between the ditches, you get where you want to go,” Carr said
WHAT OTHERS SAID ABOUT CARR
Charlie Carr has 30 years of experience in athletics. He started out as an assistant football coach in 1971, and in 1978 he started his administrative career at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He moved to Wichita Falls in Oct. 2007 after a 12 year run as senior associate athletic director at Florida State. Here are some things people had to say about Charlie Carr.
JERRYL YARBROUGH, SENIOR ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE MAJOR, WIDE RECEIVER
“He prides himself in doing the best of his abilities for the athletes. He gives great advice and visits often.”
KYLE WILLIAMS, ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
“Charlie’s legacy is certainly going to be his leadership. We have good coaches here, and he is certainly a part of every coach we have. Being able to put everyone in the right positions and right spots is very key, and Charlie’s been able to do that.” “Our life skills program, I know he is very proud of.” “His caring for the student athlete is evident. You can see that in the hallways, you can see that in the office, you can see that at ball games. He loves the student athletes.” “To make a difference in a student athlete’s life, or a student’s life, is important and it’s what we do.” “He set it all up and he is going to be maintaining the topics that we get out there to our student athletes, and making sure they’re all accountable to these topics. He’ll possibly be working through some classroom responsibilities as well.” “I would love an opportunity to apply for
see RETIREMENT pg. 6A