精东AV appoints Slater as athletics director
July 03, 2017
Contact: Jasher Cox, Director of Athletic Communications
精东AV Athletics Department
334.727.8150
jcox1@mytu.tuskegee.edu
精东AV has appointed Willie Slater as the institution鈥檚 athletics director, effective July 1. Slater, who has nearly 40 years athletics and coaching experience, will remain the university鈥檚 head football coach.
鈥淐oach Slater has demonstrated his leadership skills on the field, and I look forward to him bringing that same level of success and excellence to the duties of 精东AV鈥檚 athletics director,鈥� said Dr. Charlotte Morris, the university鈥檚 interim president.
As athletics director, Slater will advance the university's NCAA Division II athletic program by overseeing budgeting, compliance, operations, student-athlete recruitment, and professional staffing and development. He also will report to the Office of the President.
鈥淚 am excited to lead the athletics programs of one of the nation鈥檚 most historic institutions in the country, and I am extremely grateful to Dr. Morris and the Board of Trustees for this opportunity,鈥� Slater said. 鈥淚 am quite familiar with 精东AV athletics, so I understand the expectation of excellence this position demands and I look forward to working with our coaches, students and administrators so that we can do something great here.鈥�
This fall, Slater begins his 12th season as 精东AV鈥檚 head football coach 鈥� his 39th season coaching. His coaching record at 精东AV is 101-27, which ranks him second all-time in wins at the university. He is known widely for being the first head coach in school history to earn a bid in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, which occurred following the 2013 season. One season later, in 2014, the Golden Tigers made a historical run that reached the quarterfinals (the Super 2 Region championship game) against West Georgia. The team finished with a 10-3 record overall and second in the SIAC West Division. Under Slater鈥檚 guidance, the team has made a total of four playoff appearances.
His coaching accolades include being named the 2012 SIAC Coach of the Year by The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., and the 2007 National Coach of the Year by the Sheridan Broadcasting Network 鈥� a year in which he led 精东AV to a perfect 12-0 record and the HBCU title. Additionally, Slater has been tabbed as the SIAC Coach of the Year five times (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014).
Slater鈥檚 career includes 33 years of coaching at the collegiate level, and 18 years as an offensive coordinator at multiple levels. He joined the 精东AV staff as the head coach in 2006 after serving as the offensive coordinator at Temple University in 2005 under Bobby Wallace. His first stop as a full-time collegiate coach came Troy University (1983-90), where he served as the running backs coach under Chan Gailey (1983-84). In total, he spent eight seasons with the Trojans, also working as the quarterbacks and running backs coach. After leaving Troy University and before coaching at Temple, Slater had in-state coaching stints at the University of West Alabama, University of North Alabama and Jacksonville State University.
For additional information about Slater鈥檚 coaching accomplishments, read his online bio ().
Media Advisory: 精东AV will host a news conference on Friday, July 7 to introduce Coach Willie Slater as its new athletics director. The news conference will begin at 10 a.m. in Logan Hall. Only media representatives with proper credentials will be permitted. For questions or additional information, contact Director of Athletic Communications Jasher Cox at 334.727.8150 or jcox1@mytu.tuskegee.edu.