It was fitting that it is homecoming this week at UT Tyler because Dr. Sam Ferguson, the school’s new athletic director, said he felt right at home.
Ferguson was formerly introduced as UT Tyler’s new athletic boss during a meet-and-greet on Wednesday at the Alumni House.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ferguson,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD. “His proven leadership and dedication to student-athlete success are a great fit for our fantastic program. I’m confident that under his guidance, our student-athletes will continue to excel.”
Ferguson, who was an associate vice president and deputy athletic director at Abilene Christian University, began his duties at UT Tyler on April 7.
Dr. Howard Patterson, who founded the Patriots’ athletic program, retired in August as UT Tyler AD.
“It is clear to me the people are the advantage at UT Tyler,” said Ferguson, who noted it would take a special place for him and his family to leave Abilene. “Plus, the leadership, energy, vision and Patriot pride of Dr. Philley” was a big part of prying him away from ACU.
Ferguson and his wife Kim have two sons — Angelo, 21, and Kaden, 11. His wife Kim is an assistant principal at Wylie East Elementary School in Abilene.
He said Kaden “loves to support the student athletes” and he let the athletes know Kaden will be hanging around.
Ferguson said when he and his family were thinking over the job offer, he and Kaden were watching Spongebob Squarepants’ “Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie” and Sandy’s dad, Pa Cheeks, mentions Tyler, Texas.
“Kaden said, ‘Dad did you hear that?”, he said.
That was one sign to come to East Texas.
Then a few days after the interview, Ferguson and Kaden were in Dallas, and “Kaden said, Dad could we go somewhere really nice to eat? I asked him where he would like to go and he said ‘Panda Express.’ ... I finished my lo mein and Kaden handed me a fortune cookie. I opened my fortune cookie and this is what it said in a nutshell, ‘A life-changing opportunity will be presented to you in the near future.’
“I never knew you could get clarity from both SpongeBob Squarepants and Panda Express.”
He added, “The most obvious sign that we should be in Tyler was the interactions we’ve had with the people.”
UT Tyler officials said Ferguson has nearly 25 years of leadership experience in college athletics and more than 15 years as an athletic director. Before serving at ACU, his previous roles include director of athletics at Averett University in Danville, Virginia and director of intercollegiate athletics at McMurry University in Abilene.
Ferguson holds a bachelor’s degree from Averett, where he was a two-year member of the golf and basketball teams. He also has a Master of Science degree in sports management from Nova Southeastern University and a doctorate from East Tennessee State University.
“The opportunity to join the UT Tyler team is an incredible one for my family and me,” Ferguson said. “I am grateful for President Philley, Mr. Daniel Deslatte and the entire search committee for the confidence that they have in me to lead the Patriots’ elite athletics department. Our family couldn’t be more thrilled to serve a department that competes on a national level at a university with an outstanding academic reputation and tremendous leadership.
“What was clear to us on our family’s visit is that the quality of people at UT Tyler and in the Tyler community is the advantage,” he added. “We are excited to do our part to continue to elevate UT Tyler athletics to unprecedented heights. My wife, Kim, our sons, Kaden and Angelo, and I can’t wait to immerse ourselves in the campus community and into the city of Tyler. We are blessed to be trading one amazing community in Abilene for another tremendous community of people in Tyler.”
When asked about adding football to the Patriots’ sports programs Ferguson said, “My focus now is on the student-athletes and the programs we have and making them the best they can be. We will evaluate the future as we get deeper into this. Right now, my focus is on the current coaches and student athletes and making sure they have a good experience.”