Mark Wilson’s first five years as Director of Athletics at Tennessee Tech have been highlighted by vision, energy, and enthusiasm. Those factors have facilitated growth and excellence in all areas and have placed the focus on generating a better student-athlete experience.
   
In 2007, Wilson received a five-year contract extension to keep him at the helm of the Golden Eagle athletic programs through 2012.
   
Wilson was recently appointed to a position on the NCAA Leadership Council through April, 2011. It will give the Ohio Valley Conference, TTU and Wilson a voice in a variety of strategic decisions that can affect intercollegiate athletics.
   
Wilson, 40, has led Athletics to several milestone accomplishments during his first four 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 student-athletes 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 two years, Tech has completed several construction projects to athletic facilities, including resurfacing the outdoor tennis courts, 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, new lights at Tucker Stadium and installation of electronic targets in the rifle rage. Most recently, Athletics opened a spacious, new basketball office complex in Eblen Center.
   
Additional building plans call for a new strength and conditioning facility and a student-athlete center.
   
Another step achieved under Wilson’s direction has been increased fund raising and development efforts with the goal of providing the necessary 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.
   
Wilson was named Director of Athletics on July 1, 2004. He came to Tennessee Tech from Ohio University.
   
Since his first day at Tech, Wilson has made rapid and steady progress. He began by restructuring the department and implemented plans for a better student-athlete experience. In addition, athletics launched a dynamic new website, gained NCAA certification and was found in complete compliance, created a far-reaching “WIN” program for academic success, opened an entertaining and popular Tailgate Park, and started plans for two capital projects.
   
Before going to Ohio, Mark served as the Director of Athletic Marketing for the University of Massachusetts. He also worked as a graduate assistant in the UMass athletic department and interned with the Northwestern University ticketing and marketing departments.
   
Wilson received his bachelor’s degree in 1991 from the University of Maine in physical education and health, and earned his master’s in sports management from the University of Massachusetts in 1994. Mark and his wife, Michelle, have two daughters, Katey (14) and Meaghan (9).