SHERMAN, Texas – Tim Millerick, Austin College vice president for Student Affairs and Athletics, will step down from his day–to-day role as the school’s chief administrator for athletics, and associate athletics director David Norman will be promoted to the role of athletics director to take on those duties.
Austin College President Marjorie Hass announced that this transition will take place between April and June, with Norman taking full responsibility for the Athletics Department on July 1.
“Tim Millerick has brought the athletics program to a real position of strength, and I know that David Norman has been at his side much of the way,” Dr. Hass said. “As Tim focuses greater attention on other duties essential to Austin College, I am confident that David is well-suited to build on Tim’s success and bring our athletics program to even greater heights. His role as coach, faculty member, and administrator—particularly his recent work with our Athletic Enhancement program—provides David with a breadth of experience and unique combination of skills for this key leadership role.”
Millerick, who will continue to serve as vice president for Student Affairs and Athletics, took on the role of athletics director in 1996. As the chief administrator for the Athletics Department, he guided Austin College through several monumental changes, including the transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division III and securing membership in the prestigious Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Under Millerick, Austin College saw extensive changes, including the construction of Jerry E. Apple Stadium, the relocation and expansion of the Russell Tennis Complex, and the creation of a new football practice field and the Thomas R. Williams Intramural Complex. Additionally, Millerick spearheaded the comprehensive renovation of Hughey Gymnasium and ancillary areas, creating the Robert T. Mason Athletic/Recreation Complex, a facility that features state-of-the-art athletic training areas and the Dickey Fitness Pavilion. The College also has seen the expansion and extensive renovation of Baker baseball stadium under Millerick.
“The last 14 years have been one of the most successful periods in Austin College sports history,” said former Austin College President Dr. Oscar Page. “Tim has provided excellent leadership, as we have added sports programs and assured competitiveness in all areas of athletics.”
During Millerick’s service as the chief administrator for athletics, the College saw tremendous growth in the athletics staff, including the establishment of full-time athletic training and sports information staffs and a full-time head coach for each sport, responsible solely for that sport. Women’s soccer and softball also were added at Austin College during this time.
A more contemporary recruitment and retention effort was put in place during Millerick’s tenure in an effort to align more directly with the overall enrollment management goals of the College, resulting in an increase in student-athletes in every sponsored sport. Millerick also was integral in establishing a budgeting system to provide a common formula for all sports, and he sought and received an NCAA Women and Minorities grant that resulted in the creation of the softball team and the hiring of a full-time softball coach. He also initiated the NCAA CHAMPS Life Skills support programs, targeting student-athletes in the areas of alcohol and drug awareness, time management, and career exploration.
The Austin College Athletics Department has seen tremendous success during Millerick’s 14 years at the helm, including three student-athletes being named the Player of the Year in their sports since joining the SCAC in the 2005-2006 academic year. The ’Roos also have had two SCAC Newcomers of the Year honorees and four Coaches of the Year. In 2006, the baseball team became the first Austin College program to win a SCAC championship and with it, the team’s first trip to the NCAA National Tournament. In addition, the women’s soccer team, men’s and women’s basketball teams, and volleyball teams have competed at the national level in the NCAA Tournament during Millerick’s leadership. In the four years since joining the SCAC, 363 student-athletes have been recognized for their success in the classroom as members of the SCAC Academic Honor Roll.
Prior to Austin College joining the SCAC, Millerick chaired the first Strategic Plan Committee of the American Southwest Conference, guiding the overall expansion to that conference’s current 16-team model. Millerick also served as the chair of the NCAA Division III Nominating Committee and served as a facilitator for the first efforts of the NCAA Student-Athlete Development Summit, which brought together nearly 30 national higher education organizations to discuss how best to serve the needs of student-athletes in all three divisions of the NCAA. He also was conference chair for the Athletics Director Council in both the ASC and SCAC.
Norman was instrumental in assisting Millerick in these achievements during his now 21-year career at Austin College in a variety of key roles. After graduating from Austin College in 1983, and earning a master’s degree from the College the following year, Norman returned in 1989 as the head baseball coach, assistant football coach, and as an assistant professor. He later served 14 seasons as head football coach at the College.
In addition to his coaching duties, Norman was named the assistant athletics director in 1996 and chair of the Exercise and Sport Science Department in 1998. Norman assumed a full-time administrative role in 2006, maintaining his role as assistant athletics director while also taking on responsibilities working in alumni relations and development, spearheading the Austin College Athletics Enhancement campaign to fund the Athletics Department. He took further responsibility for the Athletics Department in 2008 when he was promoted to associate athletics director.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.