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STEPHENVILLE – A national search for Tarleton State University's next head football coach came to an end Monday as Tarleton athletics director Lonn Reisman announced the hiring of Cary Fowler as the program's 25th head coach in school history.
Fowler, who has served as the Texans' interim head coach since Sam McElroy left to take the defensive line coaching position at Texas Tech on Feb. 3, has spent the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tarleton. He will be the school's 12th head coach since the University became a four-year institution.
“Cary Fowler has done a tremendous job in his time at Tarleton State University, both as the defensive coordinator and the interim head coach,” Reisman said. “I have had the opportunity to evaluate him in a leadership position, and I have been very impressed with the way he has handled the football program in all phases, from recruiting and academics to conduct and organization. I feel like he can lead this team to the next level.”
Reisman said the search committee was very impressed with Fowler, as was the athletic administration.
“I think we picked the right man to lead this program, and I have every confidence in him as our new head football coach,” Reisman said. “Coach Fowler will make a positive impact on our football program. He has his priorities in order as a coach. He is a man of faith whose first commitment to the program is to build the academics. He also wants to recruit players with character that will represent Tarleton in a positive manner and be committed to graduate.
“Cary Fowler has paid his dues as an assistant coach, and I am impressed with his philosophy and energy and the direction he wants to move this program,” Reisman said. “Our program is in excellent shape, and by hiring Coach Fowler, we keep the consistency of our players and staff to make a run at another championship season.”
This will be the first head coaching position for the new skipper after Fowler has served as the interim head coach on three different occasions, including at Tarleton, Midwestern State and Murray State.
“I want to thank Dr. Dottavio and Coach Reisman for trusting a young coach with no head coaching experience to handle a Top 10 program,” Fowler said. “I have worked toward being a head coach since I was a young kid, and to get the opportunity to be the head coach at Tarleton State University is a tremendous honor.”
The Hopkinsville, Kentucky native said he is anxious to get started in the full-time role as the new head coach.
“You work hard your whole life for something, and when it comes, there is an excited nervousness,” Fowler said. “It's like the feeling you get just before kickoff. That is the feeling I have right now.”
Fowler came to Tarleton after spending the previous seven seasons at Midwestern State as the defensive coordinator. He made the move to Tarleton because he felt like he could help further his career.
“I thought this would help broaden my opportunity to prepare to be a head coach,” Fowler said. “Plus, we couldn't beat Tarleton, so I thought I might as well join them. The tradition here at Tarleton is also incredible.”
Tarleton finished the 2000-09 decade as the winningest team in the Lone Star Conference. Tarleton has claimed 10 straight winning seasons and was 80-33 in the first decade of the century. The Texans have claimed two LSC conference title and five division titles in the last 10 seasons, but Fowler believes the pressure lies more from within than from those associated with the program.
“I have been a part of the two winningest programs in the LSC over the past decade,” Fowler said. “Between them, I have been on staffs that have coached teams to seven division titles and three conference championships as well as making playoff appearances. Prior to that, I coached for a team that won three Ohio Valley Conference championships. I am accustomed to winning.
“I want to put pressure on us to win the national championship,” Fowler continued. “When it may happen, I don't know, but I don't ever want to settle for the LSC title. I think that should just be an attainable step on the way to winning a national title. No program can put more pressure on me than I put on myself to do what I can to help Tarleton State accomplish that goal.”
Last season, Fowler helped the Texans to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs and to a share of both the LSC Championship and the LSC South Division title. The Texan defense led the conference for most of the season and finished third in the LSC in total defense (323.4) and scoring defense (20.9). Tarleton was second in pass defense (21.61) and in interceptions (20). Tarleton was first in the league in opponents' fourth-down conversions (22.2 percent) and second in opponents' third-down conversions (30.2 percent).
In 2008, the Texan defensive coordinator directed a defense that was No. 1 in the league in scoring defense, allowing just 21.8 points per game. The Texans were second overall in total defense with 319.3 yards per outing while the pass defense topped the LSC after allowing just 196.9 yards through the air.
In 2007 at MSU, Fowler led the No. 1 total defense in the LSC, allowing just 294.2 yards per game. The Mustangs had the top-ranked rushing defense, allowing just 93.9 yards rushing per outing, and the third-ranked passing defense, giving up just 200.3 yards per contest through the air. MSU was also the best scoring defense in the LSC, allowing just 18.6 points per game.
Prior to joining the staff at MSU, Fowler spent nine years of association with the Murray State University football program.
Fowler, who has made a name for himself by annually constructing one of the top defenses in the LSC, was selected as the NCAA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year in 2005. The award, which was first presented in 1997, honors assistant coaches that excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement. Fowler has been in tune with each during his collegiate coaching career.
While on the Texan staff, Fowler has spent time speaking to community groups such as the Kiwanis and Optimist Clubs. He has also spent time helping the football team with community service projects such as Meals on Wheels, Foster Home events and been involved with Refuge – a weekly Bible study at Harvey Baptist Church.
In Wichita Falls, he directed the "Read Across America" program at Burgess Elementary, coordinated the Friday reading program at Crockett Elementary and developed a mentor and reading program at Houston Elementary. He also performed voluntary rehab for a multiple sclerosis patient weekly while working with a Special Olympics athlete. Fowler has also served as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and as a guest speaker at YMCA events.
His accomplishments on the field have been just as noteworthy.
As a prep, he earned all-state honors as a four-year letterwinner on the gridiron while also participating in track and baseball.
After two seasons at Austin Peay State in Clarksville, Tenn., Fowler transferred to Murray (Ky.) State to begin what would be a nine-year relationship with the Racers' football program.
In 1992 and 1993, he was a standout safety and special teams performer before moving into a graduate assistant role from 1994-96. Fowler's role would grow into his first full-time coaching job in 1997 when he was put in charge of the Murray State secondary. He became recruiting coordinator later that year before becoming the linebackers and free safety coach in 1999.
During his four seasons as a full-time coach at Murray State, Fowler coached two All Americans in cornerback Willie Hampton (1998) and safety Beau Guest (2000).
Fowler continued his coaching successes at Midwestern State as the defensive coordinator in 2001 where he coached a pair of All-Americans including linebacker Columbus Wooley and safety Germont Jackson.
Fowler earned a bachelor's degree in history from Murray State in 1994.
Fowler married the former Shanan Dunn in June of 2002. The couple are the proud parents of two daughters: Sophi and Cari-Bella.
The Texan football program will begin spring practices the week following Spring Break on Monday, March 22.
