By JOHN HENRY
Special to the Star-Telegram
He’s a native Kentuckian who packed up his professional dreams and moved to Texas.
And his visions for the Tarleton State football program are, appropriately, as big as Texas.
“I want this program to be a Division II national power,” said Cary Fowler, who was hired as the Texans’ 25th football coach earlier this month. “I think with the mentality that Tarleton State has I’m going to have the resources. I want these kids to have a meaningful education and stay four or five years and develop a true program.
“It’s already in place, but I want to take it to the next step and be a national power.”
Fowler, the Texans’ defensive coordinator the past two seasons, had been the school’s interim coach since Sam McElroy left in January to become an assistant at Texas Tech. Fowler was selected from a number of candidates vetted through a national search.
“I am impressed with his philosophy and energy and the direction he wants to move this program,” athletic director Lonn Reisman said.
Fowler’s defenses were among the best in 2008 and 2009. Tarleton claimed a share of the Lone Star Conference championship and a berth in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs last season behind a defense that ranked third in the LSC. The Texans were second in pass defense and third-down conversions.
That philosophy is at the heart of Fowler’s vision.
“We’re going to play great on defense and on special teams,” Fowler said. “And we’re going to try to create downhill offensive possessions for our offense. We won’t put the offense in bad situations where they can’t create plays.
“It all starts with the defense.”
Fowler is a native of Hopkinsville, Ky. He played in college at McMurray State for Houston Nutt and stayed at the school as a coach after graduating. In 2001, he moved to Texas to become the defensive coordinator at Midwestern State.
His journey and experiences, he said, have made him ready to be a head coach at 38-years-old. He’s also learned how to win. In nine seasons combined at Midwestern State and Tarleton, Fowler has been on the staffs of seven LSC division titlists and three conference champions. At Murray State, the Racers won three Ohio Valley Conference championships during his tenure.
“I’ve been trained by great men,” Fowler said. “Houston Nutt taught me how to run a program. Denver Johnson [offensive line coach at Colorado], [Midwestern State coach] Bill Maskill really taught me a lot. Joe Pannunzio at Murray State [now special teams coordinator at Miami] and Sam McElroy here. I’ve been raised by great coaches.”
His appetite for winning has created big ambitions in Stephenville, where high standards are the norm. Tarleton is riding a streak of 10 consecutive winning seasons, a record of 80-33, two LSC conference titles and five division titles since 1999. Fowler wants more.
“I told Dr. [F. Dominic] Dottavio [Tarleton’s president] and Lonn Reisman that I want this job to be the last one I apply for,” Fowler said. “I want to put pressure on us to win the national championship.
“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.”
