STEPHENVILLE ? Tarleton Athletics Director
Lonn Reisman announced the hiring of Sam McElroy as the new Tarleton Head Football Coach on Wednesday at a press conference in the lobby of the Tarleton athletics offices.
"We are extremely pleased to have Sam McElroy as our new football coach here at Tarleton," Reisman said. "He is a man of tremendous character and his work ethic is unparalleled. Sam has been at all levels of football and he knows about winning. We feel he is a perfect fit to the tradition of excellence established with Texan football."
McElroy, 41, returns to Tarleton after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at North Texas, a NCAA Division I member of the Sun Belt Conference. Prior to his position at UNT, Tarleton's newest head coach spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Texans. In 2002, he also held the position of assistant head coach at Tarleton.
"I am very excited to be given the opportunity to be the head coach at Tarleton," McElroy said. "Tarleton has a great tradition and has had lots of success recently thanks to a solid staff and good players. The key to continuing the success is to have a great staff and to recruit good student-athletes who will achieve on the field, in the classroom and in the community."
Reisman said timeliness was a factor in filling the shoes of former coach Todd Whitten, who left to become the head coach at Sam Houston State last Thursday.
"We felt with the timing of Todd's resignation and the fast-approaching signing date, it was crucial to find someone to fit into our football program and feel like we did not take a step backwards," Reisman said. "I don't think we could have found a better fit than Sam McElroy. I am confident he will keep the program at the recent level and win a national championship in the near future because he brings the total package of academics, coaching and character."
In his two seasons at UNT, McElroy coached three first-team all-conference selections in safeties Craig Jones and Jonas Buckles (two-time honoree). He also helped in the development of Markeith Knowlton, who made the transition from safety to starting cornerback for the Mean Green. UNT made two consecutive appearances in the New Orleans Bowl, and the Mean Green went 9-4 in 2003 and 7-5 in 2004.
While at Tarleton, McElroy guided a defense that improved each year under his direction. His last season with the Texans, his defense allowed opponents just 271 yards of offense and 17.1 points per game to rank second in the Lone Star Conference. Over his three seasons at Tarleton, McElroy helped 17 players earn all-conference recognition, including the league's Defensive Lineman and Defensive Back of the Year in 2002. The Texans won the Lone Star's North Division in 2002 with a 9-2 overall record, including a 4-1 record in conference games. In 2001, McElroy guided a strong defense that helped Tarleton State win its first-ever Lone Star Conference championship and advance to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.
McElroy also served as activity director for the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) summer camp, which is a month-long sports and education program that Tarleton offers to area youths.
McElroy, who has experience as a head coach at the high school level, came to Tarleton after working seven seasons as a defensive coach at Sam Houston.
During his seven years on the staff at SHSU, McElroy coached eight players who earned All-Southland Conference honors. In addition, he tutored the punt and kickoff return special teams.
McElroy started at SHSU after serving one season as head football coach and athletics director at Alto High School. That year he was named 1992 District 22-AA Coach of the Year after winning the district title and earning a state playoff berth.
In 1991, as head football coach and athletics director at T.K. Gorman High School in Tyler, McElroy produced a 10-3 record, won the district crown and reached the TAPPS Class AA state finals.
He also served as recruiting coordinator and secondary coach at Navarro Junior College in 1991 and was a graduate assistant coach at Baylor University in 1989 and 1990. McElroy, who assisted in the secondary, helped to direct a Baylor defensive unit that led the Southwest Conference in defense both seasons.
A native of Corsicana, McElroy coached as defensive end and freshman coach at Corsicana High School from 1986 to 1988. McElroy's freshman team won nine games in 1987.
He was a student assistant and graduate assistant at Texas State University-San Marcos (then-Southwest Texas State University) from 1983 through 1985, with the Bobcats winning the Lone Star Conference title in 1983.
McElroy earned a bachelor's degree in education from Texas State in 1985 before receiving his master's degree from Baylor in 1990.
The 24th coach in Texan football history and the 11th since the school became a senior college, will look for a staff as soon as possible.
"The first thing is get a staff in place," McElroy said. "We need the right guys who will do well in teaching, coaching, recruiting and those who are good with the kids on a one-on-one basis."
McElroy knows this is the right job at the right place and the right time.
"Tarleton is a great institution in the middle of tremendous growth," McElroy said. "This is a great time to be a part of the University. I just hope to come in, contribute and keep the success going."
McElroy and his wife, Valerie, have three children, Sarah (14), Ryan (12) and Madison (7).
