Contributed commentary by Austin Peay State University Athletic Director Gerald Harrison:
Today marks seven years since I was blessed with the honor of calling Clarksville-Montgomery County home and leading Austin Peay Athletics. It has been an incredible ride. Together, we have taken Governors athletics to new heights. While there have been challenges and bumps along the way, we never lost sight of our purpose: to build the most complete athletics department possible.
This relentless pursuit of excellence inspired us not just to talk about, but to live the words of the Total Gov Concept. Together, we have attacked challenges with energy and enthusiasm. We have been committed to developing the complete student-athlete, succeeding in all aspects, and pushing for more. This commitment – to our student-athletes, to our campus, and to our community – has made Austin Peay the envy of many of our peers.
In these seven years, we have:
- Claimed 14 conference championships.
- Maintained a 3.0-plus GPA for our student-athletes for 16 consecutive semesters.
- Logged thousands of hours of community service.
- Seen over 85% of our student-athletes continue to graduate school, secure employment, or play their sport professionally.
It’s fair to say Austin Peay State University is no longer one of the state’s best-kept secrets – it’s one of college athletics’ best examples of what can happen when there is true alignment between the Board of Trustees, the president, the AD, the staff, the student-athletes, and the community they represent. Yes – together, we will!…