FAMU President Elmira Mangum has named Milton Overton as the
new director of intercollegiate athletics.
Overton comes to FAMU after six years at the University of
Alabama, where he served on the athletics executive team as the senior
associate athletics director, and seven years at Texas A&M University,
where he also served on the athletics executive team, and as an associate
athletics director overseeing six sports teams and information technology. As a
member of the athletics executive teams, he was a part of both institutions’
strategic planning efforts.
Mangum launched a national search to fill the position after
the resignation of Kellen Winslow and death of Nelson Townsend. The director of
the intercollegiate athletics oversees 16 intercollegiate programs, and the
University’s corrective action plan to improve academic progress for five teams
that are currently on academic probation.
“Milton Overton demonstrates the level of excellence, academic leadership, and sound administrative experience needed to lead FAMU’s Department of Athletics,” said Mangum. “He comes to us with a wealth of knowledge, best practices, and a business acumen that will forge a new tomorrow for FAMU. I am impressed with his professional narrative and the type of role model that he can be to student-athletes and the FAMU community.”
“Florida A&M University’s passion for excellence in
academics and athletics clearly align with my personal mission to inspire young
leaders to make a difference in our nation and around the globe. I believe that
a first-class education combined with a great student-athlete experience helps
mold champions in the classroom, in life, and on the field.” Overton said.
“FAMU has a great group of student-athletes, coaches, and staff in place, and I
am eager to get to work. Also, I look forward to meeting the Board of Trustees,
faculty, staff, alumni, Rattler fans, and the Tallahassee community to see how
we can collaborate to advance the mission of FAMU through athletics.”
Milton Overton’s career spans 20 years in intercollegiate
athletics administration. At the University of Alabama, Milton provided
oversight for $25 million in budgets and equipment, seven business
units—including the No. 1 trademark licensing program for intercollegiate
athletics, Crimson Tide Productions—including the ESPN SEC Network, marketing
and branding, outbound ticket sales, photography, coaches film video group,
athletics information and event technology, track and field, and cross country.
Overton’s units completed more than 275 business goals for the department,
including generating new revenue.
Overton is a 2009 graduate of the National Collegiate
Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Pathway Program, which is formerly known as the
NCAA’s Fellows Leadership Development Program. The Pathway Program provides
senior-level athletics administrators with a rigorous curriculum and mentorship
to prepare to become a director of athletics. As a 2007-2008 NCAA Fellow,
Overton participated in a year-long, intensive learning opportunity for 12
selected senior leaders representing NCAA Divisions I, II, and III.
A four-year starter as an offensive lineman at the University
of Oklahoma (OU), Overton earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1995. He
then went on to earn two master’s degrees in 1998, one in higher education and
administration, and the other in human relations. Overton worked in academic
services and as the CHAMPS/LifeSkills Coordinator for the OU Sooners before
joining the Athletics Department at Texas Christian University (TCU) in 1999.
Overton was director of Academic Support at TCU, where he also served as an
adjunct professor.
Overton joined Texas A&M University (TAMU) as assistant
athletics director for Academic Services in 2002 before being promoted to
associate athletics director for Sports Administration and Technology
Advancement in 2003. Milton raised $250,000 for men’s tennis facility upgrades
and led the technology renovations and construction for several other
facilities, including Kyle Field. He also provided oversight of seven TAMU
sports programs.
Overton was the founder and CEO of Enki System Inc. from
2000-2011, which provided software solutions for athletic, academic support
programs across the country generating over $1 million in gross sales.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Overton has two sons—Micaiah,
14, and Lebbeus, 10.