Florida A&M Names Milton Overton New Director of Athletics

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., 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 President 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. I want to thank President Mangum for the opportunity to join the FAMU family. I can promise—confidently—to deliver the kind of results necessary to live up to the rich legacy of this premier University. Go Rattlers!”

About Milton Overton

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.


JIMMY MILLER, Vice President for Communications and External Relations
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS