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As Director of Athletics since 2004, Dr. Larry Teis has led Texas State's Athletics Department which has won a pair of Southland Conference Commissioner's Cups, extended its current streak to seven straight SLC Women's All-Sports Trophies, and recorded several Southland Conference tournament and regular season Championships. Teis was honored as the 2005-06 General Sports TURF Systems AD of the Year Division I-AA West Region Winner presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. In 2007, Teis was also honored by the All-American Football Foundation with the General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletics Director Award. Citing his leadership skills, experience and values as elements that made him the right fit for the position, Texas State president Dr. Denise M. Trauth named Teis the Bobcats' eighth director of athletics in March 2004. A member of Texas State's athletic administration since January, 1999, Teis resides on the President's Council and reports directly to President Trauth. After capturing back-to-back Commissioner's Cups in his first two seasons, Texas State had another strong athletic year during the 2006-07 academic year and finished third in the final Cup standings. The trophy is annually awarded to the league institution with the highest combined total of men's and women's all-sports points. Stressing academics, each year the Bobcats' overall team GPAs have improved and Graduation rates rank among the best in the State of Texas. Texas State consistently ranks near the top of the Southland Conference schools with the most recipients of the Hibernia Bank/SLC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. This past year, Texas State had 60 student-athletes meet the honor roll requirements, including nine athletes named to their respective sports' all-academic teams. The 2007-08 campaign has been an outstanding year for the Bobcats both on and off the field. Darren Casey gave the first ever $1 million gift to the department, and the new-look Bobcat Club has recorded record donations for its scholarship mission. The Bobcat Club's mission is to raise scholarship dollars for fifth-year student-athletes, medical hardships and those attending summer school. Endowment giving also increased generously with the addition of new athletics endowments and increased support from donors to the existing endowments. Restricted sport fundraising experienced record growth, raising more dollars for coaches than in years past. In addition, corporate sponsorships reached an all-time high and the student government passed an athletic fee dramatically increasing departmental support for the next five years. The volleyball team won the Southland Conference Tournament Championship, the women's basketball team won their first-ever regular season championship and also their first ever post-season win with a first round victory in the Women's National Invitational Tournament. Individually, Nick Clark was the first-ever Bobcat football player to be named a finalist for the Draddy Award for his outstanding football/academic performance, and Joyce Ekworomadu represented the women's basketball team in the national three-point shooting contest at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio. Facility improvements have included new video boards being installed in each of the football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and baseball/softball facilities. The future also looks bright for Bobcat athletics with ground breaking scheduled in June, 2008 for a $5.5 million dollar renovation for the baseball/softball complex, new pressbox and suites in Bobcat Stadium for the 2009 season, and football stadium expansion scheduled for the near future. In addition, the Bobcats recently were reinstated by the NCAA after completing the three year probationary period Other key accomplishments during Teis' first four years include: the first ever Southland Conference Football Championship, an appearance in the NCAA playoffs and a Top Five national ranking. He also restructured the department's administration with the hiring of key senior administrative staff and five head coaches. New facilities and renovation projects have totaled over $23-million in athletic facility improvements during the past six years. Bobcat Athletic Foundation gifts also have nearly tripled in a four-year span. Texas State also has restructured its Athletics Academic Center and created a new website for Athletics. Teis also completed and implemented a five-year strategic plan for the department. In his previous role as Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs, Teis had oversight of several key areas, including game management, marketing, promotions, facilities and ticket sales. He was also responsible for the administration of men's and women's golf, baseball and volleyball as well as the Strutters. From 1998-2002, Teis also oversaw the Bobcat Athletic Foundation. A native of Fort Worth, Teis came to Texas State after spending four years as the Director of Athletic Marketing at TCU. In that position, he developed the marketing plan for all sports at TCU, including facility signage, season ticket campaigns, game day operations, and corporate sponsorships. Prior to his tenure at TCU, Teis was the Assistant Director of the University of New Mexico's Lobo Club for three years, working in all aspects of the athletic department's annual fund drive. Teis has served on several key Southland Conference committees, and is an active member of the local community, including serving as Chairman on the board of directors of the San Marcos Convention and Visitors Bureau for three years. Teis holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from TCU, a master's in sports administration from St. Thomas University of Miami, Fla., and a doctorate in health, physical education and recreation with an emphasis in sports administration from the University of New Mexico. Teis resides in San Marcos with his wife, Jana, and two daughters, Taylor (14) and Shelby (10). |
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