After one year as the assistant athletic director, Dr. Howard Patterson named baseball coach James Vilade the new University athletic director on Thursday.
Even though Vilade’s new job title means he will be leading all 15 athletic programs on campus,he said he is still going to continue being the head baseball coach.
“I want to thank President Dr. Rod Mabry and Vice President Patterson as well as the members of the search committee for this opportunity,” Vilade said in a press release. “I have enjoyed my time here and look forward to leading this great athletic department.”
Vilade, a native of Gladstone, New Jersey, is the second athletic director in the history of the University after Patterson, who is now the vice president of student affairs, served in the same position from 2001-2007.
“As we move forward toward competing regionally and nationally, coach Vilade has demonstrated exceptional skills in the areas of marketing, fund-raising, community service and of course, teaching the game of baseball to all ages,” Patterson said. “The department’s focus will continue to be on attracting, retaining and graduating high-quality students who will integrate themselves into the University and the community.”
In the 2007-2008 school year, Vilade and women’s basketball coach Terri Deike shared duties of assistant athletic director.
In the five years that Vilade has been on campus, he has helped create the baseball program, help bring in new facilities and players, overseen marketing efforts of the athletics department and all the while winning 155 games as coach.
He has led the Patriots to three American Southwest Conference East Division titles, a record 37 wins to one loss in 2007, advancing the Patriots to the second round of the 2008 ASC Baseball Tournament in the first year of postseason eligibility.
“The University has built a very strong athletic tradition in a very short time,” Vilade said. “Our tradition of strong academics, first-class athletics and outstanding service to our university and community will continue to be priorities for our department.”
Not only is Vilade a leader on the field and in the front office, but is a leader in the community of Tyler where he lives with his wife Jennifer, two sons’ (Ryan and Trent) and one daughter (McKenzie).
He is the founder of the “E.H. Almand Scholarship Fund” and “Sports Cards for Kids” in East Texas and he currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of East Texas and Food Fast Children’s Charities.
Along with participating in those community affairs, Vilade also strives for him and his players to be active in the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Trinity Mother Frances Diabetes Camp and the American Heart Walk.
When Vilade officially takes over as athletic director on Aug. 18, he takes over an athletic program that just last year, saw 12 athletic programs make the conference tournament, three of them champions, while four teams and numerous individuals qualified for the NCAA National Tournament.
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