The fourth member of the 2018 Hall of Fame class is longtime Director of Athletics Larry Templeton.
2018 MSU Sports Hall Of Fame Class: Larry Templeton Honored
September 27, 2018 | Athletics
by Caleb Garner, Graduate Assistant/Communications
Note: Every day this week, HailState.com will recognize a member of the 2018 Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018. The class will be formally inducted at a gala Friday (Sept. 28) night at the The Mill Conference Center and recognized during the MSU-Florida football game Saturday (Sept. 29) in Davis Wade Stadium. Festivities get underway at 7 p.m. Friday and will include a cocktail reception, private autograph signing, seated dinner and awards ceremony. Tickets are available for purchase at msumclub.org for $100 per person. Proceeds benefit the MSU M-Club Alumni Association.
In 1987, Larry Templeton landed what many who grow up around Mississippi State athletics would consider the dream job of all dream jobs when he was named Director of Athletics.
In his 21 years at the helm, Templeton helped MSU become an innovator in equality in women's sports, while overseeing the additions of new and renovated facilities with a focus on keen financial management.
In his tenure, State saw some of its most successful athletics seasons despite having the smallest budget in the Southeastern Conference. Under his guidance, MSU teams won seven SEC regular-season championships and seven conference tournament titles. In baseball, the Diamond Dawgs went to the College World Series four times, while men's basketball made the program's only appearance in the Final Four.
A 1969 MSU graduate, Templeton currently serves as the Bulldogs' Athletics Director Emeritus. His work also extended outside of Starkville, as he was tabbed chairman of the SEC athletic directors by his colleagues, a title he held longer than anyone. Templeton now serves as a consultant for the league office. He also served on the NCAA Baseball Committee, the NCAA Championship Committee, the NCAA Management Council and the NCAA Bowl Certification Committee.
Many of those accomplishments under his watch affected MSU in competition, where the Bulldogs reached new heights. However, his influence also extended—possibly even more so—into the classroom.
MSU student athletes also excelled in the classroom during his time leading the department. Because of that success, Mississippi State's Templeton Athletic Academic Center was named in his honor.
When asked what he is most proud of, it is not the numerous championships or trips to the postseason. Templeton noted that it was the academic success of MSU student athletes throughout his tenure—the countless graduates, many of whom were the first in their family to graduate from college.
While Templeton continues to touch lives through the Templeton Athletic Academic Center, in addition to being a frequent sight at many MSU sports events, he will now forever be remembered as one of the greatest Bulldogs of all time with his enshrinement into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame.
Note: Every day this week, HailState.com will recognize a member of the 2018 Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018. The class will be formally inducted at a gala Friday (Sept. 28) night at the The Mill Conference Center and recognized during the MSU-Florida football game Saturday (Sept. 29) in Davis Wade Stadium. Festivities get underway at 7 p.m. Friday and will include a cocktail reception, private autograph signing, seated dinner and awards ceremony. Tickets are available for purchase at msumclub.org for $100 per person. Proceeds benefit the MSU M-Club Alumni Association.
In 1987, Larry Templeton landed what many who grow up around Mississippi State athletics would consider the dream job of all dream jobs when he was named Director of Athletics.
In his 21 years at the helm, Templeton helped MSU become an innovator in equality in women's sports, while overseeing the additions of new and renovated facilities with a focus on keen financial management.
Friday night, Larry Templeton will be inducted into the Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame," M-Club President Bill Maxey said. "It will be difficult to find anyone who can recall a time that the 'boy from Starkville' wasn't around MSU athletics. If asked to define lifetime commitment, words would not be necessary. Just look at the life of Larry Templeton. Our facilities, our academics, our finances and our good standing with the SEC and the NCAA reflect his ongoing pursuit of excellence.
In his tenure, State saw some of its most successful athletics seasons despite having the smallest budget in the Southeastern Conference. Under his guidance, MSU teams won seven SEC regular-season championships and seven conference tournament titles. In baseball, the Diamond Dawgs went to the College World Series four times, while men's basketball made the program's only appearance in the Final Four.
A 1969 MSU graduate, Templeton currently serves as the Bulldogs' Athletics Director Emeritus. His work also extended outside of Starkville, as he was tabbed chairman of the SEC athletic directors by his colleagues, a title he held longer than anyone. Templeton now serves as a consultant for the league office. He also served on the NCAA Baseball Committee, the NCAA Championship Committee, the NCAA Management Council and the NCAA Bowl Certification Committee.
Many of those accomplishments under his watch affected MSU in competition, where the Bulldogs reached new heights. However, his influence also extended—possibly even more so—into the classroom.
MSU student athletes also excelled in the classroom during his time leading the department. Because of that success, Mississippi State's Templeton Athletic Academic Center was named in his honor.
When asked what he is most proud of, it is not the numerous championships or trips to the postseason. Templeton noted that it was the academic success of MSU student athletes throughout his tenure—the countless graduates, many of whom were the first in their family to graduate from college.
While Templeton continues to touch lives through the Templeton Athletic Academic Center, in addition to being a frequent sight at many MSU sports events, he will now forever be remembered as one of the greatest Bulldogs of all time with his enshrinement into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame.
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