011 MTSU NAMES TOWE NEW DIRECTOR OF MURPHY CENTER

Release date: July 18, 2007


Editorial contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919



MTSU NAMES TOWE NEW DIRECTOR OF MURPHY CENTER


(MURFREESBORO) — In his new job at MTSU, Darrell Towe may be one of the busiest people at the university.
The job title says director of the Murphy Center athletic complex, but his duties also will include overseeing Floyd Stadium, Alumni Memorial Gym, baseball’s Reese Smith Field, the Blue Raider Softball Field, the new track and field and soccer complex and Kennon Hall of Fame building.
Towe, a Western Kentucky University alumnus, knew what he was getting into when the former Tennessee Miller Coliseum manager interviewed for the job.
“I was expecting to have to juggle multiple projects and that’s certainly the case,” he said. “We may have as many as three or four activities going on at the same time on a given day.
Ron Malone, assistant vice president for events and transportation who also is adept at juggling multiple projects, had scheduled a lunch appointment to tell Towe he had been hired for the job, but he had to relay the message by phone when their plans changed.
Towe said his initial reaction was “one of being very excited and then becoming very nervous about my ability to provide the leadership this job requires. The staff is very capable and very experienced. Most of them have been here for many years. This keeps the pressure on me to stay on top of my game to provide the leadership they need.”
Malone said the hiring committee made an excellent choice.
“We are very excited about Darrell's move to the director's position at the
Murphy Center Complex,” he said. “ We had several strong candidates in the applicant pool, but in the end, Darrell's 17 years of event venue experience, his overall knowledge of university policy gained from his four years at Miller Coliseum and his love of athletics and physical activity (he is an avid hiker) made him the clear choice for the committee and me.
“Darrell’s very personable demeanor, combined with his ‘Can Do – Customer Service’ attitude, will be a great addition to an already great group of Murphy Center Complex staff members. He’s going to do a great job.”
Towe said he believes 34-year-old Murphy Center “remains a functional facility. It has a rich history and a bright future.” He added that he intends “to get the right people in the right place and get organized.” Staff wise, he said he does not anticipate any changes, just “minor tweaking of the system.”
Towe, who began his new duties June 11, oversees a staff of 22 people. He served as director of WKU’s Brown Agricultural Exposition Center in Bowling Green from July 1995 until December 2002. He was assistant manager of MTSU Tennessee Livestock Center from September 1990 until June 1995.
John Jewel had been the Murphy Center director until taking another job. Interim director Rita Whitaker will remain assistant manager.
In addition to hiking, Towe said he enjoys fishing for bass and trout, and spends time on Tennessee and Kentucky lakes with his wife Melissa, who works as a counselor with the WKU Upward Bound program.

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Special notes: A .jpg photo of Darrell Towe is available. Call 615-898-2919 or 898-5616 to obtain. To request an interview with Mr. Towe, please call the same numbers.