Fowler resigns as Tarleton football coach

By BRAD KEITH

TheFlashToday.com NEWS & SPORTS – FREE & LOCAL

STEPHENVILLE (November 16, 2015) — After six seasons and a 30-32 record, the head coach Cary Fowler era in Tarleton State football has reached its end.

Fowler resigned Monday morning following the conclusion of a 3-7 season on Saturday.

“We would like to thank Cary Fowler for his dedicated service to Tarleton State University and the Texan Football program,” said Tarleton State University Athletic Director Lonn Reisman, according to release from the university’s athletic communications department. “We wish him the best of luck in his future.”

The release said the search for a new head coach will begin immediately. Fowler was the 24th coach in Tarleton football history.

Three wins matches the fewest for Tarleton under Fowler. The Texans were 3-8 in his first season but finished .500 or above each of the next four years. They won a share of the Lone Star Conference championship for the third time in school history two years ago, going 7-3 and splitting the title with Eastern New Mexico.

Tarleton was 5-5 and finished third in the inaugural LSC Football Playoff last season, but this year concluded with a narrow 48-47 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State in the last place game of the second and final conference playoff. The victory prevented Tarleton from winning less than three games for the first time since 1995.

Fowler first came to Tarleton in 2008 as defensive coordinator and helped the Texans to a share of the LSC title and a thrilling 57-56 double overtime win over rival Texas A&M-Kingsville in the opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2009.

Head coach Sam McElroy left following the successful 2009 season to become defensive line coach at Texas Tech, and Fowler was named head coach at Tarleton in March, 2010.

Before coming to Tarleton, Fowler was defensive coordinator at Midwestern State, where he was named Division II Assistant Coach of the Year in 2005.

The release from the university said no other interviews or statements would be made available at this time.