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KENNESAW, Ga. – Before an audience that included media, coaches, athletics and university staff, and supporters, Milton Overton was officially introduced as the fourth Director of Athletics at Kennesaw State University during a press conference Thursday at the KSU Center.
 
University President Sam Olens made the official introduction of Overton, who joins the Owls family after spending the last two years as Director of Athletics at Florida A&M University.
 
"As soon as I met Milton Overton and the search committee had the opportunity to meet with Milton Overton, we knew we wanted this gentleman to be the athletic director," Olens said. "Like so many in Owl Nation, we are thrilled to have someone like Milton join our program. The timing could not be more perfect as this university is enjoying one of its most successful fall seasons as a (NCAA) Division I program.
 
"Similar to our teams here at KSU, success is nothing new to Milton. He joins us after two flourishing years as Director of Athletics at Florida A&M University where the program has seen remarkable growth under Milton's guidance," Olens added. "Milton has developed a reputation as a creative and innovative leader, especially as it relates to marketing and fundraising. I have no doubt that the search committee and the individuals on our campuses who met with Milton prior to him being offered the job have no doubt that he is the right person to lead our program to even better days."
 
Overton, a 25-year veteran of college athletics administration, has guided a remarkable transformation at FAMU. By instilling a sense of accountability and fiscal responsibility, the Rattlers made monumental strides in the areas of fundraising and fan development. For the first time in more than decade, the athletics department boasted a balanced budget in 2016-17, while achieving three consecutive years of record-breaking fundraising and ticket-sales growth.
 
"First off, I want to thank God for the ability to be here and, obviously, I want to thank the search committee, which has been so gracious, and asked some tough questions during the process, which is very good. I also want to thank the athletics board, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, coaches and obviously our student-athletes," Overton said. "I just want to let you know that I am here to be a teammate.
 
"My primary focus here is to be a teammate and to always push you up, not me, but you. It will always be the focus," Overton added. "I have done that my entire life, and it is something that I very much believe in. If you believe in people and show people that you care about them, they will go through a wall for you."
 
Following a six-year stint as senior associate athletics director at the University of Alabama, and six years prior as associate athletics director at Texas A&M University, Overton was hired to lead Florida A&M Athletics in June 2015.
 
Florida A&M's revenue has increased by $2 million dollars under Overton's watch and fan participation has soared with the football team finishing among the top five in FCS attendance in 2015 and top three in 2016. One of his benchmark initiatives was the establishment of FAMU's giving program, "Investing In Champions," that was a key component of the increased revenue.

Thanks in part to Overton's emphasis on academics and NCAA compliance, FAMU boasted higher team grade point averages and increased APR scores across every sport. Under his watch, each Rattler team remained eligible for NCAA postseason competition for the first time in several years.
 
During his comments, Overton cited the success the Kennesaw State Athletics program has already and enjoyed and plans to build upon it.
 
"We have great goals and a great foundation. The foundation is already laid here," Overton said. "So, why am I here? I am here to go higher. I want to every day make sure we get better. Whether it happens to be student-athletes and academics or sport performance, we're going to work to get better every single day, and you can count on me to support you."
 
Overton will officially begin his position at Kennesaw State on Dec. 15.
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State athletics news follow the Owls on twitter @KSUOwlNation or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 



 

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