Golden Eagle football alumni look to honor Don Wade with memorial in Football Operations Center
Since Tennessee Tech University announced plans for a Football Operations Center, dozens of former players have stepped forward to say, “I want to be a part of this.”
One of those former players is Sam Smith, who graduated in 1983 with a degree in geology.
When Smith saw that the new facility included opportunities to name spaces both inside
and outside, he knew he wanted to do something to honor Don Wade. Wade served as Tech’s
head football coach from 1968 to 1982, and as athletic director from 1974 to 1980.
“In my four years at Tech, I learned that Coach Wade was genuine,” said Smith. “He was tough, sarcastically funny, loyal and loving – albeit tough love. Coach Wade’s impact continues to influence my life today.”
Smith began making phone calls to former teammates, and soon he had organized a group of dedicated football alumni who plan to raise $500,000 for a Don Wade Memorial inside the Football Operations Center.
The university’s 2022 Giving Tuesday efforts focused on the Football Operations Center and in the days following, an anonymous donor reached out with a promise to give $25,000 if Tech could raise another $25,000 in a week.
Smith’s donation to the Don Wade Memorial combined with a gift from former teammate Jack Kelley secured the match, but Smith knows they have a lot of work left to do to reach their $500,000 goal.
“Don Wade earned the right to have his name permanently inscribed in the new facility,” said Smith. “I am grateful to the steering committee for giving me the opportunity to rally my teammates and others before me to contribute and honor Don Wade. Our individual contributions may be small, but when added together as a team, our contribution will be significant.”
The Football Operations Center steering committee hopes other football alumni will collaborate to do something similar to honor their coaches as well.
For more information about the Football Operations Center, to view the naming opportunities or to make a gift, visit tntech.edu/foc.