By OVC Media Relations
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Dr. Samantha Bates of Tennessee Tech University has been named one of two recipients of the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Thurston Banks Award for Distinguished Academic Service.
The award, selected by the OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs), was established in 2013 to recognize individuals (e.g. academic advisor, professor, tutor, etc.), with at least five years of service at one or more OVC member institutions, for their outstanding contributions to OVC student-athletes' academic success, learning and development as well for his or her overall commitment to the institution's athletics program.
The other recipient this year is Richard Fletcher of Morehead State University. Bates represents the fourth individual from Tennessee Tech to receive the honor in the last seven years and the fifth since the award was established in 2013, joining Dr. Robert Ownes (2022), Dr. Leveda Birdwell (2021), Dr. Lance Jasitt (2019), and Andrew Smith (2014).
The award is named after Dr. Thurston Banks, who served the Tennessee Tech Department of Athletics for 31 of his 34 years on the faculty and served as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) for 25 years before stepping down in 2006. He was inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2007.
Bates has served her alma mater in various roles on the academic side since 2013. A four-year member of the Golden Eagle softball team, she later served as an assistant coach with the program. In addition to helping TTU win on the field, she helped mentor the team to earning the top academic honor for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for the best grade point average in Division I softball in both 2008 and 2010.
In 2013, she became an academic advisor, helping advise students within the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as Pre-Professional, Pre-Nursing, Communication, and Computer Science students. In 2019, she transitioned back to athletics under the Athletic Academic Advisor title as well as SAAC Advisor and Champs/Life Skills Coordinator.
Her efforts have been instrumental in Tennessee Tech recording 32 consecutive semesters with a departmental GPA above 3.0. During that time, her guidance has directly influenced individuals who have won numerous academic accolades, including four OVC Scholar-Athlete Award winners, 58 OVC Academic Medal of Honor recipients, and six President's Award winners.
Bates also launched the Pepsi-Beyond the Game program, designed to prepare student-athletes for life after graduation. The initiative focuses on career development and life skills, helping student-athletes with their transition into post-college careers.
In addition to her undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Bates also has a Master's in Curriculum and instruction from Tennessee Tech and a Doctorate in Global Sport Leadership from East Tennessee State University.
Fletcher, who currently serves as Morehead State's Deputy Director of Athletics, has worked at MSU, his alma mater, for 23 years. He has held multiple positions during his tenure, giving him direct contact with student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff, university administrators, parents, alumni, boosters, and fans. His career has been focused on promoting student-athlete wellness and academic and social success.
He began his career as a graduate assistant athletic director and later served as Director of Sports Medicine, Director of Compliance, and Senior Associate Director of Athletics before becoming Deputy Director of Athletics in 2017.
His oversight of the academic support unit as well as the compliance unit began by observing the model he inherited 20 years ago, which previously was run with a heavy emphasis on compliance. Fletcher advocated for more academic staffing and a facility that would serve the instructional support needs of MSU student athletes, and with efforts from the faculty athletic representative of the time, they were able to successfully fund and open the EAGLE Academic Center, one of the finest academic support units in the OVC. The facility serves all Eagle student-athletes and is well staffed with academic support personnel to mentor and assist students.
Fletcher has served as part of numerous committees including the NCAA Rifle Committee, the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, the Technology Advisory Board, the Student Disciplinary Committee, Staff Congress, and was an adjunct professor in Health, Physical Education & Recreation, Kinesiology and Sport and Science Programs from 2002-17.
Fletcher, who also holds a Master's degree from Morehead State, has plans to retire in the summer of 2025.
Photo by Jim Dillon
