This quarter we are spotlighting Samford Athletics Hall of Fame member and outgoing S-Club President, Tom Collins. Tom retired from Southern Company in 2017 and resided with his wife Debbie in Homewood, Alabama. In addition to being an avid Samford fan, Tom enjoys taking care of his grandchildren, hunting, fishing, and canoeing. His passion for Samford shows in everything he does. We have been proud to work with him during his time as the President of the S-Club.
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How is the S-Club making a difference at Samford?
Samford student athletes and their teammates develop a powerful, lasting bond with coaches, professors, and members of the athletic department. The combined effort of this support team, works successfully to equip our student athletes with an academic experience that ensures success in whatever career choice they make. The S-Club, an organization that includes all former Samford student athletes, works to establish, nurture, and maintain these relationships while the student athlete is on campus and after the student athlete completes their eligibility.
What are the biggest opportunities for the S-Club as you look to the future?
Samford currently enjoys a 96% graduation rate for our student athletes. Samford athletes are not only great athletes, but are also great students who possess great character, work ethic, and are highly motivated. The S-Club executive board has started a mentoring program for our student athletes. This program works to provide support to our student athletes through internships, relationship building, and networking. This program promises to continue to grow in it’s support of our student athletes. The S-Club wants our student athletes to be successful as student athletes, and successful after graduation. We recognize the tremendous value our student athletes can deliver to an employer, and we are willing to work hard to help our student athletes achieve their career goals with assistance through our S-Club mentoring program.
What would you tell former Samford student-athletes who are not involved with the S-Club or the athletics department?
Samford has been working diligently to build relationships with student athletes and to maintain relationships with S-Club members. The S-Club executive board has advised Samford University athletic department on ways to reach out to S-Club members through social media, email updates, and phone calls. Also, we schedule an S-Club golf tournament each year and all S-Club members are invited to participate. This is our only fundraiser event. Many of our S-Club members participate and most return each year. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with friends and teammates, and to support the financial needs of our S-Club.
What is the best way for a former Samford student-athlete to get involved with the S-Club?
I suggest to all of our former Samford University letter winners to get on the Samford website and take a look at the schedules of our athletic teams. Make plans to attend a game and bring your family! Call the current coach of the sport that you played and let them know you’re coming. Be sure the coach has your contact information.
Final message to the S-Club:
My Samford Football Teammates are letter winners from the 1970’s. Through S-Club events and attendance at Samford University athletic contests, I have had the privilege of meeting many other Samford letter winners that span over seven decades! A tremendous amount of change has occurred over these many years. I can confidently say Samford University‘s Administration as well as the Athletic Department are fully committed to excellence both in the classroom as well as on the field of competition. I am extremely proud to be a Samford University Alumnus, and a letter winner. Who among us is not a better person in every way, because of our experience at Samford University. Get Involved!!
