Tommy Sadler enters his 25th year of service at Union University, but the first in his new position as the director of athletic operations for the 2009-10 academic year. Sadler was named to this position after serving the 2008-09 year as the acting athletics director. He follows in the footsteps of Dr. David Blackstock, who had been Union’s Athletic Director for the past 34 years.
Sadler, a native of Jackson, is a 1972 graduate of South Side High School and a 1976 graduate of Union University. During his time at Union, Sadler played four years of baseball for the Bulldogs. In 1981, he received his Master of Education from the University of Memphis.
His tenure at Union began in 1985 as director of public relations. After a year in that role, he became the university’s director of corporate and foundation support, a position he held for 10 years. In 1996, Sadler then moved into his previous role as associate director of athletics.
Sadler earned the Union University Staff Member of the Year in 1994.
Sadler has also been very active in athletics at the conference level. He is beginning his eighth year as the president of the TranSouth Conference, of which Union is a member. Prior to this time as president, he served the conference as its vice president.
“Tommy Sadler has faithfully served Union University in a variety of ways through the years, but his key contribution has been in his work with the athletic department,” Dockery said. “He is respected by all of our coaches, by those who support the athletic program and by the leadership of the university. At this transitional time in the life of our athletic department, I know of no one better to help us chart a future course for that department than Tommy Sadler.”
Sadler and his wife Michelle, a teacher in the Jackson-Madison County School District, make their home in Jackson.
