"...one of the best Athletic Directors in the country. He has tremendous respect among our ACC Athletic Directors and nationally."
-John Swafford, ACC Commissioner
Lee Fowler earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in 1974. A four-year Varsity Basketball player, Fowler was a starter and top reserve on Southeastern Conference Championship Team, only the second in Vanderbilt's history. Additionally, Fowler was a member of the best three-year record in Vanderbilt's history at that time. Fowler was heavily recruited out of high school from other top programs such as Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Following graduation, he served as an Assistant Basketball Coach at Vanderbilt. Lee Fowler knows the demands of the student-athlete and has a history of supporting the complete athlete during his spectacular career. Providing top training facilities, educational opportunities, medical and teaching support organizations and top venues for the athlete to compete, Fowler has been a champion for the student athlete.
["As a star at Columbia High School, Fowler came to Vandy after scoring well over 30 points a game. He was a 6-7 guard-forward who could play outside or under the basket. He was deceptively strong and quick, and he could really jump off the ground. He was the last player to wear #43 at Vandy, as Clyde Lee gave his permission for him to wear the retired number.
While other players often hit the game-winning baskets, Fowler usually played a behind the scenes part in the buzzer beater. Twice as a sophomore, he faked a shot and fed a player closer to the basket for the game-winner. In 1974, he contributed to the cause in the second game. Leading the team in scoring against Texas Tech with 21 points, it was his control of a last minute jump ball that sealed the win.
Playing a big game at Mid-South Coliseum against Memphis State, he led the Commodores with 17 points and made several key defensive plays late in the game, as Vandy upset the 9th-ranked Tigers. Fowler led the effort with 19 points in an 83-72 win over Final Four participant Kansas.
Fowler's ability to ignore the pressure and hit big shots proved fatal to C.M. Newton's title hopes in 1974. The key game of the year saw him hit two key foul shots to ice the game in Tuscaloosa after he had missed a big one and one moments earlier. He had gotten to the foul line by forcing a Tide player to charge into him while a Crimson shot was in the air. "]
Excerpt from Scout.com staff writer Howell Pieser to see complete article, click the image to the left.
Country music singer, Lynn Anderson, is surrounded by Vanderbilt basketball seniors. (Lee Fowler, left)