Board of Regents voices support for UT Austin football coach

AUSTIN -- Emphasizing that the success and wellbeing of students is a primary goal, The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Friday unanimously approved a motion praising UT Austin head football coach Charlie Strong for his focus on character development among the student athletes he leads.

The motion, made by Vice Chairman Gene Powell and seconded by Regent Bobby Stillwell, reads:

“The success and wellbeing of our students is of primary importance to The University of Texas System Board of Regents, and of our Chancellor and his staff. Thus our collective mantra for some time has been ‘It is ALL about the Students!’ We are proud of the many ways all of our UT institutions, their presidents, faculty and staff members work every day to fulfill that goal.

“To supplement the good work being done on our campuses to support student success and safety, the Board has recently sponsored a Regents' System-wide task force studying and dealing with character and core values. The results of these two task forces have now been made available to all UT System presidents.

“Consistent with the Board's and Chancellor's previous actions on student success and wellbeing and in the same spirit, I move that the Board of Regents express its full support for U T Austin head football coach Charlie Strong and his unwavering commitment to teaching, cultivating, supporting and demanding outstanding character, strong moral fiber and high core values in the young men he is charged to lead and teach. As a leader and mentor, Coach Strong is delivering a compelling but fundamental message that success starts with living up to basic life principles. Coach Strong has demonstrated he will not compromise on developing student athletes who are first winners off the field and then winners on the field.

“I further move that the Board fully support Coach Strong's efforts and applaud his commitment to the young people of Texas and to the students of The University of Texas at Austin.

“Finally, I move that the Board encourage all UT institutions to continue their dedicated efforts to find effective means to teach, encourage, identify and support principles best designed for student success.”