Hall of Fame
Strickland served as the Director of Athletics at Murray State University from 1988-96 before moving to Belmont University, where he served in the same role until his retirement at 2016 (the final four years of that tenure once again in the OVC).
During his tenure at Murray State, Strickland saw the Racers win 26 OVC regular season and tournament championships, including two OVC Men’s All-Sport Trophies and three OVC Women’s All-Sport Trophies. The MSU rifle team produced two NCAA Individual National Champions and the Racers men’s basketball team claimed its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, topping North Carolina State in 1988. Strickland served on the NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee and the NCAA Rifle Committee during his tenure. He also helped improvement athletic facilities, including helping plan the CFSB Center which opened in 1998.
At Belmont he helped the University transition from NAIA, to NCAA Division I Independent, to membership in the Atlantic Sun and eventually Ohio Valley Conference. He helped the Bruins win 45 conference championships, including nine during its first four years in the OVC. Strickland also oversaw the addition of six sports during his tenure including women’s soccer, women’s golf and men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field.
He was instrumental in the building of the Curb Event Center and the E.S. Rose Park Athletic Complex. During Strickland’s tenure more than 1,000 students (student-athletes, cheerleaders, team managers) earned their undergraduate degrees and the athletics programs produced 24 Academic All-Americans. Over his last 15 years, Belmont won its conference’s overall academic trophy in 13 of those years. Strickland was named National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Southeast Region Athletic Director of the Year in 2009.