UHV's Fowler earns 2023-24 RRAC Sports Information Director of the Year honor

WACO, Texas – From the summer of 2021 to February of 2023, the sports information director position at the University of Houston-Victoria (Texas) was vacant. The athletic department shuffled roles and made the most of the situation, but it turns out that they were just waiting for the right person to fill the job.

It's clear now that UHV found their man when they hired Sam Fowler last year. In a short amount of time, Fowler has elevated the program's presence and has been named the 2023-24 RRAC Sports Information Director of the Year in a vote of his peers.   

Annually, the RRAC SID of the Year award recognizes the individual who has performed the best at promoting their school's athletics program, collaborating with fellow SIDs, serving the conference, maintaining timely and accurate information, driving media coverage, conducting gameday operations, and expanding social media outreach and broadcast capabilities. It honors those that go above and beyond, while maintaining strong relationships across the conference.

Fowler's impact is not lost on Ashley Walyuchow, UHV's athletic director.

"Sam has really elevated our social media presence and helped polish our game day experience," says Walyuchow. "I'm proud of all his hard work and nice to see him recognized."

Fowler's responsibilities include communications, gameday operations, photography, pre- and post-game reports and social media. His photos and social media efforts make him stand out, driving more fan engagement for UHV and raising attendance marks. UHV baseball experienced its third highest total attendance this season including a school record 1,400 for the Jaguars' March 29 series opener against LSU Shreveport. Fowler also designed social media graphics in-house for each of UHV's teams. 

"Sam has always been more than an SID – he's a champion for his school and its student-athletes," says Texas A&M-Texarkana SID Cliff Gibson. "His work speaks for itself and UHV is incredibly lucky to have him as part of its organization. Sam is a true professional and very deserving of this award. I'm thankful not only for our professional relationship, but for his friendship as well."

Prior to arriving at UHV, Fowler spent six years as a sportswriter, most recently with nearly a two-year stint at the Victoria Advocate where he served as Assistant Sports Editor. Fowler also had stops in San Angelo and Pleasanton where he served as Sports Editor for San Angelo Live! and the Pleasanton Express. During his six years in sports journalism, Fowler won 17 awards, including a second place award in the 2023 Texas Managing Editor's Star Sportswriter of the Year contest. In 2021 while in Pleasanton, he was named the Willis Webb Journalist and Photographer of the Year in the South Texas Press Association.

Before entering the workforce in 2017, Fowler graduated from Angelo State University with his Bachelor's degree in Mass Media. While at NCAA Division II ASU, Fowler earned two all-Lone Star Conference selections in 2013 and 2014, and an all-region and an All-American nod in 2014 as the team's punter. He was a part of the Rams' historic 2014 LSC Playoff Championship team.

During his time at Angelo State, Fowler worked as a broadcaster covering football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball and soccer.

Fowler and his wife, Karly, have two dogs, Bonnie and Clyde.

RRAC SID of the Year Honorees