Bio

Love of athletics started at a young age for Cowley president.

With his backyard serving as a mini sports arena as a child, Cowley College president Dr. Patrick J. McAtee developed a passion for athletics at a young age. That love has continued through the years and will accompany him into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame, of which he will be inducted into on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Dr. McAtee grew up playing baseball, basketball, football, and tennis in Ellsworth, KS. He was so accomplished at tennis that he went on to play four years of tennis at Fort Hays State University and even coached high school tennis at Hays High School for a few years before starting down the path of becoming a college president. He also stayed involved with athletics, while serving as the coach of his sons, Darin and Dan’s, little league baseball teams.

“I always thought if I would have been something other than a college president I would have been a coach,” Dr. McAtee said. “Sports has created a lot of happiness for me and has always been a part of my life.”

Prior to becoming president at Cowley College in 1987, Dr. McAtee taught speech, debate and theatre at Hays High School and was a teacher, director of community services, assistant dean of instruction, dean of instruction and vice president at Barton County Community College. He was close with the coaches at both schools and realized athletics was a great thing for young people to be involved in.

“I firmly believe athletics is a real preparation for life,” Dr. McAtee said. “It encourages young people to work as a team and strive to reach a goal. They also benefit from the discipline and hard work that comes with it.”

Known as an avid supporter of Tiger Athletics, Dr. McAtee has played a vital role in the school’s athletic success since taking over as president in 1987. Under McAtee’s leadership, Cowley College athletics has captured seven national championships, 83 conference titles, 55 region titles, and 81 top-10 national finishes.

“I have always had a kind of competitive nature and believe if you are going to do something, you should try to be the best at it,” Dr. McAtee said. “Not only in sports, but theatre, music, or anything we do at the college, I want us to try to be the best we can be.”

Since hiring Tom V. Saia as Cowley’s athletic director in 1995, Dr. McAtee and Saia have teamed to build one of the most successful athletic programs in the nation.

“We keep a relationship as president and athletic director, but we are also good friends,” Dr. McAtee said. “Tom has a real caring for his coaches and athletes and goes out of his way to help those who need help, and that is a really good quality in a person.”

Under McAtee’s leadership, Cowley captured the 2011 NJCAA Division II national volleyball championship, as well as two JUCO World Series titles in baseball, two national championships in men’s tennis, and national championships in men and women’s cross country.

“I am proud of all of our teams and have some pretty outstanding memories,” Dr. McAtee said. “I am amazed at how hard our coaches work at what they do. They lay it all on the line and hope to prepare the kids to compete. I admire the way they motivate young people.”

Along with finishing second in the NATYCAA Cup standings during the 2010-2011 academic year, Cowley has finished as the top junior college athletic program in the state of Kansas four of the past five years based on the standings.

“It is critical for us to have an outstanding athletic program because athletics is a real niche for us,” Dr. McAtee said. “There are athletic activities that kids can come here for that might not be offered elsewhere.”

Dr. McAtee led the renovation of W.S. Scott Auditorium; the construction of the Tiger Track and Field and Soccer Complex; and the building of the recently completed Travis Hafner Training Center. During McAtee’s year’s at Cowley, 15 buildings have been constructed and enrollment at the school has more than tripled.

“We have accomplished these things because of having a Board of Trustees, an administration, and employees that were willing to help in any way they could,” Dr. McAtee said. “Our growth has more to say about my relationship with all the people here, who have helped keep the college moving in a direction to grow and prosper.”

Dr. McAtee and his wife Sandy have had the pleasure of watching numerous Tiger athletes excel at the collegiate level and eventually go on to be inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame. Having helped provide the base for their opportunity to shine on the playing field and in the classroom, Dr. McAtee will now join those Tiger athletes in the school’s Hall of Fame.

“I am not going in as a spectator, athlete or coach, I believe I am going into the Hall of Fame because of the wonderful things we have done over the last 25 years,” Dr. McAtee said. “This is something I have loved all my life and this is Cowley College’s way of loving me back.”