COMMERCE – Texas A&M University-Commerce is proud to announce the commitment of the largest single capital gift in Lion Athletics history, as the Scott Wheeler family has made a leadership gift to the Lion Football locker room expansion and renovation project. The gift commitment was celebrated with a ceremony prior to the Lions' game vs. Midwestern State last Saturday. 
 
The gift has kick-started donations to the 7,800 square-foot expansion to the existing Lion Football locker room, which is being funded from a combination of elevated donor support, athletics corporate partnership increases, and other revenues. No state dollars or institutional academic funding is being utilized for this project. 


 
The son of two Texas A&M University-Commerce professors (formerly East Texas State University), Scott Wheeler's passion for his alma mater was kindled from a very young age. Wheeler graduated in 1980, majored in psychology, minored in radio/television, and went on to earn his Master of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business.
 
"It was a pleasure to be asked to make this commitment," Wheeler said during his remarks at Saturday's ceremony.  "Just talking about Best in Class and student success is not enough. This was an opportunity to step up and support one of the most visible aspects of our university, our championship football program and all of the special student-athletes that represent our institution."
 
Until recently, Wheeler served as the president of Daseke Inc., the largest flatbed freight logistics provider in North America, serving major industrial producers in 49 U.S. States, Canada and Mexico. Prior to that, he served as CFO at OneSource Virtual and helped start what became one of the fastest growing technology enabled services companies in the country.  He was selected as CFO of the Year for the Middle Market by the Dallas Business Journal in 2015 and was a member of the Public Company Board of Directors of the Year in 2017. 
 
Wheeler served as Mayor of Addison, Texas, from 1999 to 2005. He currently serves on the Board of EVO Transportation and also served on the Dallas Central Appraisal District Board of Directors from 2006 to 2008, as well as on the Board of Directors for Compass Bank Dallas from 1994 to 2008. There is a bridge in Addison, Texas, named in his honor.
 
Scott and Kathryn Wheeler live in Addison (Dallas area) with their two daughters, Whitney and Kelley.

"During my time at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Scott and Kathryn Wheeler have reinforced to me numerous times what Lion Pride really means," said A&M-Commerce President Dr. Mark Rudin. "With this gift commitment, they send a strong a message about their belief in student success and the role intercollegiate athletics plays on our campus.  We are extremely grateful for their philanthropic leadership."
 
The upgrades and expansion to the Lion Football locker room will provide a modern entry lobby to welcome guests and recruits, an expanded locker room space which allows for functionality and comprehensive team needs, and permanent sports medicine and equipment spaces within the confines of the existing locker room.  A total of 120 new, state-of-the-art player lockers are being constructed featuring custom graphics, illuminated nameplates, enhanced seating, electrical outlets, and charging ports. The modernization of the locker room space also includes new flooring, custom wall graphics, fresh paint, and modern lighting.
 
"Our football MVP this past weekend did not make a single tackle or score a touchdown, but he and his family are making an extreme impact off the field," said A&M-Commerce Director of Athletics Tim McMurray. "For the Wheelers to make a leadership commitment to our Lion Football Locker Room Expansion Project is transformational. We appreciate the generosity of Scott, Kathryn, Whitney, and Kelley, and we expect this to be a catalyst for other Lion constituents to step forward in support of student-athlete success. Our vision is bold, but it is matched by the Wheelers' unwavering resolve to a championship culture, and we appreciate their investment with impact." 
 
Following the celebration of the commitment, which was attended by the Lion Football team just before warmups, the Lions went on to defeat Midwestern State by a 54-28 score in front of a huge home crowd and national television audience on ESPN3 as the NCAA Division II National Showcase game. The Lions are now 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Lone Star Conference and in prime contention for the LSC championship race and the NCAA Division II playoffs.
 
"We thank the Wheeler Family for this donation from the bottom of our hearts," said Lion Football head coach David Bailiff. "This donation will not only help these young men, but also Lion Football players for generations to come. We know this isn't possible without the support of your family and this important decision."
 
For more information on making a gift to support our Best in Class football student-athletes and be a part of this project, please call Associate Athletics Director Taylor Phelps at (903) 886-5554, or taylor.phelps@tamuc.edu.