Mocs say goodbye to hall of fame coach, athletic director

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (UTC Athletics) — The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga mourns the loss of former student-athlete, football coach and athletic director Harold Wilkes. Coach Wilkes passed away on Saturday, Dec. 23, at the age of 85. Arrangements will be announced by www.CovenantFuneral.com.

His footprints on the Mocs athletic program are deep and clear. It started as a student-athlete playing for college football Hall of Famer Scrappy Moore helping lead the 1958 team to its win over Tennessee. He later joined Moore’s staff working with him until his retirement following the 1967 season leading UC to its natural next step.

Wilkes guided the Mocs football team from 1968 to 1972, bridging the gap between legendary Moore and Joe Morrison. He posted a 20-33 record in those five seasons, and his 1968 squad was one of the best in school history. It went 9-1 with its only loss coming at the hands of Archie Manning’s Ole Miss squad, 38-16.

He took over as athletic director in 1970 and held that position for 20 years. During that time, he oversaw the largest growth in athletics at UTC in school history. After winning an NCAA Division II National Championship in basketball and finishing runner-up in wrestling, the Mocs transitioned to Division I in the 1977-78 season.

Football joined the NCAA Division I-AA ranks in 1978 and many programs flourished in the Southern Conference under his tenure. Women’s tennis captured six national titles from 1977-85, while the men won 10 SoCon titles in his tenure.

Wrestling continued it success at the Division I level, winning the SoCon 11 times and tying for 14th at the 1983 NCAA Tournament. Women’s basketball claimed four SoCon titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 1989.

Men’s basketball made a national name even after its national championship with the move to DI. Wilkes hired two head coaches during his tenure. Murray Arnold and Mack McCarthy combined for seven SoCon championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances with the 1982 team coming within a whisker of the Sweet 16 defeating N.C. State the year prior to its Cinderella run. He oversaw the move into the 11,000+ seat Roundhouse in 1983 later re-named McKenzie Arena.

Memories of Coach Wilkes will last for generations among Mocs student-athletes, fans and supporters. The Harold Wilkes Award was established by the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011 to recognize a volunteer, coach, staff member or University administrator who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in furthering Chattanooga Athletics.