Our kind of town...Atlanta!

Forget what Ol’ Blue Eyes piped about the Windy City. It’s Atlanta that has become a special place for Tennessee Tech alums.

It’s our kind of town, now.

Former Tennessee Tech coaches are currently guiding two of that city’s five professional sports teams. Former TTU women’s basketball coach Marynell Meadors recently completed her first season as head coach and general manager of the Dream of the WNBA. And the NFL Falcons are under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Smith, who spent 12 seasons on the Golden Eagle staff.

The expansion Dream is Meadors’ fourth WNBA franchise, following positions with the Miami Sol, Charlotte Sting and Washington Mystics. The Dream’s 2008 WNBA season wrapped up in September.

She has more than 35 years coaching experience, beginning with more than 20 years at Tech, where she initiated the women’s basketball and volleyball programs.

As head coach of the women’s basketball team, she was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year and became the first women’s Division I coach to win 300 games at one institution.

In 1992 she was inducted into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame.

Smith was named in June as head coach of the Falcons, and his first regular season game as an NFL head coach – as a head coach of any level – came on Sept. 7 and resulted in a 34-21 win over the Detroit Lions. The regular season will finish for the Falcons on Dec. 28 with a home game in the Georgia Dome against the St. Louis Rams.

Smith was on the football coaching staff at Tech for 12 years, between 1987 and 1998, beginning as defensive line coach. He moved up to defensive coordinator for his final three seasons, and was assistant head coach in 1998.

Under his direction, Tech ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in total defense in 1997 and 1998.

For additional information on Meadors and the Dream, visit their website at: www.wnba.com/dream.

For more on Mike Smith and the Falcons, go to: www.atlantafalcons.com.

(Fall 2008)