Q & A With Offensive Line Coach Bart Tatum
7/30/2015 4:11:00 PM | Football
Offensive line coach Dr. Bart Tatum is featured in this week's installment of GoBearkats.com's series of interviews with the 2015 Sam Houston football staff.
The past three seasons, Tatum has overseen a line that has paved the way for one of the most productive offenses in NCAA FCS competition. In that three-year span, the Kats have compiled a 31-14 record, averaged 451 yards total offense and 38.2 points per game NCAA post-season playoff berths each season. Tatum has coached players who have earned All-Southland honors nine times
Prior to coming to Huntsville, Tatum coached at Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri State and his alma mater, Austin College
Question: Besides coaching here at Sam Houston the past three years, you also worked here in Huntsville early in your career. Tell us about that experience?
Coach Tatum: I worked for legendary coach Ron Randleman here coaching tight ends in 1992 and defensive ends in 1993. One of our players, John Solomon, was a fifth-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings. Working with Coach Randleman here was a great experience. When I had the opportunity to come back to Huntsville, my family and I were extremely excited.
Question: How did you get into coaching?
Coach Tatum: I enjoyed a very fun and productive experience in high school and in college as a football player. I played at Cooper High School in Abilene and at Austin College. My first year out of college I was a graduate assistant at my alma mater. It's great getting to work with student-athletes.
Question: You haven't spent all your time on the football field. You have an impressive educational resume. Tell us about your educational background?
Coach Tatum: I graduated from Cooper High School in Cooper, Texas. It was an awesome place to be born and raised. I did my undergraduate work at Austin College in Sherman, Texas in history and kinesiology. My first of two Master of Arts was in teaching from Austin College. My second Master of Arts in kinesiology was from Sam Houston State University. I also completed an Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Question: Following your time as a grad assistant at Sam Houston, you embarked on a successful career in coaching. Can you take us through your coaching career?
Coach Tatum: After leaving Sam Houston, I spent my next 12 years at Northwest Missouri State University, finishing as the offensive coordinator. My next stop was at Missouri Southern State University as the head coach for six years. And now I am back at Sam Houston State University going into my fourth season back as the offensive line coach. I have coached in four national title games, coaching the national champions twice. I have coached in five national semi-finals games and coached and played in 34 national play-off games. In 28 seasons as a player or coach, I have been a part of 10 conference championship teams. It has been a blessing to be surrounded by so many championship caliber people.
Question: Family is important to each member of the Bearkat coaching staff. Can you tell us about your family?
Coach Tatum: My wife, Rachel, teaches in Huntsville. She never misses a family function and is an avid exercise person. Our sons, Alec, Miles and Matthew, are a senior, 8th grader and 5th grader, respectively, in the 2015-2016 school year. They all enjoy playing sports and outdoor activities.
Question: Away from football coaching, what are your hobbies?
Coach Tatum: I love to watch my kids play sports. They are all very active and highly competitive. I thoroughly enjoy a round of golf. I walk, so the exercise is good. The exercise is the best excuse I have to play.
Question: What is the outlook for the Bearkat offensive line in 2015?
Coach Tatum: Everyone is excited and ready to get the training camp started. We had a great spring and should have excellent depth this year. Everyone on the team knows we're not going to sneak up on any one this fall. We have to work hard and take things one game at a time.
Coach Tatum and the Bearkat offensive line report for preseason camp on August 6 and begin the 2015 season Sept. 5 in Lubbock against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Season tickets for Sam Houston football games are available now online at www.gobearkats.com or at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office at (936) 294-1729.
