Carl Maddox: Stave Franz, LSU Sports Information.
Carl Maddox
A 1932 graduate of Louisiana Normal College (now Northwestern State University), Carl Maddox earned his master's degree from LSU in 1943. Maddox was an integral part of LSU’s sports history. He began his career at LSU as an assistant coach under Paul Dietzel, where he was a member of the 1958 National Championship football team. Maddox served in various capacities at LSU for a quarter of a century, including six years as assistant football coach from 1954-59 and eight years as director of the LSU Union from 1960-68 before becoming athletic director from 1968-1978.
Maddox expanded the scope of LSU Athletics during his tenure as Athletic Director, establishing a viable women's sports program with the addition of volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, tennis and swimming on the varsity level while also adding four men's sports in cross country, gymnastics, wrestling and swimming. He oversaw the construction of numerous facilities at LSU including the LSU Field House, Bernie Moore Track Stadium, the LSU Tennis Stadium, four football practice fields and the west side addition to Tiger Stadium, and he introduced lighting at the old Alex Box Stadium for night baseball. The LSU Field House was later named in his honor.
Maddox also served as athletic director at Mississippi State from 1979-83 and in 1986 he received the James J. Corbett Memorial Award presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics for lifetime achievement in athletic administration. He is a member of the Louisiana and Mississippi Sports Halls of Fame, the LSU Tiger Hall of Distinction, the Northwestern State University Athletic Hall of Fame and the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction.
Maddox’s interview is housed in the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History at LSU Libraries Special Collections. Maddox, Carl, interview by Scott Purdy, audio recording, 1993, 4700.0233. Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.