Mike Royster, the longtime former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga equipment manager, passed away Friday.
Royster, a 2004 inductee into the UTC Hall of Fame, spent 47 seasons with the department before his retirement in 2021. At the time of his retirement, the Mike Royster Student Equipment Manager Endowed Scholarship was formed, which directly benefits student managers who were under his guidance throughout his career at UTC, which started in 1974 (when football games were played on campus at Chamberlain Field and indoor sports were at Maclellan Gymnasium).
Head football coach Rusty Wright worked with Royster in both his playing career from 1992-96 as well as his coaching career, where he worked as both an assistant as well as the head coach since 2019. He’s one of 10 head football coaches that Royster worked with.
“A great loss for this university,” Wright said. “Mike was a staple on this campus for 47 years. A giant of a man (6-foot-7), but a giant of a person as well. There was never a dull moment around him. Just a good man and a damn good Moc.”
He worked with seven athletic directors, six chancellors and nine head men’s basketball coaches. He was on the sideline for 523 football games, worked 23 football seasons at Chamberlain and 24 at Finley Stadium.
“I can honestly say that coming to UTC was the best decision I have made for me,” Royster said at the time of his retirement. “I have been lucky enough to work with a lot of great professionals through the years, but also some of the greatest and hardest working young people throughout my 47 years.
“I thank God every day for that. It has been an honor being here.”
Royster earned his bachelor’s degree from UTC in 1977 and in 2010 he served as the executive director of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, a national organization who purpose is to promote, advance and improve the equipment managers profession.
“Mike was a true titan in his industry,” UTC vice chancellor and athletic director Mark Wharton said. “Chattanooga was blessed to have him close for 50 years, which is a testament to his loyalty and love for our programs, coaches and most of all our student-athletes. He will be greatly missed.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.