Austin Peay State University Athletics

Howard Gorrell enjoyed an outstanding basketball career at Austin Peay. A four-year letterman, Gorrell started his final two seasons at guard for the Governors, serving as captain in 1960. He scored more than 1,000 points during his four seasons. He also was selected All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference in the 1958-59 and 1959-60 seasons and was named the conference’s MVP in 1960. Gorrell twice earned distinction as All-VSAC tournament. During his career, the Governors won four consecutive VSAC championships. They also appeared in the NAIA (1957) and NCAA tourneys (1958, 1960). Gorrell was selected to the All-NAIA tourney team in 1960. That 1960 season also saw Gorrell finish fifth in the nation in free-throw shooting. He still holds the APSU career free-throw shooting record (.798 percentage). Gorrell was the 1960 Joy Award recipient, annually presented to the school’s most valuable senior athlete. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Austin Peay. Since leaving the University, Gorrell has spent 30 years as an educator. Gorrell currently is in his fourth year as superintendent of Todd County Schools after spending 10 years as a basketball coach and 17 more as a school principal. He also owns a farm and spent nine years as an Ohio Valley Conference basketball official.