The historical significance attached to new University of Memphis athletic director Ed Scott is not lost on him.

“I’ve been told I’m your first Black athletic director,” Scott, 44, said Friday during his introductory press conference inside the lobby of the Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center.

As of February, there were 18 Black athletic directors at 134 FBS schools. That matters to Scott – the eighth athletic director in University of Memphis history.

“There’s probably a burden that comes with it, if I’m being completely honest,” Scott said. “I think about all the Black and brown little children, aspiring ADs that are going to look at me and, if I’m successful, they’re going to think they have a chance. That, for me, is powerful.”

But Scott and those close to him agree his work will be just as much a part of his legacy.

Cato Johnson is the chairman of the university’s board of trustees. He is also the chief of staff and senior vice president of public policy and regulatory affairs at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. He was part of university president Bill Hardgrave’s three-person executive committee that assisted Hardgrave during the search process for a new AD.

“It is of tremendous significance, because diversity and inclusion is important,” said Johnson, who sat on Scott’s left while Hardgrave sat on his right during Friday’s formal introduction. “But that’s not a laurel we can rest on. We have to rest on the laurel of achievement.”

Scott comes to Memphis from the Virginia, where he spent the past 2.5 years as Cavaliers AD Carla Williams’ deputy AD. Before that, Scott was the athletic director for five years at Morgan State.

During Scott’s first week at Virginia, Williams said she remembers thinking Scott should have been the head of his own athletic department at the FBS level long ago.

“I think the fact that he is a person of color is inspirational to other people of color who aspire to leadership positions – athletics or anything else,” she said. “It’s extremely important as a visual representation of what is possible.

MEMPHIS AD: What sold Memphis board of trustees chair Cato Johnson on Ed Scott as athletic director

“So I think it’s important to recognize the historical nature of the hire. But I think even more important is the fact that he has worked himself into earning this opportunity. He is beyond qualified for the position.”

Scott said he will strive to prove Williams right as long as he is AD at Memphis.

“I’m everybody’s AD. I happen to be Black, and that’s important. But I’m an athletic director for the Black folks, the white folks and everybody in between. I’m here to lead and serve the University of Memphis and this community, and I’m excited to do that.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ed Scott: Memphis' first Black AD on historical significance