SPORTS

 

In the days following the tragic death of George Floyd, a number of Black college athletics directors began connecting with one another via Zoom calls. At first, the calls were informal, simply a forum for open discussion on the issue of racial injustice in society at large and in the shared arena of intercollegiate athletics. 

But call after call, the group steadily grew, and those conversations of support, shared experiences and a collective desire to make a difference evolved as well. 

Now, more than 50 Black athletic directors have joined the newly formed Black AD Alliance. Davidson’s Chris Clunie, now in his third year leading his alma mater’s athletics program, is proud to be among them.  

“I’m extremely excited and honored to be a part of the Black AD Alliance,” said Clunie. “It’s important to advocate for current and potential black senior administrators who have the ability to connect with all scholar-athletes and lead impactful athletic communities.”

The Alliance, led by co-chairs Allen Greene (Auburn) and Brandon Martin (Kansas City),  is committed to promoting the growth, development and elevation of Black athletics administrators at the Division I level. It will engage industry decision-makers to provide exposure for aspiring Black college athletics professionals through purposeful mentoring, and foster connections with those who will aid in positioning leaders in intercollegiate athletics.

In the 2019 Racial and Gender Report Card released by The Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports (TIDES), Blacks held 8.7 percent of athletics director positions and 9.3 percent of assistant athletics director positions in 2018-19. 

“Members of the Black AD Alliance have a shared responsibility to leave a lasting impact on an industry to which we have dedicated our lives,” said Greene. “As many organizations within and connected to intercollegiate athletics search for techniques and programs that produce meaningful change, it’s inspiring to be engaged with diverse thought leaders who are dedicated to enhancing the holistic professional experiences of talented individuals.”

The group has created several strategic priorities that will provide a framework for moving forward, including: 

• Providing a forum for communication among Division I Black Athletics Directors in promoting professional advancement

• Partnering with NCAA senior leadership, Board of Governors, Conference Commissioners,
and NACDA to develop and implement policies, and create opportunities for Division I
Black athletics administrators

• Developing a support network for Black professionals seeking Division I senior athletic department positions

• Collaborating with MOAA and other minority-focused advocacy organizations nationally

• Providing a mechanism for concerted action in support of racial and social justice

The full list of Division I Black Athletic Directors is below.  

Mikki Allen, Tennessee State
Mark Alnutt, Buffalo
Ray Anderson, Arizona State
Omar Banks, Campbell
Roman Banks, Southern
Brian Baptiste, La Salle
Marcus Blossom, Holy Cross
Derek Carter, Coppin State
Elliot Charles, Chicago State
Valerie Cleary, Portland State
Sherard Clinkscales, Indiana State
Chris Clunie, Davidson
Stacy Danley, S.C. State
Kery Davis, Howard
Keith Davidson, Maryland-Eastern Shore
Tim Duncan, New Orleans
Earl Edwards, San Diego
Damon Evans, Maryland
Dianthia Ford-Kee, Mississippi Valley State
Sean T. Frazier, Northern Illinois
Sherryta Freeman, Lafayette
Kortne Gosha, FAMU
Dr. Derrick Gragg, Tulsa
Kevin Granger, Texas Southern
Alex Gray, Western Carolina
Allen Greene, Auburn
Daryl Gross, Cal State LA
Charles Guthrie, Green Bay
David Harris, Northern Iowa
Gerald Harrison, Austin Peay
Brian Hicks, Alabama A&M
Derek Horne, Alcorn State
Martin Jarmond, UCLA
Candice Storey Lee, Vanderbilt
Warde Manuel, Michigan
Eugene Marshall, Jr., Hampton
Brandon Martin, Kansas City
Bernard Muir, Stanford
Milton Overton, Kennesaw State
Roderick Perry, IUPUI
David Ponton, Grambling State
Lee Reed, Georgetown
Donald Remy, NCAA
Chris Reynolds, Bradley
Ashley Robinson, Jackson State
Peter Roby, Former AD
Ed Scott, Morgan State
Gene Smith, Ohio State
Tamica Smith Jones, California Riverside
Jonathan Terrell, Nicholls State
Lynn Thomson, Bethune-Cookman
Jermaine Truax, Bucknell
Terry Tumey, Fresno State
Robert Vowels, Detroit Mercy
Melody Webb, Norfolk State
Ingrid Wicker McCree, N.C. Central
Stan Wilcox, NCAA
Carla Williams, Virginia
Jennifer Williams, Alabama State