Tiffani-Dawn Sykes today will be introduced as FAMU’s new Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Sykes currently serves as the Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Varsity Sports and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
"We are happy to welcome Ms. Sykes into the FAMUly. Her credentials are impeccable and her demonstrated commitment to excellence are what we need to move our program forward," said FAMU President Larry Robinson. “I am excited about this hire and look forward to working with her to take FAMU to the next level.”
"I honored to chosen and look forward to continuing the outstanding legacy that resides on the "Highest of Seven Hills ," said Sykes.
Sykes began her career in 2002 at Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville, Virginia, in sports information and took on the role of the Senior Woman Administrator during her four years there. She was the Sports Information Director and SWA at Virginia Union University, and served two stints as the interim Sports Information Director and Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at Grambling State University, where she earned her master's degree in sport administration. Additionally, she was the Sports Management Specialist in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference office.
"We are happy to welcome Ms. Sykes into the FAMUly. Her credentials are impeccable and her demonstrated commitment to excellence are what we need to move our program forward," said FAMU President Larry Robinson. “I am excited about this hire and look forward to working with her to take FAMU to the next level.”
"I honored to chosen and look forward to continuing the outstanding legacy that resides on the "Highest of Seven Hills ," said Sykes.
Sykes began her career in 2002 at Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville, Virginia, in sports information and took on the role of the Senior Woman Administrator during her four years there. She was the Sports Information Director and SWA at Virginia Union University, and served two stints as the interim Sports Information Director and Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at Grambling State University, where she earned her master's degree in sport administration. Additionally, she was the Sports Management Specialist in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference office.
No honeymoon
Sykes will have her work cut out for her, she takes over a department that is a literal “snake pit”. The FAMU athletic director's office has been a revolving door over the past 10 years with seven interim or permanent ADs. The list includes: Michael Smith (2013 and 2022), Kellen Winslow (2014), Nelson Townsend (2014-15), who died from a heart attack a month after being named interim, Earl D'Wayne Robinson (2015), Milton Overton (2015-17), John Eason (2017-19) and Kortne Gosha (2019-22). The department is in the process of hiring its 11th compliance director since 2010.
Along with low staff morale, the department faces a myriad of problems including APR issues in its most visible sport – football.
Late this summer things reached a boiling point when on the eve of its season opener football game when 26 football players were declared ineligible by the NCAA and team members spent more than six hours deliberating whether to board a chartered flight to North Carolina.
This was certainly a low point for the university which earlier this had been riding high on the heels of the Marching 100’s high profile return to Paris, France, before being rocketed by a student’s risqué’ graduation photo.
Sykes will be tasked with navigating the department’s NCAA compliance issues, balancing the budget, filling several vacancies –including head track coach, head softball coach, compliance officers-- as well as work to build cohesive relationships with the current staff in the department.
Sykes will have her work cut out for her, she takes over a department that is a literal “snake pit”. The FAMU athletic director's office has been a revolving door over the past 10 years with seven interim or permanent ADs. The list includes: Michael Smith (2013 and 2022), Kellen Winslow (2014), Nelson Townsend (2014-15), who died from a heart attack a month after being named interim, Earl D'Wayne Robinson (2015), Milton Overton (2015-17), John Eason (2017-19) and Kortne Gosha (2019-22). The department is in the process of hiring its 11th compliance director since 2010.
Along with low staff morale, the department faces a myriad of problems including APR issues in its most visible sport – football.
She'll also have to create a strategic vision for department and be able to communicate it effectively to the fanbase, and raise funding to continue to address the lingering facilities issues within the department including the completion of the Bragg Stadium renovation project, including restroom upgrades, new video and scoreboards at Bragg, the Lawson Center, and Gaither Gym completion.
The first-time AD will be tasked with doing all these things with a Rattler Booster Club that on a good day "can't raise a flag" and a fanbase that thinks giving $100 or $500 provides them with rights and privileges.