Florida A&M has found its next director of athletics in Tiffany Dawn Sykes.
Sykes, 42, most recently served at Dartmouth College as executive senior associate director of athletics for varsity sports and senior women’s administrator.
She is the second female athletics director in FAMU history, after Sarah Hill-Yates.
Sykes will be introduced at 10:00 a.m. in the Lee Hall Auditorium on Wednesday, October 12.
“I am honored to be selected to lead one of the nation’s most historic programs,” Sykes said in a released statement. “With the 50th anniversary of Title IX, I understand the importance of my joining the FAMU family in this position.
“I look forward to working with all of the Rattlers to continue the great legacy found on the ‘Tallest of the Seven Hills.’
This comes six months after former FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Courtney Goshey suddenly resigned from his posts. The news of Gosha’s departure shook many Rattler fans, including football coach Willie Simmons, as FAMU President Dr. Larry Robinson, Ph.D quickly named a veteran employee Michael Smith as Interim Director of Athletics.
Since then, Gosha has been hired Tulane University Senior Assistant Athletic Director.
Meanwhile, FAMU has launched a nationwide search led by a search committee chair Dr. Shaunta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D and an 18-member search committee.
Robinson made the final call in finalizing the hiring.
“We are delighted to welcome Ms. Tiffany-Dawn Sykes to FAMUly,” he said. “Her credentials are impeccable and her demonstrated commitment to excellence is just what we need to advance our program. I am excited about this hire and look forward to working with her to take FAMU to the next level.
“I must also extend special thanks to Interim Vice President/Administration Michael Smith for his exemplary service during his tenure.”
“I want to thank the student-athletes, staff and coaches for all of your work, service and support during this process and for helping Ms. Sykes be successful when she joined FAMUly”
FAMU hired by DHR International to assist in the collection of applications, nominations and recruitment of candidates to assist in identifying the three unranked candidates who were named by Sykes, president and CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation Angela Suggsand former Temple associate athletics director Craig Angelos.
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Who is Tiffany-Dawn Sykes?
Sykes graduated from Virginia State University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education, recreation and dance. She earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Grambling State University.
As a senior, she was team captain and a four-year starter for the Virginia State volleyball team and a three-year all-star in track and field.
Sykes was initially hired as Dartmouth’s associate director of athletics for compliance in October 2019, and a year later she was promoted to senior associate director of athletics for varsity sports, as well as a senior administrator.
Her second promotion came in March 2022, when she was promoted to senior executive associate director of athletics for varsity sports while retaining her position as senior administrator.
In December 2021, Sykes was appointed to the 14-member NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee, which provides communication and understanding between the NCAA, the US Olympic Committee and national governing bodies.
Sykes has experience in the SWAC, having served nearly three years as the assistant athletics director at Grambling State. She also managed the girls baseball, softball and girls tennis teams at Grambling.
At Grambling, Sykes created “The Maul,” a gas station for student-athletes to fuel up with healthy snacks for free.
Sykes’ other stops include Norfolk State, Chowan University, Virginia, St. Paul’s College and the CIAA office.
Sykes is also a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the National Association of Athletics Compliance (NAAC) and Women Leaders in Collegiate Athletics, and the Minority Athletic Association.
Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him by email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
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