Texas Southern Regents Set to Vote on New AD, Basketball Coach; Letters Emerge Supporting Interim Coach

HOUSTON -- Texas Southern University President James W. Crawford III has identified the candidates he intends to recommend to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents for director of athletics and head men's basketball coach.

Crawford did not publicly identify the finalists in a statement released Tuesday.

Corey Lowery, a Seton Hall assistant under Shaheen Holloway and the former head coach at Lincoln (Pa.), confirmed to HBCU Legends on Friday that he interviewed for the men's basketball position. Interim coach Shyrone Chatman also remains among the finalists.

CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported Sunday night that Texas Southern intends to hire Lowery, pending approval by the Board of Regents.

Today, Texas Southern University announced President Crawford has "identified" the candidates he intends to recommend to the TSU Board of Regents for the positions of Director of Athletics and Head Men's Basketball Coach. He continued, "The searches for these two critical… pic.twitter.com/jsrsqRGOce
— Kyle T. Mosley (@KyleTMosley) August 11, 2026

Texas Southern has not officially announced Lowery as its choice for the position. Neither did Crawford's statement Tuesday did not name him as the university's recommended candidate.

HBCU Legends also contacted three people identified as potential candidates for the director of athletics position. Two confirmed that they interviewed for the job, while a third said he was never formally interviewed. All three requested that their names not be made public.

Terrance Harris of The Defender in Houston, reported that sources confirm Jackson State athletic director, Ashley Robinson, is a candidate.

Sources are confirming to the Defender that Texas Southern President Crawford has presented former Prairie View AD and current Jackson State AD Ashley Robinson for the vacant job and Seton Hall assistant Corey Lowery for the basketball job. There is some concern about Lowery.
— Terrance Harris (@TerranceCFB) August 11, 2026

Crawford's recommendations will go before the full Board of Regents at its Aug. 28 meeting. Texas Southern officials confirmed the meeting date to HBCU Legends and said no additional information about the candidates would be released until the board completes its consideration.

The Honorable Judge Caroline Baker Hurley chairs the board's Athletics Committee.

"The searches for these two critical leadership positions have been thorough and deliberate," Crawford said. "We appreciate the dedication and hard work of our search committees and the many individuals who contributed to this process. I look forward to presenting my recommendations to the Board of Regents later this month."

The statement sets up Aug. 28 as the next major date in a leadership transition that has left Texas Southern without permanent leadership in two of the university's most visible athletic positions.

Letters From a TSU Legend and the Players

Crawford's announcement came after HBCU Legends obtained two letters urging the university to retain Chatman as head men's basketball coach.

The first letter came from Dr. Lacey Reynolds, a tenured Texas Southern professor who has spent more than 40 years at the university. Reynolds previously served as an assistant men's basketball coach under Robert Moreland and later became head coach of the Lady Tigers.

Dr. Lacey Reynolds letter to TSU leadership. | Dr. Lacey Reynolds

Players Make Their Position Clear

The second letter came from the players Chatman recruited to Houston for the upcoming season.

The current Texas Southern men's basketball roster sent the letter to HBCU Legends after delivering it to Crawford. The players addressed the letter to the athletics director, chief operating officer and president -- two of those three positions are now directly connected to the leadership searches Crawford announced Tuesday.

"We, the student athletes of the Men's Basketball Team, wholeheartedly support Coach Shyrone Chatman as our basketball coach," the players wrote. "Being coached, developed and cared for by him is a big factor in why we chose TSU."

The players said they remain committed to returning to campus and preparing for the season under Chatman. They also warned of the potential consequences of making a coaching change this late in the offseason.

"We feel that it would be unfair to be forced to play for a staff we did not commit to play for, especially this late and having no time to make a different decision," the players wrote.

TSU basketball players' letter obtained by HBCU Legends. | TSU Basketball Players

The letter provides a direct look at the potential roster implications of a coaching change. The players were recruited by Chatman and say their decision to attend Texas Southern was influenced by their relationship with him.

Chatman has led the program on an interim basis since Johnny Jones resigned April 7 to join Will Wade's staff at LSU.

Dr. Paula L. Jackson has served as interim director of athletics since Kevin Granger was placed on administrative leave in June 2025. Granger's termination became effective March 16, 2026.

Why Aug. 28 Matters

The timeline surrounding the searches has shifted in recent weeks.

During a town hall meeting with alumni last month, Crawford said he expected to announce the new director of athletics and men's basketball coach on Aug. 17.

That date also happens to be the first day of classes at Texas Southern.

After Rothstein reported that Lowery was expected to become the Tigers' next head coach, speculation circulated that Crawford could announce the selections as early as Aug. 12 or Aug. 14.

That did not happen.

The reason is significant: Crawford's recommendations require approval from the Board of Regents.

The board must consider the recommended hires as well as compensation, coaching staff structures and associated budget allocations.

Crawford's Aug. 11 announcement now places the next major decision before the board on Aug. 28.

Until that vote, Lowery's reported hiring remains unconfirmed by Texas Southern.

That distinction matters.

A presidential recommendation is not the same as a completed university appointment. The Board of Regents holds the authority to approve or reject the recommendations before the hires become official.

What's Brewing at Texas Southern?

The proverbial ball is now in the Board of Regents' court.

Texas Southern's recent football coaching search offers a reminder that a presidential recommendation does not necessarily guarantee a straightforward board vote.

Crawford recommended Fred McNair for the Tigers' head football coaching position before some board members pushed for a candidate with a more prominent name or NFL experience. That process ultimately helped open the door for Cris Dishman, who was hired to lead Texas Southern football.

The basketball and director of athletics searches could now face their own dynamics.

Sources have indicated that there could be a split among board members.

If that happens, the Aug. 28 meeting could become more than a procedural vote. It could determine the direction of Texas Southern athletics at a pivotal moment for the university.

The next men's basketball coach will inherit a roster that has already publicly expressed its preference for Chatman.

The next director of athletics will inherit an athletic department that has operated under interim leadership and has been navigating significant administrative changes.

And the Board of Regents will ultimately determine whether Crawford's recommendations become official.

Could Texas Southern have a new head men's basketball coach and director of athletics before Aug. 28?

For now, the answer remains with the board.

We shall see.

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