Florida A&M Alumni Association Votes 'No Confidence' In Tiffani-Dawn Sykes And Hiring New Head Football Coach Choice
HOUSTON - The alumni associations have lost faith in the HBCU athletic directors, administrators, and boards. Recent firing, resignations, and hiring processes for the head coaches are under public scrutiny along the HBCU sports landscape.
Yesterday, the level of discontent reached a crescendo as the Florida A&M National Alumni Association Executive Board members met via a Zoom call to discuss the hiring process for the recommended head coach candidate.
FAMU's vice president of intercollegiate athletics, Tiffani-Dawn Sykes, decided to fill the coaching vacancy left by 2023 Celebration Bowl Championship coach Willie Simmons with Fort Valley State's head coach, Shawn Gibbs.
The former NCCU running back and HBCU assistant coach has a 16-5 record as a head football coach with the Wildcats. His team defeated Johnson C. Smith, 23-10, in the Inaugural Florida Beach Bowl on Dec. 13.
Fort Valley State head coach Shawn Gibbs; Credit: FVSU Athletics
In a stunning turn of events, the FAA board members polled 18-3 for a vote of "no confidence." Why stunning? Sykes has had an impressive year leading Florida A&M's athletic department with SWAC Championships in football and baseball, hiring a new women's basketball coach with a legendary athlete, and guiding her athletics back to national prominence.
Several outsiders have called the vote a "slap in the face" and "misogynistic." Either way, it's Sykes' decision, along with President Dr. Robinson, after interviewing Gibbs.
Credit: USA Today Sports, HBCU Legends
Credit: USA Today Sports, HBCU Legends
Last week, the Texas Southern University's National Alumni Association sent a letter to the leadership and Board of Regents at Texas Southern. The association addressed their concerns regarding the hiring process of the next head coach.
HBCU GameDay host Tolly Carr mentioned that it has been 51 days since Dr. Kevin Granger announced the departure of head coach Clarence McKinney from the football program. Today is the 52nd day.
The Board of Regents will meet on Friday, Jan. 12, to vote on the recommended employment contract for the next head football coach. Former Alcorn State's head coach, Fred McNair, remains the search committee's "top choice" after undergoing a second round of interviews per the board's request.
It is not the first, nor will it be, the last time for alumni and decision-makers at HBCUs to clash regarding hiring football coaches. What is unique about the Florida A&M situation is how quickly the exhilaration from the Celebration Bowl has disintegrated into disillusionment after Simmons' resignation.
Before yesterday's meeting, many in the Rattlers were bewildered at the recommended decision to hire Coach Gibbs. Hopefully, a joint resolution will be met, but will it matter regarding AD Sykes' final decision?
We shall see.