What Florida A&M Athletic Director Angel Suggs’ Arrest Reveals About Leadership Challenges in College Sports
If you follow college athletics, you know that the role of an athletic director goes far beyond making schedules and hiring coaches. They’re the face behind the curtain, the person expected to model integrity, build programs with pride, and safeguard the financial and moral reputation of their university.
So, when news broke that Florida A&M's newly-hired athletics director, Angela Suggs, was arrested for allegedly using her former employer’s credit card for personal casino trips, the sports world took a collective pause.
Angela Suggs, athletic director for Florida A&M University, was arrested Monday on multiple felony criminal charges after a months-long investigation by the FDLE.
— Alison Posey (@AlisonPosey14) June 10, 2025
The investigation began in November, just two months after she was announced as FAMU’s VP and Director of Athletics. pic.twitter.com/vZ2zYsA08E
Suggs had just been hired at FAMU, a program rich in tradition and promise. This recent arrest, tied to her previous post at Norfolk State, has cast a shadow over what should have been a hopeful chapter.
The allegations claim she used over $10,000 in institutional funds to cover personal expenses. Many of them reportedly were at a Maryland casino.
Not to point fingers, but to examine what this signals.
In an era where college athletes are held under a microscope for every NIL deal, tweet, and sideline reaction, we should expect the same, if not more, from the people who run the programs. This isn’t just about one bad decision or a personal vice. It’s about how fragile trust has become in collegiate athletics, especially at HBCUs and smaller institutions that are already fighting for equitable funding and national respect.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we proudly offer our congratulations to our Vice President and Director of Athletics, Angela Suggs, for being honored this morning with the Fearless Award at the SWAC Game ChangHer Awards Brunch, hosted by AFCRA and Insights Marketing. pic.twitter.com/E19g1SeWWM
— Florida A&M University (@FAMU_1887) March 14, 2025
What’s next?
FAMU has placed Sykes on administrative leave, and the university has some serious decisions ahead. Expect increased scrutiny on hiring practices, stronger vetting, and hopefully more emphasis on ethics over optics.
Florida A&M athletic director turns herself in to police over $24K theft allegations from previous job https://t.co/RGhBIcDn7B #FoxNews
— Katie Burkhart (@katieburkhart_) June 10, 2025
For athletes, this is a reminder that leadership matters. Culture trickles down. And if we want to protect the game, we have to demand more from the top.
Because the truth is, when adults in power gamble with their positions, the ones who really lose are the students they were hired to serve.
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Katie Burkhart is a former professional softball pitcher and Arizona State University alumna, where she was a three-time All-American and led the Sun Devils to a national championship. She played professionally in the U.S., Japan, and Italy, and has coached at the Division I level. She now provides private pitching instruction and mindset training for athletes of all levels. Katie is also the author of Mental Muscle and Beyond the Game, books focused on athletic performance and life after sports.