Athletic director turnover was relatively quiet last month as only four Division I institutions experienced AD turnover in October. Of the four institutions to experience AD turnover in October, two of the four welcomed new athletic directors.
LIU Brooklyn
On October 3rd, LIU Post and LIU Brooklyn announced plans to combine the two athletic departments, creating one Division I program. The new unified program will begin competing in the fall of 2019 as a member of the Northeast Conference. A day later, LIU Brooklyn became the first athletic department to experience AD turnover in October when news broke that athletic director Brad Cohen was out. Cohen was named interim AD in 2014 replacing John Suarez. A year later the Blackbirds removed Cohen’s interim tag.
Prairie View A&M
Prairie View A&M turned to a familiar face when President Ruth Simmons announced the appointment of Fred E. Washington as the Panthers new director of athletics. Washington previously served as Prairie View’s AD from 2008 – 2013. Washington replaces Ashley Robinson who left earlier this year for fellow SWAC member Jackson State.
Alabama State
After spending the last year as the interim AD, Alabama State named Jennifer Lynne Williams Director of Athletics on October 10th. This summer Williams was named the FCS Administrator of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports. Additionally, Williams was recently appointed to the NCAA Division I Council where she serves on the Football Oversight Committee. With the appointment of Williams, Alabama State became the second SWAC member to experience AD turnover in October.
New Orleans
Longtime athletics administrator Vince Granito was named the Privateers interim athletic director following the announcement that Derek Morel would be stepping down from his post. Granito, who joined the New Orleans department in 2017, had served as UNO’s associate athletic director for internal operations. Morel accepted a position with the Allstate Sugar Bowl.