Once again, that pesky day job has taken me away from various blogging activities lately. Anyway, this came to me via a press release from the Franco Public Relations Group, which (I think?) represents athletics at EMU. As the sentence summary of the release puts it, “Eastern Michigan University is the first NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision athletic department to be led by six African American men and women.”
The whole press release is below the “Read More” part.
YPSILANTI, Mich., Feb. 12, 2009 – The inauguration of President Barack Obama marked one of the greatest days in our country’s history as the first African American elected president took office adding to the overall strength and cultural diversity of our nation. Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is proud to have etched its own spot in history by having the first NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision athletic department led by six highly qualified African American men and women.
“Eastern Michigan University is extremely proud of the overall strength and cultural diversity of our Athletics Department’s leadership team,” said Sharon Abraham, director for Eastern Michigan University’s office of diversity. “We have an extremely diverse student population, so it is only fitting that those who lead our students, whether it be in athletics or academics, should also reflect this. For many students, college is their first opportunity to interact with people who are different. Diversity is a critical component of the college experience and it is great for students to see this type of leadership.”
Currently, EMU Athletics is lead by:
Dr. Derrick Gragg – Athletic Director
During Gragg’s first year at EMU in 2006-07, the department set a school and Mid-American Conference record by capturing a remarkable eight team conference titles, adding a league post-season crown and recording two runner-up finishes. The MAC-record eight team championships eclipsed the mark of six held jointly by Central Michigan (2003-04) and Western Michigan (1984-85).In 2007-08, Gragg’s second as athletics director, EMU followed up the record-breaking eight championships in 2006-07 with four league regular-season titles and one MAC Tournament crown and the Eagles secured the Reese Trophy which is awarded annually to the top overall men’s athletics program in the league. Eastern had won the prestigious Reese Trophy three previous times (1987-88, 1990-91 and 1995-96).
Stephannnie Vandenberg – Senior Women’s Administrator
Vandenberg oversees athletics marketing, promotions, corporate sales and Nelligan Sports Marketing. She also has sports oversight responsibilities for women’s soccer, softball, volleyball and women’s basketball.
Ron English – Head Football Coach
English was hired in December of 2008. Prior to EMU, English served as defensive coordinator for the University of Louisville in 2008 and assistant coach for the University of Michigan from 2003-07. He will coach his first season with EMU in the 2009 season.
Charles E. Ramsey – Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Ramsey became head men’s basketball coach in 2005 when he inherited a team with a 7-21 record. Since then, he has lead the team to their first .500 season since 1995 and their first tournament win since winning the MAC championship in 1998.
AnnMarie Gilbert – Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Gilbert is the seventh women’s head basketball coach in EMU history. In her first season, Gilbert coached her team to 17 wins and became the fourth first-year head coach in league history to win a MAC title.
Jay Alexander – Head Baseball Coach
Hired from Wayne State University in August of 2008, Alexander became the first African American head coach in EMU Baseball history. During his six-year tenure at Wayne State, his teams averaged 27 wins a season.
“When you have an athletic director and all of the revenue sports headed by people of color – that is a rarity,” said Floyd Keith, Executive Director of the Black Coaches and Administrators, an organization whose primary purpose is to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports both nationally and internationally. “It is definitely a step in the right direction for minority leadership in collegiate sports.”
