New Orleans AD Tim Duncan on Executive Committee of newly-formed Black AD Alliance

Black AD Alliance Formed; Tim Duncan on Executive Committee 

NEW ORLEANS – The week following the senseless death of George Floyd, New Orleans Director of Athletics Tim Duncan spoke to the athletics staff and student-athletes and shared his story on racial profiling. He encouraged staff and student-athletes to tell their story and vowed to speak out against injustices.

He and several African American ADs across Division I institutions joined a Zoom call and the Black AD Alliance was created. The mission statement is powerful; “the growth, development and elevation of Black athletics administrators at the Division I level.” Strategic priorities include promoting professional advancement among Division I Black Athletic Directors and minority athletic administrators, partner with NCAA senior leadership and NACDA, collaborate with MOAA and provide a comprehensive plan for action in support of racial and social justice.

The group includes over 50 Black athletic directors, with Auburn’s Allen Green and Kansas City’s Brandon Martin serving as co-chairs. Duncan was instrumental in inviting over two dozen ADs including his colleagues from Division I HBCUs and was selected to serve on the executive committee.

“I am overwhelmed to have been selected to serve on the Executive Committee,” said Duncan. “Members of the Black AD Alliance are some of the most recognized and respected leaders in our profession and for those men and women to have chosen me to serve as a leader of this august group is almost overwhelming.”

From our very first call just days after George Floyd died, I knew this group was special,” Duncan added. “What started as a support group to discuss our thoughts and feelings about George Floyd, racial equality, and how we planned to lead our student-athletes during these troubling times, to what now is a premier advocacy group for intercollegiate athletics is an amazing feat.”

In the 2019 Racial and Gender Report Card released by The Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports (TIDES), Blacks and Hispanics have been under-represented in college administration front office positions. Those positions include senior titles of associate or assistant AD for compliance, marketing, communications, academic services, ticketing, sports medicine and community relations.

Blacks held 8.7 percent of athletic director positions with Hispanics/Latinos at 2.7 percent. Blacks held 9.3 percent of assistant athletic director positions in 2018-19. 

For #NOLAsTeam, four of the five executive staff members are minorities; Duncan (Director of Athletics), Dena Freeman-Patton (Deputy AD/COO), Kirsten Elleby (Associate AD/Student-Athlete Enrichment/SWA) and Kelvin Queliz (Assistant AD/Communications/Marketing).

Over 50 Black athletic directors at the Division I level have been active participants in the discussions. From the group, a 15-person executive committee has been established. The Executive Committee members of the Alliance include: Omar Banks (Campbell University), Tim Duncan (University of New Orleans), Damon Evans (University of Maryland), Derrick Gragg (University of Tulsa), Charles Guthrie (University of Wisconsin Green Bay), Derek Horne (Alcorn State University), Martin Jarmond (University of California, Los Angeles), Candice Lee (Vanderbilt University), Warde Manuel (University of Michigan), Bernard Muir (Stanford University), Lee Reed (Georgetown University), Ed Scott (Morgan State University), Tamica Smith Jones (University of California, Riverside), Ingrid Wicker McCree (North Carolina Central University) and Carla Williams (University of Virginia).

Smaler task forces have been established which include: Allies, Pipeline/Recruitment, Social Justice, HBCUs, Student-Athlete Wellness and Development and Ambassadors.

The full list of Division I Black Athletic Directors is below.