Anthony Holloman, FVSU vice president for advancement, will assume the additional role of interim athletics director effective immediately. In this role, he will focus on growing financial support for athletics programs while continuing to increase operational effectiveness in the division. He will also implement additional focus on student services. Holloman is uniquely qualified for the dual role, having served as athletics director at Tuskegee University in addition to senior advancement positions at a variety of colleges including Tuskegee, Jackson State University, Stillman College, South Carolina State University, Tennessee State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Johnson C. Smith University, and Wiley College. Holloman has a master’s degree in sports administration and previously coached teams in track, football, and basketball. Under his leadership, fundraising for the university has increased by more than sixty percent.

“Our championship mindset will drive the continued enhancement of our athletics programs,” said Paul Jones, Ph.D., president of Fort Valley State University. “FVSU has proven our ability to build winning teams while exercising fiscal responsibility and efficiently developing scholar athletes. We are now taking the steps necessary to increase our income flow in order to enable more students to grow as competitors and scholars through the Wildcat athletics experience.”

Holloman’s work will build on substantial enhancements in the quality of athletic programming achieved during the tenure of former director Daryl Pope, Ed.D. Under Pope, FVSU’s athletics programs achieved sound and sustainable fiscal positioning, operating without any deficit for the past two years while accumulating notable achievements, including 2016’s SIAC football championship. The university also attracted notable coaching talent, including WNBA veteran Le’Coe Willingham, the head coach of the Lady Wildcats basketball team, and began rebuilding the strength and conditioning program.

“FVSU athletics has always been committed to excellence,” said Holloman. “Our goal is to continue creating a division where everyone wins, and that means our teams, students, fans, and contributors, as well as sponsors looking for a return on investment. We are in a fantastic position to leverage enthusiasm for our programs to increase ticket sales and develop new financial models based on intensified support from our partners, alumni, and friends.”

During his tenure as athletics director at Tuskegee, Holloman helped reset the division’s strategic direction, streamlined operations, and oversaw the recruitment of student athletes.