Jackson State Athletic Director and Vice President Ashley Robinson is remaining at JSU.
Robinson has been the subject of much speculation that linked him to the open AD position at Prairie View A&M, which was where he spent the previous five years prior to heading to Jackson.
Wednesday morning Jackson State released a video with acting JSU President Elayne Hayes-Anthony and AD and VP Robinson in which they announced that he was going nowhere.
“AD Robinson is staying at Thee I Love, Jackson State University. We huddled up, as they say in sports, and we came out a winner. I am so pleased to have him as a part of my administration,” said Hayes-Anthony. “We want him here because of his brilliant track record. He’s done so many things to elevate athletics, which is a part of our strategic plan. I’d like to encourage the entire JSU community to show up and show out for our student athletes this season so we can continue to help them excel in and out of the classroom.”
“Jackson State is very special to me. It’s nothing like having support when you’re building an athletic department,” said Robinson. “A lot of athletics directors don’t have the support, and when you have the support of your president and your administration, that’s big. That’s one of the biggest reasons why I made a decision to stay here at Jackson State University, the support. You always want to be in the position where you can support your coaches and support your athletes, and President Anthony, you have put us in that position.”
Under Robinson’s leadership, Jackson State has brought home 17 championships and made the highest profile hire in school and conference history when Deion Sanders was tapped as head football coach , which led to back-to-back SWAC titles, two trips to the Celebration Bowl in his two years in Jackson.
The retaining of AD and VP Robinson was not the only annooucment made during the sitdown. The return of men’s and women’s golf to the athletic program was also revealed, bringing JSU to 18 offerings of varsity sports.
The entire interview can be seen below:
