Southern Connecticut State University Interim President Dr. Dwayne Smith has announced that Terrance Jones has been named SCSU Director of Athletics and Recreation. Jones is the seventh athletic director in SCSU history and will begin in February 2024.
Below is a letter to the community from Interim President Smith.
Dear Southern Community,
I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Terrance Jones as the new Director of Athletics and Recreation at Southern Connecticut State University, following a national search. Terrance brings a proven leadership background to the position, with many years spent as an athletics administrator. He will use this experience to elevate our programs and enhance the academic, personal, and competitive excellence of our scholar-athletes.
Currently, Terrance serves as the Assistant Athletic Director of External Operations and Stadium Management at Jackson State University, an HBCU in Jackson, Miss. Jackson State’s athletics program, with 16 sports and a $10 million budget, is historically known for the strength of its football, most recently under the coaching of former NFL great Deion Sanders. Terrance oversees the day-to-day operations of the Athletic Department’s external operations, which include ticket sales, marketing, diversity efforts, fundraising, stadium operations, and community outreach. He cultivated growth by directing the installation of new ticketing software used university wide, which increased ticket and game-day revenue by 40 percent in its first year of operation. Likewise, revenue from stadium operations more than doubled to $4.6 million under his watch.
Before joining Jackson State, Terrance served as the Deputy Director of Athletics at Alabama State University. As a member of the Athletic Department’s executive leadership team, he was tasked with improving operational efficiency by leading the department’s day-to-day operations and external arms, overseeing 65 staff members and coaches with an annual budget of $14 million. During his five-year tenure he established the Alabama State Athletics Hall of Fame and Football Ring of Honor recognition programs and lifted athletics department revenue by 35 percent through strategic marketing efforts and football/basketball game match-ups.
During his tenure at both NCAA Division I institutions, Terrance provided leadership resulting in 43 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championships, three consecutive commissioner cups, and two conference academic awards for the highest athletic department GPA in the SWAC. He also cultivated sponsorship agreements of up to $250,000 with high-profile organizations, including Coca-Cola, Metro Wireless by T-Mobile, the Seattle Seahawks, Regions & BBVA Banks, and the City of Montgomery, Ala.
Prior to arriving in Montgomery, Terrance served Delaware State University as the Associate Athletic Director of Marketing within the Department of Athletics. During that time, he promoted Delaware State University’s 16-sport NCAA Division I athletics program with an annual departmental budget of $12 million by developing and implementing comprehensive marketing/advertising strategies
Terrance holds a B.S. in Recreation/Sports Management (cum laude) and a master’s degree in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University. He is in the final stages of completing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Delaware State and is also a graduate of the NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcombe Leadership Institute. Beyond all his incredible work experiences, Terrance states that his most important job is being a father to his 22-year-old daughter, Tadaisha L. Jones.
I thank the search committee, led by Michael Kingan, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, and the PICTOR Group athletics consulting firm for their astute efforts in assembling a field of outstanding candidates for this important position. And I also thank Matt Letkowski, associate director of athletics, for again stepping in so ably to lead the Athletics Department in an interim director role while the search was underway.
As you know, Southern’s athletic program is highly competitive within the Northeast 10 Conference and has regularly earned team and individual titles at the national Division II level. Southern also has a robust program of club sports, intramurals, fitness, and recreation. With this new leadership hire we are seeking to build on these accomplishments and grow the programs in myriad ways.
These include enhancing alumni engagement, growing external revenue production and bringing more Owl spirit to campus by further integrating athletics and recreation into the life of the university. Athletics will also play a key role in our university-wide efforts to build enrollment, and improve our retention and graduation rates, as outlined in the university’s new, five-year strategic plan.
In advancing these goals, I believe that Southern athletics and recreation will be well-served by Terrance’s proven ability to balance leadership and management, along with his commitment to providing high-quality, impactful student experiences and developing strong community support. Please provide a warm welcome to our new Director of Athletics Terrance Jones! We look forward to his arrival back on campus when he begins his new role February 5.
“I am beyond honored and privileged to be named the seventh Director of Athletics and Recreation at Southern Connecticut State University,” said Jones. “It is with great excitement that I take on this role and join the proud tradition of The Owl Way. I want to express my immense gratitude to President Smith and Dr. Tyree for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity. I am committed to the growth and development of the athletic department and the student-athletes who are an integral part of our campus community and the heart beat of our competitive spirit.”
Read more about Terrance Jones on the SCSU Athletics website.
