New ASU athletic director takes over (1917 hits)

Stacy Danley was certainly aware of Alabama State's revolving door in the athletic department.

The university has had six different athletic directors since Rob Spivery left in 2002, seven if you want to count execu­tive vice president John Knight, who has run the department since interim direc­tor Sterling Steward resigned in June.

Danley, a former star running back at Auburn in the late 1980s, served as Tus­kegee University's athletic director in 2008 and 2009 so he couldn't help but no­tice the turmoil of the Hornets' program as it went through coaching transitions, NCAA sanctions and constant changes at the top of the athletic department.

Danley also noticed other changes on campus. New baseball, softball and soc­cer facilities as well as a football complex were the latest developments for a pro­gram trying to put its chaotic struggles in the past.

"It was very clear to me they were at a position where they were ready to trans­form this athletic department," he said. "They made a commitment to me that they wanted me here and they wanted me here for some time. I'm not going any­where any time soon. We've got a lot of work to do. It's not going to happen over­night but we're going to get it done."

Danley took the reins of the Alabama State athletic department Monday and spent Friday meeting with the media as he looked toward what he believes is a bright future in Hornet athletics. Nei­ther Knight nor university president William Harris was on hand for the infor­mal meeting, leaving Danley alone to dis­cuss the new direction of Alabama State's athletic department.

"They put me in the car and showed me the baseball stadium, softball field and soccer field and the football com­plex," Danley said of his initial meeting with his superiors. "They're all under construction right now. I don't care where you are in the country, that spells commitment.

"I'm excited when the president tells you they're transforming the entire university and that they're going to use the visibility of ath­letics to help promote the goals and objectives and the mission of the university." Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Monday, August 2nd 2010 at 2:09PM
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