Update: 8:20 p.m.: Florida A&M University’s Interim Athletics Director is a familiar name at FAMU. Nelson Townsend will take over the job of Kellen Winslow Sr., who resigned Sunday.
Winslow Sr. was President Elmira Mangum’s first hire. His series of high-profile gaffs angered many FAMU students, and alumni. Winslow’s abrupt firing of former head football coach Earl Holmes days before homecoming was the last straw. A committee of the university’s governing board voted no-confidence in him. The full board upheld that vote. During Monday’s news conference, President Mangum said the department will continue to move forward under a new leader-- Interim athletics director Nelson Townsend.
“This is not a new spot for me, I’ve been in this position before," Townsend says. "And I cherish this opportunity because this time it’s an opportunity to serve in this capacity at a time when this university needs to move in the direction Dr. Mangum has laid forth.”
Townsend previously worked as FAMU’s athletics director in the late 1980’s and again in 2005 through 2007. This time around he’ll continue to oversee the hiring of a new head football coach, as well as work to wrangle the departments ongoing budget deficit.
Meanwhile, Mangum who accepted Winslow's resignation Sunday evening, says she wishes him well.
“Whatever your impression of Mr. Winslow may have been, and I’ve gotten quite a few comments, I’d ask you to take the moral high ground also.”
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Original Story: Florida A&M University is down an athletics director. After months of controversy, Kellen Winslow Sr. has resigned.
Winslow’s arrival at FAMU was met with fanfare back in April. That’s when newly-installed FAMU President Elmira Mangum announced the former pro-football player and hall of famer would be the school’s new athletics director.
“I am here to officially confirm that Mr. Kellen Winslow Sr. has been selected as our new athletics director," Mangum said back in April.
But almost from the start, Winslow made a series of gaffs that angered many FAMU supporters. He said the school’s athletics department should be torn down and rebuilt. He temporarily suspended the women’s tennis team—which bore tennis great Althea Gibson. And he was unapologetic in his firing of FAMU’s head football coach right before homecoming. Monday, Winslow handed in his resignation—effective immediately.
FAMU will hold a press conference today at 3:30 p.m. regarding "changes impacting FAMU's athletics programs," according to a press release.
