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Tiffani-Dawn Sykes, a longtime college athletics administrator with a background that includes the CIAA and SWAC, is Florida A&M's new athletics director.

When the list of finalists for Florida A&M’s new athletic director was revealed, and I saw Tiffani-Dawn Sykes’ name, I thought “game over.”

Unless, of course, the powers that be weren’t ready to hire only their second female AD in school history.

Happy to say the best qualified person got the job. Sykes is the new vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. What a journey it has been.

There aren’t too many people involved in HBCU sports over the age of 25 who don’t have a Sykes story to tell. I’m talking coaches, journalists, administrators and student-athletes. All of it good.

The Virginia State alumna and star volleyball player began her sports information career at the now defunct Saint Paul’s College in 2002. To paraphrase a popular New York song, “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.”

Sykes moved on to Virginia Union as the SID and senior woman administrator, and later worked in the CIAA office as the sports management specialist. She also was a PA announcer for the tournament – the only female if my memory serves me.

Other stops along the way were at Norfolk State for four years and Chowan for three.

We had some fun times during CIAA tournament week. Back in the day, basketball took a backseat to just being around colleagues swapping war stories, hearing all the dirt that we couldn’t publish and listening to the trash talk among the SIDs. I didn’t want the week to end.

Sykes left this side of the country to join the SWAC’s Grambling State as interim SID and assistant director for compliance while completing her master’s in sport administration.

She then made a career move in 2019 that wasn’t for the faint of heart – leaving HBCU sports for the Ivy League’s Dartmouth College as associate AD for compliance. Of course, she excelled.

It took her less than a year to be promoted to senior associate AD for varsity sports and senior woman administrator. She was promoted again in March as executive senior associate AD for varsity sports and SWA.

Besides knowing the good, the bad and the ugly on just about everybody, Sykes’ No. 1 specialty is her rapport with people. Whether it’s a university president or a janitor, she gets people. She’s not phony or pretentious; what you see is what you get, which is why student-athletes love her. They know she’s genuine.

Sykes has her work cut out for her at FAMU. Her compliance background will come in real handy since the Rattlers don’t know the meaning of the word. But if anyone can get the job done, it’s Tiffani-Dawn Sykes – with grace.

Northern exposure
Recent CIAA results proved one thing: the South will not rise and win a conference championship this season.

Not only is the Northern Division better, but it has a true Harlon Hill Trophy candidate. The award goes to the top NCAA Division II football player.

Virginia Union running back Jada Byers extended his lead over University of Indianapolis’ Toriano Clinton to remain the No. 1 DII rusher after torching Elizabeth City State for 205 yards. Byers has 1,096 so far versus Clinton’s 890.

What a delightful story he and the Panthers have been so far. And naysayers can’t whine about the CIAA being sorry since all you have to do is point to Byers’ 319-yard, three-touchdown performance against Valdosta State.

What’s that you say? Can’t hear you!

Bonitta Best is sports editor at The Triangle Tribune in Durham.

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