Grambling State removes interim tag from James
SWAC.org
GRAMBLING, La. – After Grambling State University President Frank G. Pogue named Aaron James interim athletic director for a second time since his presidency, the temporary title has been removed.
GSU President Pogue has named James athetic director after handing him the department on an interim basis in July.
“Aaron was a finalist when we looked at more than 80 candidates for the position, and he was a truly strong candidate,” said Pogue. “After asking Aaron to fill in just a short few weeks ago and after working with him and watching him work with others, it became obvious that our national search yielded a good batch of candidates, including our own Aaron James.”
Pogue added, “The AD job is a difficult and challenging one, but I have learned that Aaron can work cooperatively with anyone.”
James will lead Grambling State’s 15 sports programs: football, men’s basketball, baseball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field; women’s basketball, bowling, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, women’s tennis, soccer, softball and volleyball.
He succeeds Percy “Chico” Caldwell, who was named athletic director at Grambling State University in February 2012. Caldwell resigned last month. James first stint as interim AD lasted from June of 2011, until early 2012, when Caldwell was named.
“I’ve coached basketball at my alma mater. I’ve worked in athletics and development at my school,” said James. “I’ve always wanted to be Grambling State University’s AD, so this is a dream come true.”
The appointment is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. The Board may consider the university’s request as early as Tuesday.
James said the biggest challenges for athletics include enhancing the university’s student-athlete academic performance in the classroom, bringing more recognition to Olympic sports, and pursuing a more secure financial future with a student-athletic fee.
He said he’s already working with Pogue, other administration officials and Student Government Association President Jordan Harvey and his team to help students understand the make-or-break issues tied to student passage of an athletic fee this academic year.
James explained failure to pass the fee could mean reducing the number of athletic programs, limiting the number of games played away from campus or even becoming a Division II or III in the NCAA.
“This is big stuff,” added James, a 2012 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame enshrinee and a member of the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame. “I don’t think our faculty, staff, students and coaches really understand what’s at stake, and it’s my job to make sure that they do.”
James said he’s proud of the 119 student-athletes who earned GPAs of 3.0 or higher in the spring semester, and he wants that to increase. “They are students first and foremost,” he said.“We want them to get a good education, graduate and perform well in their respective sports.”
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity, and I feel so blessed,” said James.
An associate athletic director for marketing and promotions, he briefly served as the university’s interim development director with an office in the Institutional Advancement building.