BAMASTATESPORTS.COM - Key Persons
Alyssa Smith is in her second year as a graduate assistant coach with Alabama State softball, joining the program in September 2022.
She came to Alabama State after playing at North Carolina A&T where she started 35 games in two years as an infielder. The Winslow, Arizona native played in 40 games total for the Aggies.
She is currently pursuing her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Alabama State.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Coach
- Recruiting Coordinator
Pope came to Montgomery, Ala., in the spring of 2022 from North Carolina Central where he coached the safeties before heading to Alabama State.
Pope has served as recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach at both West Texas A&M University (2021) and Shepherd University (2018-20), and as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach during his time at Avila University (2013-17). He was an all-American defensive back at Fairmont State University before playing both safety and linebacker at the University of West Georgia in his final two seasons.
During his stay in West Texas A&M, Tobias Harris earned First-Team Defense Elite 100, All-American, All-Region and All-Lone Star Conference and safety Satchel Escalante earned All-LSC laurels under Pope's mentoring. Harris finished his career with 16 interceptions which rank second all-time at West Texas A&M.
During tenure with the Rams, he coached four all-conference and two all-region defense backs. He has also one student-athlete play in the NFL with another in the XFL. Under his tutelage, the Rams also led the PSAC in interceptions during the 2019 season with 20.
He also spent five years at Avila University in Kansas, City, Missouri where he served as the defensive coordinator and defensive back coach for the Eagles wheer six student-athletes earned all-conference accolades. Prior to making the jump to coaching, Pope was a two-time All-American on the gridiron for Fairmont State after being regarded as one of the best high school recruits in Maryland.
He spent his last two years of eligibility at West Georgia playing both safety and outside linebacker. During his time as a Wolf Pope ranked nationally in forced fumbles and led the team in tackles per snap. Pope had workouts for the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills and Hamilton Tiger Cats.
Pope graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene with a BA in Organizational Leadership (Business). He is the father of two daughters; Alana and Amavi.
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Title / Head Coach
Andrew Chatmon enters his 16th season as the head women's bowling coach at Alabama State University, leading the team to two SWAC Championships in 2016-17 and 2021-22 season and the regular season championships in 2013-14 and 2017-18.
He helped lead Alabama State to 65 wins during the 2019-2020 season and a third-place finish in the regular season SWAC standings. The Lady Hornets also pulled the upset over nationally-ranked opponents five times last season, including defeating defending National Champion Steven F Austin in Houston at the Kat Klash sponsored by Sam Houston State in November.
Chatmon and the Lady Hornets in his 12 years have set school records in wins six times including 82 wins in 2018-19, and has set the tone for the program in each of his 12 seasons. He has 606 career wins and a number of school records. He is a four-time SWAC Coach of the Year winner, 2011-2012, 2013-2014 including back to back years of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.
Chatmon is a 2016 ASU graduate with a degree in business management and earned his master's degree from Auburn Univeristy-Montgomery in sports management in 2023. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Inc. (service fraternity) Phi Beta Lamda (business Fraternity), Shrine Mason and the National 10 pin Coaches Association. Chatmon was a spring 2021 inductee into the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society of Education, focused on leadership, scholarship and service.
A native of Baltimore Md., Chatmon is the proud parent of three children -- Jordan and Andrew, who are Alabama State graduates and Myles is a recent graduates of Park Crossing High.
Job Titles:
- Student Assistant Strategic Communications
Job Titles:
- Athletic Academic Advisor
Job Titles:
- Offensive Quality Control
- Title
Anuk Christiansz, who has been a part of seven national championship tennis teams and was a member of the Sri Lankan Davis Cup team, has led the Alabama State University men's and women's tennis programs back to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference since 2012.
He has helped the program win three consecutive conference championships, and were on their way to a fourth when the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the season in 2020.
In 2019, Christiansz won both the men's and women's conference coach of the year awards while leading both teams to the SWAC Championships. He helped lead both teams to a regional tournament and finished the season undefeated in conference play.
Two years ago, Christiansz led both teams to the conference titles, and helped lead the teams to regional tournaments. Both teams finished undefeated in both the regular season and tournament play, while placing multiple players on the all-conference and all-tournament teams.
In only his fourth season, he has led the Hornets to the 2015 SWAC Championship, the first in the history of the program. With that championship comes the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, which is also a first in the program.
Job Titles:
- Marketing / External Relations
- Title / Marketing / External Relations
Ayana Emmanuel topped the 2022-23 season as she was named the SWAC Player of the Year and the BOXTOROW National Co-Playe of the Year while also joining ASU's 2000-point. Emmanuel and Jayla Crawford were selected First-Team All-SWAC and BOXTOROW All-Americans. Emmanuel, Crawford, and Shmya Ward wrapped up banner careers in the 2000, 1500 and 1000-point clubs, resepectively. The Lady Hornets posted a 16-15 mark and a 12-6 mark in SWAC play, falling in the SWAC Tournament semifinals.
The Lady Hornets posted a 15-15 overall record and a 12-6 SWAC, falling to Jackson State University in the 2022 SWAC Tournament Championship game. Emmanual garnered First-Team All-SWAC postseason honors while Emmanuel and Jayla Crawford were named to the All-Tournament Team.
In the 2020-21 season with a conference only schedule, Jackson led the Lady Hornets to a 16-4 record and a number two seed in the SWAC standings. She coached another Freshman of the Year in Farrah Pearson, along with two First Team All-SWAC performers in Emmanuel and Shmya Ward, who both averaged 16.4 points per game and helped Alabama State to an 8-1 at home.
In the 2019-20 season, the Lady Hornets qualified for the 2020 SWAC Basketball Tournament yet again under Jackson. During the 2018-19 season, Jackson joined an elite group when she recorded her 300th career coaching victory at Alabama State. She now stands at 317 career victories over 22 seasons for the Lady Hornets.
In the 2017-18 season, Jackson led a young Alabama State team to a sixth-place finish in the conference while starting as many as three freshmen in the lineup. She coached Freshman of the Year Emmanuel through the season, leading the team in scoring.
During the 2016-17 season, the Lady Hornets finished third in the regular season conference race with a 12-6 SWAC record, before falling in the semifinals of the tournament to Texas Southern. However, Jackson coached the SWAC Player of the Year in Britney Wright who finished her career as the second leading scorer in school history. That same season, Wright was named the BOXTOROW National Player of the Year and SWAC Player of the Year, averaging a league-leading 18.3 points per game. The senior became the school's second-leading scorer in school history with 12 first quarter points in her final home game, while she is fourth at the school in rebounding. Wright also leads the school in free throws made, free throws attempted, steals and games played. She is also in the top five in school history in field goals made, field goals attempted, field goal percentage, three-point field goals made, rebounding average.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / LB / Special Teams Coordinator
Billy Gresham begins his sixth ear at Alabama State University, and second as Special Team Coordinator and outside linebackers coach. He also serves as the High School Relations Director and Recruiting Coordinator.
Gresham is married wife Nakia and they have four children together - Devin, Jada, Carter and Harper.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / Pitching
Job Titles:
- Athletic Trainer
- Athletic Trainer VB, WBB, TENN
- Member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association
Brittany Kent joined the ASU Sports Medicine staff in August of 2022.
A native of Montgomery, Kent returns to serve as an Assistant Athletic Trainer after receiving her bachelor's degree in athletic training from the University of Alabama.
Upon graduation, Kent worked in North Alabama for five years covering high school football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball. During that time, Kent also graduated with a Master's in divinity and served on staff at a church, a campus ministry, and a mission's organization.
Kent has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association since 2014.
Job Titles:
- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Coach
- Assistant Coach Offensive Line
Job Titles:
- Associate Head Coach
- Title / Associate Head Coach
Prior to his time under Jackson, Harris worked 16 years under former Alabama State men's basketball coach James Oliver. During that time, he was instrumental in the Hornets' back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and appearances in the postseason National Invitational Tournament in 1983 and the preseason NIT in 1993.
He is also been an integral part of the women's program to the three NCAA Tournaments, and was instrumental in the recruiting of greats Shameka Jackson, Crystal Kitt and Britney Wright.
Among his duties as an assistant coach, Harris oversees the Lady Hornets' conditioning, recruiting and scouting programs, and he is charged with seeing that the Lady Hornets are in peak physical shape.
He received his bachelor's degree from Alabama State in 1980, before receiving his master's degree in education in 1981. He also earned a second master's degree in administration in 1997.
Throughout his playing days, Harris was a play making guard with a deft shooting touch who played during one of the most successful basketball eras in ASU history. During the 1979-80 season, Harris averaged six points per game and helped guide the team to a 32-2 record - the best in school history - and a spot in the NAIA national championship game. During his career with the Hornets, Harris helped ASU compile a 91-24 record.
He is married to the former Brenda Hill of Midway, Ala. They have two children -- Clayton Jr., a former wide receiver for ASU and 2005 ASU graduate, and Britney, a graduate student and a staff member of the ASU Lady Hornets. Harris is the proud grandfather of three: Kayden Prince (grandson), Kyleigh Brielle (granddaughter), Gianna Braylynn Williams (granddaughter).
Job Titles:
- Sports Performance Intern
- Title
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine FB, BSB, CHEER
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of Athletics / External Operations
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Coach Defense
Dahon Mixon is in the his first season as a Graduate Assistant Defensive Coach on the Alabama State University football staff.
Mixon previously played at Dodge City Community College in 2018 before finishing his career at Winston Salem State University (2022).
Mixon hails from Columbia, S.C., where he played for C.A. Johnson High School.
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Development
Damien Madison begins his first year as the Director of Player Development at Alabama State after finishing his playing career as a Hornet.
A native of Montgomery (Ala.), affectionally known as "The Gump," Madison had a stellar high school career at Saint James where he graduated in 2018. He finished his high school career with 1,000 career points, earning All-State honors.
Following his high school career, Madison went on to Huntingdon College where he finished his career scoring 1,000 career points. He was also an All-Academic performer and made the Dean's List, before finishing his career at Alabama State.
Madison earned his Bachelor's from Huntingdon in Exercise Science in 2022, before earning his Master's in Business Administration from Alabama State in 2023. He is the son of Delbert and Kim Madison.
Job Titles:
- Equipment - 334.229.7652
- Head of Equipment Manager
- Title / Head of Equipment Manager
He joined Alabama State as the head equipment manager in August, 2009. In this position, Tyson-Bey oversees the athletic equipment room and locker room facilities, issues and maintains team equipment, and supervises the management staff.
A 1995 graduate of Texas A&M-Texarkana with a degree in physical education, Tyson-Bey came to ASU after serving a two-year stint as the head equipment manager at Alcorn State.
Prior to working at Alcorn, he served as the head equipment manager for the Arena Football's Grand Rapid Rampage. In addition, Tyson-Bey has worked on the equipment staffs of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, The Citadel and the Detroit Fury (Arena Football).
He is a member of the American Equipment Manager Association. He and his wife, Rosalind Tyson-Bey reside in Montgomery.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Athletic Trainer
- Assistant Athletic Trainer MBB, FB, BSB
DaVonna Cola joined ASU Sports Medicine Staff in July of 2022 as an Assistant Athletic Trainer.
She comes to Montgomery after working at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga., in 2021-2022. While at KSU, Cola worked with men's and women's cross country and track and field. In the Spring of 2021, she briefly served as a Clinical Athletic Trainer at Peachtree Orthopedics in Cumming, Ga., and from 2018-2021 served as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Ga.
During her time at Reinhardt, Cola covered men's wrestling, women's volleyball, men's basketball, men's and women's cross country/track and field. In 2017-2018, Cola served as Calera High School's Head Athletic Trainer through Drayer Physical Therapy in Calera, Ala.
Cola graduated with a Master of Science in sports science and rehabilitation from Logan University in August of 2021 and received her Bachelor of Science in athletic training from Southeastern Louisiana University in May, 2017. She is certified by the NASM as a Sports Nutrition Coach and has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association since 2015.
Cola is a native of Denver, Colo., and currently lives in Montgomery, Ala., with her dog, Rondo.
Job Titles:
- Quality Control / Defens
- Title
Derrick Brown enters his second year on the Alabama State University Football Staff as the defensive quality control coach.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Secretary
- Title / Administrative Secretary
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor
- Faculty Athletic Representative - 334.229.4507
Dr. Carmela Drake was appointed to the role of the Faculty Athletics Representative for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Alabama State University in October, 2018. She was recently appointed to the NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Scholarship Selection Committee in the fall of 2022.
Drake is an Associate Professor and currently serves as the BSRS Program Coordinator. She monitors and evaluates program curriculum to meet accreditation standards, coordinates course offerings and faculty course assignments, while also marketing the program by recruiting prospective students. She is also responsible for retaining current students and advising, to go along with her teaching duties.
Drake has served in a variety of roles at Alabama State since her arrival in August 2014, beginning as an adjunct professor. During her time as an adjunct professor, she facilitated learning in Theories of Counseling, Seminar in Rehabilitation, and Counseling Skills and Techniques. Following a two-year stint as an adjunct, Drake was moved to an Assistant Professor position in August 2016 in the College of Health Sciences, Rehabilitation Studies Department adding courses in addiction studies , medical aspects, counseling, and fieldwork to her teaching experience. Drake currently serves as Faculty Senate Secretary for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.
Drake possesses licensure and certifications in the field of addictions and mental health counseling. She gives to her community by serving on a number of boards and holding various offices with both national and state professional organizations. Drake is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and the National Council of Negro Women.
Job Titles:
- Athletic Director
- Senior Associate
- Director of Athletics
- Senior Associate AD of Student - Athlete Experience / SWA
- Student - Athlete Experience - 334.604.9052
Dr. Genese A. Lavalais joins Alabama State as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Experience.
She joins the department after a stint at Hampton University where she served since 2019 as the Director for Athletics Academic Support/Life Skills. She previously served five years at Jackson State University as the Associate Athletic Director of Academics/Senior Woman Administrator.
Her responsibilities at Hampton included managing the Office of Academic Support Staff, monitoring the academic progress at HU, managing all aspects of the Life Skills Program, and advisor for SAAC and Chi Alpha Sigma, Virginia Delta Chapter.
As the Director, Lavalais was responsible for providing academic support, helping student-athletes navigate during their collegiate years, and helping students to identify transferrable skills for life after sports. Additionally, she assisted in student-athlete development by showcasing personal and professional growth opportunities through community service opportunities, graduation planning, course registration, and understanding academic policies and procedures.
Lavalais also served as the Chi Alpha Sigma Honors Society, Life Skills, and Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) advisors at HU. During the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters, Lavalais led the team with obtaining a record number of student-athletes that earned the Dean's list in the department's history to date.
Job Titles:
- Director of Athletics
- Title / Director of Athletics
Dr. Jason Cable was named the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Alabama State University on July 22, 2021, beginning his third year at the helm of the department.
Job Titles:
- Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
- Title / Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
Drew Clark enters his 14th season on the Alabama State baseball staff, his eighth as Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator under Head Coach Jose Vazquez entering the 2022 season. Clark serves as the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach for the Hornets. He also oversees the infielders and catchers defensively.
Clark was instrumental in the Hornets' 41-18 season and the SWAC East Division title in 2023. The Hornets led the conference in seven offensive categories including the NCAA's top batting average of .332. ASU led the SWAC with 137 doubles (19th NCAA), 699 hits (6th NCAA), 81 home runs, 1.37 home runs per game, .416 on base percentage (14th NCAA),15 sac flies (15th NCAA), 8.5 runs per game (12th NCAA), and .523 slugging percentage (18th NCAA.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director for Sports Performanc
- Title / Associate Director for Sports Performance
Earvin McKenzie is in his first season as Associate Director of Sports Performance at Alabama State University.
McKenzie recently served as the Assistant Sports Performance Coach for the United States Football League's (USFL) Birmingham Stallions. In 2022, McKenzie served as the Athletic Performance Coach for Football at the University of California (Berkeley). From 2020 to 2022, McKenzie served as Director of Strength and Conditioning for all 11 varsity was the Director of Sports Performance at Allen University.
McKenzie also served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) from 2016-2019, where he worked primarily with football. He was a part of the Strength and Conditioning Staff that revived a canceled football program to an 8-4 season and the second bowl berth (Bahamas Bowl) in school history. In 2018, he played a vital role on the strength and conditioning Staff, leading UAB to their first Conference (USA) Championship and first bowl win (Boca Raton) in School History with a 10-3 record. He also served as an Instructor for the Kinesiology Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Before joining the UAB staff, McKenzie interned for Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 2016.
In 2015, McKenzie began his collegiate experience by interning with Samford University. McKenzie earned his Bachelor's from Jacksonville State University (JSU), where he was a walk-on Running Back and received two Conference Champions (OVC). McKenzie also received his Master's in Sports Management from JSU.
The Fairfield, Ala., native is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, *Distinction (CSCS,*D). He is also certified through the NSCA as a Registered Strength and Conditioning Specialist, *Distinction (RSCC,*D) and through USA Weightlifting Level 1.
Mckenzie is the father of one, Emoni McKenzie.
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Title / Head Coach
Eddie Robinson, Jr., who was named the 30th head coach in Alabama State University on Nov. 26, 2021, enters his second season as the Head Football Coach at Alabama State University.
In his first season at his Alma Mata, Robinson guided the Hornets the most wins since 2015, posting a 6-5 mark and a 4-4 mark in the SWAC. Linebacker Colton Adams was named First-Team All-SWAC while Safety Irshaad Davis nabbed Second-Team All-SWAC Honors. Additionally, Adams was named Hero Sports All-American and BOXTOROW First-Team All-American while defensive back Adrian Maddox was named a Jerry Rice Award Semifinalist.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Athletic Director
- Strategic Communications - 334.229.2601
- Title / Associate Athletic Director Strategic Communications
Freda Freeman-Jackson enters her 26h season as the head coach of the Alabama State University women's basketball program, when the 2023-24 season begins.
Freeman-Jackson enters the season with a 364-371 record that includes three SWAC Tournament,three SWAC Regular season titles, three trips to the NCAA Tournament and one WNIT berth.
Jackson joined an illustrious group when she was selected, and later inducted, into the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Hall of Fame during the 2019 academic year. At the time of her induction, she was alongside her husband Lewis as the only two active members coaching in the conference. Jackson became the 19th inductee into the SWAC Hall of Fame from Alabama State.
She has led Alabama State to three conference championships, and three berths in the NCAA Tournament during her career.
Job Titles:
- Director of on Campus Recruiting and Social Media
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Relations & Community Engagement
Job Titles:
- Associate Head Coach / Corners / NFL Liaison
James Williams joined the Alabama State University football staff in 2022 and is entering his second season with the Hornets.
Williams was promoted to Associated Head Football Coach in July of 2023 coaches the corner backs and also serves as ASU's NFL Liason.
Hill moves across the ASU Campus from the Business and Finance Office where she served as the Financial Administrative Assistant.
Prior to arriving at Alabama State, Hill worked as the Campus Coordinator for Strayer University, where she headed the operational side of the campus.
Hill is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and holds a B.S. in Management from Miles College. Hill is the proud mother of Jishae, Darian, Jaydon, and her precious angel in Heaven Jord
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Title / Head Coach
Jodie Smith completed his 18th season on the sidelines in the fall of 2023 and has positioned the Lady Hornets soccer program as one of the top teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
In 2023, Smith recorded his 200th career victory against Mississippi Valley State, and coached a pair of all-conference performers.
Smith's success on the field at ASU is evident as he had produced 48 All-Conference players, five SWAC Offensive Players of the Year, two SWAC Freshmen of the Year, a pair of SWAC Goalkeepers of the Year and a pair SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, he has produced 16 SWAC All-Tournament team selections and three SWAC All-Tournament MVP winners.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Title / Account Executive
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Coach
- Assistant Coach Tackles & Tight Ends
Job Titles:
- Assistant Track and Field Coach
Alexis served in various roles while at Iowa Central CC including assistant track and field coach,while also serving as director of operations, coordinator of academic success, coordinator of federal work study, member of the NJCAA records committee and housing coordinator. Alexis coached jumps, multis, sprints, hurdles and mid distance in his tenure. Alexis coached the number one USTFCCCA decathlon, heptathlon, high jump, long jump and triple jump groups in the NJCAA multiple times. He was awarded five USTFCCCA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year Awards.
Before Iowa Central, Alexis served as head coach for Carver Academy (VA) where he coached multiple Tidewater District Honors, Region 1B Honors, VHSL Honors while also rewriting the record books with over ten school records. He also founded Elite Speed Track. Club in which he coached USATF VA Association Champions, USATF Region 3 top three finishers and a USATF National Championship Qualifier in the 4x100m relay.
Alexis began his coaching career at his alma mater Virginia Union University as an assistant coach where his athletes set four school records, won four CIAA individual championships, an NCAA DII All-American. Alexis holds several certifications, including USATF Level I Certification, USTFCCCA Technical Certification, USTFCCCA Combined Events Certification, Red Cross AED/CPR/First Aid Certification.
Alexis is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He holds a Bachelors of Arts from Virginia Union University and an Associates of Arts from Kingsborough Community College.
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Coach of the Hornets
- Title / Head Coach
Jose' Vazquez was named Alabama State head baseball coach on July 13, 2016, and is his eighth season at the helm of the Hornets when the 2024 season gets underway.
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
Job Titles:
- Athletics Business Manager
Job Titles:
- Assistant AD for the Student - Athlete Experienc
Job Titles:
- Assistant Track and Field Coach
Job Titles:
- Development and Marketing - 334.604.9162
- Senior Associate AD / External
Job Titles:
- Student Assistant Strategic Communications
Job Titles:
- Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant AD for Performance Enhancement
Job Titles:
- Student Assistant Strategic Communications
Job Titles:
- Athletic Academic Advisor / Life Skills Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Student - Athlete Experienc
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Athletic Trainer
Job Titles:
- Assistant Women 's Soccer Coach
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Development
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Director for Complianc
- Compliance - 334.229.5315
Job Titles:
- Director of Football Operations
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Baseball Coach
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant to Athletic Director