May 16, 1941 – Jan. 8, 2015BUFFALO, New York (Jan. 9, 2015) -- Nelson E. Townsend, former University at Buffalo athletics director, died Thursday in Florida after collapsing before a meeting at Florida A&M University, where he was interim athletic director. He was 73.
Mr. Townsend had been at Florida A&M for less than a month, taking over on Dec. 15 after former Athletic Director Kellen Winslow resigned.
Mr. Townsend was at UB for 11 years, starting in 1987, and while there guided the athletic program from Division III to Division I. While at UB, he was chairman of the NCAA Olympic Liaison Committee and a member of the United States Olympic Committee, and was instrumental in bringing the World University Games to Buffalo in 1993 – the only time the games have been held in the United States.
Mr. Townsend stepped down from the athletic post at UB in 1998 after suffering a heart attack.
This was his third time as athletic director at Florida A&M, having held the position in 1986-87 and 2005-07. Shortly after accepting the job, Mr. Townsend hired Alex Wood, interim head coach at UB, as the head football coach at Florida A&M.
“The university lost a dear friend, excellent leader and administrator,” Florida A&M President Elmira Mangum said in a statement. “We will miss Nelson Townsend. We join his wife and family in mourning this great loss.”
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