Wheeler Brown out as JSU athletic director

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Wheeler Brown is out as Jackson State's director of athletics.

The university informed Brown of its decision to relieve him of his duties Friday afternoon, according to a source with direct knowledge of the events.

Brown was announced as director of athletics exactly two years ago and had one year remaining on a three-year contract.



He inherited a tumultuous situation after the departure of former athletic director Vivian Fuller and had a similarly tumultuous tenure in his two years on the job.

The department was forced to shutter both its women's and men's golf programs, and the jury is still out on Brown's sole major hire — Tiger football coach Tony Hughes. Hughes was considered a major coup for JSU upon his arrival, considering his wealth of ONTINUE READINGcollege coaching experience (albeit as an assistant), but is 6-16 in two seasons.

According to multiple sources, Brown was offered an alternative job inside the athletic department that would have paid him less money and made him an at-will employee instead of him having a contract. He declined.

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