JSU president says he is in charge of athletics department

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State president William Bynum said Thursday he plans to wait at least another two months before naming a replacement for former athletic director Wheeler Brown, but that even when he does, he still intends to be "hands on" with the program.

Bynum removed Brown from his post in December — a decision that was affirmed by the IHL board in February, but Brown has challenged his removal and is currently going through the school’s internal appeals process.

“Until all that is cleared … and people have made decisions relative to his contract, I’m not going to move,” Bynum said. “I’ll continue to be the acting AD along with my administrative team. My hands are tied until that process runs its course.”

Bynum, who sat down Thursday for an interview with the Clarion Ledger in his 10th month on the job, said he hopes the appeals process will allow him to have a new AD in place by June 1.


In the meantime, Bynum, his vice president and chief of staff Debra Mays-Jackson and special assistant to the president Thomas Hudson will continue to run the department, with associate athletic director Genese Lavalais serving as a liaison between the president and the coaches.

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