Florida A&M’s National Alumni Association held a nearly two-hour emergency meeting Wednesday, voicing its deep concerns over the proposed candidate to become the Rattlers’ new football coach and the leadership of the university’s athletics director.

In back-to-back motions, the FAMU NAA Executive Board returned a 19-1 vote of “no confidence” in Shawn Gibbs of Division II HBCU Fort Valley State as the candidate to replace Willie Simmons. That was immediately followed by an 18-3 vote of “no confidence” in FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes for her lack of transparency with the alumni.

Former FAMU administrators, football players, and a parent of a current football player voiced their concerns regarding the coaching search and Sykes during the virtual call-in meeting.

The session came only hours after the Tallahassee Democrat reported the FAMU Boosters, Inc., recommended to FAMU President Larry Robinson that he suspend the school’s search for its next football coach, saying the school’s major stakeholders have been “shut out and completely left out of the room.”

In a statement to the Democrat Wednesday, Robinson acknowledged the FAMU community’s devotion but didn’t directly respond to the boosters’ request.

“We appreciate the passion of our stakeholders and welcome their input,” Robinson said. “Athletics is an integral part of our culture. We are working to hire the next football coach at FAMU.”

FAMU’s Board of Trustees has scheduled an emergency meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m., where it is expected to discuss the coaching search and Sykes’ decisions during her year-long tenure. The approved motions from FAMU’s alumni association executive board will also be presented in writing to the trustees, Robinson and Sykes.

It was apparent during Wednesday’s meeting that university stakeholders, who a month ago were celebrating the team’s Black College Football National Championship, want more transparency from the athletic administration.

FAMU National Alumni Association President Curtis Johnson Jr. confirmed a pending recommendation for Gibbs to lead the Rattlers and replace Simmons. Simmons resigned Jan. 1 after six years to become Duke’s running backs coach.

Johnson added that the FAMU National Alumni Association or any NAA representative “was not involved, solicited, contacted, or advised of any part of the process that led to the current recommendation” in a PowerPoint shared with meeting attendees.

The board also said Sykes had not spoken with stakeholders in her decisions to raise prices on Investing in Champions packages football games and withdraw from Miami's annual Orange Blossom Classic football game.

FAMU National Alumni Association Treasurer Angelia Williams called a motion, which passed a 19-1 vote of “no confidence” of Gibbs becoming FAMU’s next head football coach. Additionally, the executive board voted 18-3 of “no confidence” in Sykes leading the Rattlers athletic department, questioning her transparency and what they said was a lack of inclusion of the organization in her decisions.

FAMU National Alumni Association express unrest with handling of head football coach search

Johnson also claimed a lack of gratitude from Sykes for its financial efforts to compensate and retain Simmons alongside his assistants before the former Rattlers head coach departed for Duke on New Year’s Day.

Sykes asked FAMU National Alumni Association to commit $25,000 for coaches’ compensation and raised over $140,000 in cash within 48 hours.

Johnson says Sykes has yet to thank FAMU National Alumni Association officially.

However, late Wednesday night, a source within FAMU told the Tallahassee Democrat that Sykes had thanked the Alumni Association via an email sent on Jan. 1.

The FAMU National Alumni Association has earmarked the $140,000-plus to be transferred to a newly-established account entitled “Football Coaches Compensation” under the alumni association’s control. The funds will be committed toward $25,000 per year for three years of coaches, starting in 2024.

“These monies are under the country of the National Alumni Association, and they sit in our account,” Johnson reiterated. “Every last dime and penny.”

FAMU football players and supporters hope to continue championship run

Since Simmons’ departure, FAMU football players have advocated for an internal hire with hopes of repeating as Southwestern Athletic Conference and HBCU Celebration Bowl Champions.

The player-led leadership committee penned a letter to FAMU President Robinson and VP/AD Sykes recommending that interim coach James Colzie III be retained as permanent head coach. FAMU football players and supporters have also expressed interest in longtime assistants Billy Rolle and Ryan Smith to be considered as the Rattlers’ next head coach.

Rumblings emerged earlier this week that Gibbs is Sykes’ preferred candidate to become the next Rattlers coach, causing unrest from FAMU football supporters.

“Why are we looking outside the winning model and not promoting from within?” FAMU National Alumni Association Second Vice President Yolanda Pinkard asked during Wednesday’s meeting. “I also wonder what the vision is for the department going forward and the criteria to be selected.”

Former FAMU National Alumni Association President Col. Gregory L. Clark added, “We should not be fighting and fussing after one of the greatest seasons in the history of Florida A&M University. Remember ‘Excellence With Caring.’ If we keep that in the forefront, we can put ourselves back to where we need to be.”

Former FAMU football player and parents voice concerns

The FAMU National Alumni Association shared a poll for attendees to vote, asking, “Are you satisfied with the current leadership of the FAMU Athletic Department?”

Nine percent voted yes, while 91 percent voted no.

Former FAMU running back Bishop Bonnett, who played for the Rattlers from 2017-2021 and is a two-time graduate, spoke during the meeting.

“I bleed Orange and Green,” Bonnett said. “I came in and fought through it. I was there with [former FAMU head football coach Alex Wood] and saw the transition with Simmons. To see what he built and to take a step back hurts me.

“What can we do to make it right? I’ve been on the field, worked, and been on the field ― that’s why we’re here and care about it so much.”

FAMU football players’ parents also voiced concerns on Wednesday.

“We’re all here anxiously awaiting a decision on who will be the next head football coach and the direction of our football program. But nobody’s waiting for that more than our players,” said Marcy Fitzgerald, a 1994 FAMU graduate and Rattler football mom.

“These kids are giving their all and do not feel supported by those charged with making the decision. They are hurting during this process.”

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Alumni association has no confidence in coach search