Tiffani-Dawn Sykes understands in her leadership role at Florida A&M University she must continue to adapt and evaluate to sustain a winning culture.

After a tumultuous month over her handling of hiring a new football coach, however, Sykes also points to an important step she intends to take in her second year as the school's vice president and athletics director.

"What I've learned most in the past month is that people really want to be included," Sykes told the Tallahassee Democrat in an interview.

"So, I'm going to have to continue to develop my relationships with a number of our stakeholders, continue to talk to them and see what's important to them. I thought I have done that over the past year, but I've learned that there's much more to do."

The Rattlers enjoyed success during Sykes' first year at the school after being hired from Dartmouth College, where she served as a senior administrator for women's sports since 2019.

FAMU in 2023 captured a SWAC championship and NCAA Tournament berth in baseball, a SWAC title and HBCU national championship in football, and she hired a new women's basketball coach with Hall of Fame and Olympic credentials.

Sykes has also improved compliance and academic advising to help student-athletes succeed in the classroom.

Controversies around Tiffani-Dawn Sykes

In a stunning turn, however, Sykes' leadership was questioned by university stakeholders on two fronts:

Over her coaching search that ended last Saturday with James Colzie III replacing Willie Simmons as the Rattlers' new football coach. And decisions during her year-long tenure regarding the budget that faces a $817,000 deficit for 2023-24.

Sykes is scheduled to provide an athletics update Monday during the university's Board of Directors meeting at 3 p.m.. While some FAMU stakeholders believe Sykes must regain their trust, all agree FAMU must move forward in unison to ensure the program's standard of success.

"This has been a challenging time and experience for Rattler Nation, but Rattlers are resilient people," said Lisa LaBoo, chair of the FAMU Foundation Board of Directors. "We will get through this and hopefully come out better on the other side."

Sykes receives vote of 'no-confidence' from National Alumni Association during process to replace Willie Simmons

FAMU entered the New Year with news of Simmons' resignation Jan. 1 after six seasons to join Duke as its running backs coach. If Sykes had hoped to quickly replace Simmons, her plan was squashed by public discontent that was loud and pointed.

As word leaked and spread across social media that Sykes had identified Shawn Gibbs of Division II Fort Valley State as her proposed candidate to replace Simmons, FAMU stakeholders, alumni and fans voiced their concerns.

They thought bringing in a coach from a lower conference showed Sykes was not connected to FAMU's culture and expectations. They believed an internal candidate or a coach with FAMU ties would be a better fit and smoother transition for a program coming off an HBCU national championship and 39 victories since 2019 (the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19).

While the hiring rested with Sykes, stakeholders applied pressure and influence to force her to rethink her decision.

"I commend them for speaking up and voicing their concerns. It is important that you listen to our fan base," said Curtis Johnson, president of the FAMU National Alumni Association. "I think the message was conveyed loud and clear. It's important that (stakeholders) have faith and confidence in her (Sykes) decisions and actions."

A group of returning FAMU football players, FAMU Boosters, Inc. and FAMU National Alumni Association acted quickly.

And the university's Board of Trustees wasn't far behind.

Players supported Colzie, a two-year assistant who was named the interim head coach by Sykes following Simmons' resignation, to be named the permanent head coach. They endorsed Colzie in a letter to FAMU leadership and shared with the Tallahassee Democrat. Players also met in-person with FAMU President Larry Robinson and Sykes on separate occasions, and with the sports editor at the Tallahassee Democrat's office, to advocate for Colzie.

Nine days after Simmons resigned, the FAMU National Alumni Association rendered a pair of no-confidence votes in Sykes during an emergency meeting Jan. 10. The first vote was over the proposed hire of Gibbs, who eventually signed a new contract at Fort Valley State. The second was on Sykes' leadership and her lack of transparency with the alumni.

The vote came on the heels of the association raising over $140,000 to go toward coaches salaries and bonuses at the request of Sykes prior to Simmons' resignation. That money and its allotment remains under the discretion of the FAA. The meeting also came only hours after the Tallahassee Democrat reported the FAMU Boosters, Inc., recommended to Robinson that he suspend the school's search for its next football coach due to Sykes' lack of transparency.

Colzie signs 3-year contract worth $720,000; FAMU moves forward under Sykes, who 'needs our support, not condemnation'

The Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting Jan. 16, when it discussed the coaching search and Sykes' decisions regarding the athletics budget.

The board approved motions for the university to hire a search firm and form a search committee of eight university constituents to help identify the football team's next head coach. It also asked Sykes to provide the board within a week an action plan to address the budget gap in athletics.

More than 40 candidates applied for the coaching vacancy, according to the search firm and search committee. According to local television station WTXL, the university paid Renaissance Search Consulting $25,000 to assist in the search.

Five coaching candidates were forwarded to Sykes, who hired and signed Colzie to a three-year contract worth $720,000. Colzie's introductory press conference was held last Monday on the 50-yard line at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Other finalists, according to a Democrat source, included FAMU defensive coordinator Ryan Smith, FAMU assistant Joe Henry, FAMU Hall of Famer Billy Rolle and former Alcorn State coach Fred McNair.

While Rolle withdrew his name from consideration during the process, Smith was introduced as Murray State's new defensive coordinator Friday, two days after he announced on social media he was leaving the program.

Selvin Cobb, president of Rattler Boosters, Inc. who also served on the search committee, was pleased with an outcome he wished had come sooner.

"Obviously, this could have been done a couple weeks ago," Cobb said. "This wasn't a deal to replace a coach. It was a plug and go. The program is winning. I know it was tough on the kids." Added LaBoo, who also served on the search committee: "All the key leaders involved starting with (trustee) Kelvin Lawson to (Committee Chair) Dr. (Donald) Palm, did an excellent job with facilitating the search committee process.

"It was a swift and efficient process, which resulted in a great outcome."

Additionally, Sykes submitted her athletics action plan to the BOT last Monday. She said in collaboration with the university leadership and their respective teams, the group had formulated a five-step plan to address the budget gap. Sykes also believes the athletics department can end the fiscal year with a balanced budget or small surplus, according to the letter obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat.

While Sykes' handling of the coaching search and athletics budget has been questioned, she's not without support.

"I think I am a little different than some people who are upset with her," said Eddie Jackson, the 220 Quarterback Club president and search committee member. "I am very pleased with Tiffani so far. I think she's made a couple of mistakes and I think she needs to meet us halfway. But she has also done so much in the year she has been here. I think she is a winner.

"She needs our support and not condemnation."

Robinson described Sykes' credentials as "impeccable" when FAMU announced her hiring in October 2022. Starting her tenure in January 2023, the former two-sport star in volleyball and track and field at Virginia State promised to work hard to help FAMU continue to exhibit excellence across athletics.

Sykes believes the last month has offered a valuable lesson.

"At the end of the day, if all of the groups recognize that we're in the business of supporting our student-athletes, advancing the athletics department, and sustaining the level of success that our football team and a number of other teams have had, we should all be on the same page because we have a shared goal," Sykes said.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tiffani-Dawn Sykes looks to strengthen relationships in FAMU sports