Boyd to step down as FSU Athletic Director
June 16, 2006
Citing a chance to pursue
a business opportunity that will benefit low-income families,
Dr. Major Boyd announced he will step down as athletic
director at Fayetteville State University (FSU) on July
31, 2006. Boyd was appointed athletic director on an interim
basis in July 2004. He was named to the position permanently
in March 2005.
"I have some property in Edgecombe County, and I would
like to build some affordable homes and look into small
businesses geared toward the needy of the community," Boyd
said. "I also want to work on putting up a memorial for
my family because it was family property."
Boyd said the decision to leave his athletic director's
post was a difficult one, but he feels the time is right.
He said he is proud of the direction in which the athletic
department is headed, especially in the area of coaching
staff. He said FSU has outstanding coaches who not only
are knowledgeable of their sport, but also place strong
emphasis on building student athletes.
"They are concerned about how their players are doing
academically and each coach is committed to the total
development of young people," Boyd said. "They coach
them on the athletic fields and on the courts, and they
interact with them outside of athletics. These kinds
of involvements with student athletes add a lot to the
total development of young people."
Boyd said he is also proud of the ties the athletic
department has made with the business community. "We
are beginning to establish a relationship with many of
them, and I think it will pay off with big dividends," he
said.
Boyd was no stranger to FSU prior to taking over the
helm of the athletic department. A 1960 graduate with
a degree in elementary education, he was the Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) long jump
champion in 1959, and was captain of the track and field
and basketball teams during his junior and senior years.
He is a member of the FSU Athletic Hall of Fame and CIAA
Hall of Fame. Boyd was a CIAA basketball official for
30 years and officiated basketball and football games
in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference (MEAC).
After graduating from FSU, Boyd earned a master's degree
from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
University in Greensboro, and a doctorate from Georgia
State University in Atlanta. He has certificates in management
training and multicultural curriculum development and
planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. He worked in public education as a teacher, counselor,
coach, and administrator at the junior and senior high
school levels. He worked as an instructor, counselor,
and administrator at Lenoir Community College in Kinston
and was employed as Associate Vice President of the Community
College System Office in Raleigh. In 2004, he resigned
his seat on the FSU Board of Trustees to serve as interim
athletic director.
"I wanted to give something back to this great university
that gave me so much when I was here," Boyd said. "his
school gave me a scholarship and allowed me to work on
campus. It was good to me. From now on, I will be back
making contributions to this university."
FSU Chancellor T.J. Bryan said she appreciates Boyd'
service to FSU. She said he came to FSU's assistance
when Bill Carver-his predecessor-retired.
"Dr. Boyd is not only a gentleman, but also a fine example
of a loyal and dedicated Bronco," she said. "When we
needed someone to come in and take over the helm of our
athletic program, he heeded our call. For that, I am
truly grateful to him."
Chancellor Bryan said no timetable has been set to find
a replacement for Boyd. She said a nationwide search
will be conducted to find a successor. She said the potential
candidate will not only have a thorough knowledge of
Division II collegiate athletics, but also have a strong
background in fundraising.
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