Stacy Danley was certainly aware of Alabama State's revolving door in the athletic department.
The university has had six different athletic directors since Rob Spivery left in 2002, seven if you want to count executive vice president John Knight, who has run the department since interim director Sterling Steward resigned in June.
Danley, a former star running back at Auburn in the late 1980s, served as Tuskegee University's athletic director in 2008 and 2009 so he couldn't help but notice the turmoil of the Hornets' program as it went through coaching transitions, NCAA sanctions and constant changes at the top of the athletic department.
Danley also noticed other changes on campus. New baseball, softball and soccer facilities as well as a football complex were the latest developments for a program trying to put its chaotic struggles in the past.
"It was very clear to me they were at a position where they were ready to transform this athletic department," he said. "They made a commitment to me that they wanted me here and they wanted me here for some time. I'm not going anywhere any time soon. We've got a lot of work to do. It's not going to happen overnight but we're going to get it done."
Danley took the reins of the Alabama State athletic department Monday and spent Friday meeting with the media as he looked toward what he believes is a bright future in Hornet athletics. Neither Knight nor university president William Harris was on hand for the informal meeting, leaving Danley alone to discuss the new direction of Alabama State's athletic department.
"They put me in the car and showed me the baseball stadium, softball field and soccer field and the football complex," Danley said of his initial meeting with his superiors. "They're all under construction right now. I don't care where you are in the country, that spells commitment.
"I'm excited when the president tells you they're transforming the entire university and that they're going to use the visibility of athletics to help promote the goals and objectives and the mission of the university."
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Monday, August 2nd 2010 at 2:09PM
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