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Kery Davis Makes History As Howard’s First Vice President Of Athletics

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(Howard vs women’s soccer team / Hilltop)

Howard University established a new executive position in June, promoting Kery Davis from athletic director to the university’s first-ever vice president of athletics.

According to a Howard University press release published on The Dig, the university’s central hub for campus news, the new position reflects Howard’s commitment to advancing athletic programs, supporting student-athletes’ academic success and furthering Davis’ vision for transformative growth.

The newly created executive role became effective immediately, recognizing Davis’ years of impact both on and off the field.

“I view this promotion as a recognition of the growing importance of Howard Athletics, which is a foundational part of the university’s culture and infrastructure,” said Davis. “The goal has always been for the excellence of Howard Athletics to match the university’s academic, social and cultural excellence.” 

Davis, who joined Howard in September 2015 with over 25 years of experience in entertainment, sports and television, has received multiple accolades for his work and leadership, including being named the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 2024. He has also been recognized as one of Sports Illustrated’s “Most Powerful Minorities in Sports” and Black Enterprise’s “Most Powerful African Americans in Sports.”

Under Davis’ leadership, the university’s 21 sports programs, the most of any HBCU, have earned national recognition for academic success and athletic achievement. There has been a consistent increase in athlete graduation rates, improved GPA’s and both men’s and women’s teams received the 2022-2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-Sports honors, a feat not achieved since 1988.

Despite the department’s growth, Davis acknowledged that Howard still faces hurdles in competing with larger programs. 

“We’re behind in some of the bells and whistles that other institutions have,” he said, citing the lack of an indoor track and certain state-of-the-art training tools as examples. 

Such gaps can affect recruitment, but Davis noted that the university is making strides. From enhanced practice courts and locker rooms to expanding access to facilities, the department relies largely on self-generated funding from sponsorships and partnership deals.

As he continues to lead, Davis plans to shift the recruitment strategy by targeting more experienced transfer athletes alongside freshmen. 

“With transfers now making up 30 to 35 percent of the roster, many being top performers, it is important to enhance the program’s appeal through strong academics and a rich social and cultural experience,” Davis said.

He has engineered groundbreaking sponsorship deals with brands such as AT&T, Rocket Mortgage, Nissan and Mielle Organics, as well as a golf partnership with four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry — bringing national visibility and resources to Howard’s programs.

Howard’s partnership with the Jordan Brand in 2022, also brought on by Davis, made the university one of only six institutions across the country to be outfitted by the apparel line. 

“It was deeper than just leading with our championship stats to land a Jordan Brand partnership,” Davis said. “Howard is a cultural and social leader, and this accomplishment reflects the tradition and power that define our university.” 

For Kenneth Blakeney, the head coach of Howard’s men’s basketball, Davis’ initiatives have been a driving force in elevating the program and expanding its reach.

“Davis is a brilliant leader who truly understands the value of basketball at Howard and in the DMV area,” Blakeney said. “With his vision and the Jordan Brand partnership, it’s in his DNA to continue elevating the program and amplify our mission on and off the court.”

In 2017, Davis led the football team to one of the biggest upsets in Bison football history, defeating the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The Bison went on to win back-to-back MEAC Championships in 2022 and 2023 and made their first appearance in the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

Howard has made strides across multiple sports. Men’s and women’s basketball, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball and golf have all earned conference titles and national attention under Davis’ tenure.

In 2023, the men’s swimming and diving team made history as the first HBCU team to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Before his time at Howard, Davis was a senior vice president at HBO Sports, where he negotiated major network deals and produced critically acclaimed documentaries, including “Hard Knocks” and “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals.” A Bronx native and former basketball player, he earned a political science degree from Dartmouth and a law degree from Cornell University.

“I want our students to take pride in the success of all our athletic programs, supporting not only our male sports programs but the women’s as well,” Davis said. “These teams are making history, setting records, and proving that excellence lives across every corner of Howard Athletics.”

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Bailey Sinish named Gatorade Player of the Year

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Jan. 10, 2026, 4:04 p.m. ET





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Pride Men’s Track and Field Takes on Wesleyan Winter Invitational

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MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — The Regis College men’s track and field team traveled to Connecticut on Saturday morning to compete at the Wesleyan Winter Invitational, where Justin Thuotte set another indoor program recird in the long jump. 

Inside the Numbers

  • Brian LaPorte earned a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters, crossing the line in 2:14.40.
  • Justin Thuotte turned in a standout performance, claiming a top finish in the long jump with a mark of 6.70 meters to set a new indoor program record, besting his own previous mark of 6.65 set at the last meet. He also placed third in the triple jump at 12.99 meters and rounded out his day with a 10th-place finish in the weight throw, posting a personal-best mark of 13.59 meters.
  • Brady Elliott placed seventh in the high jump with a leap of 1.80 meters.
  • Additional Pride personal-best performances came from Michael Hatch in the long jump (4.92m), DJ Marks in the long jump (5.31m), and Griffin McGahan in the weight throw (10.26m).

Up Next

The Pride return to the track next Sunday, January 18, when they head to Track at New Balance for the Suffolk Ice Breaker, beginning at 9:00 a.m.



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2025 Providence Journall All-State Girls Volleyball Team

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Take a look: 2025 Providence Journall All-State Girls Volleyball Team



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Track and Field Opens 2026 Calendar year at Wesleyan Winter Invitational

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MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — The Regis College women’s track and field team traveled to Connecticut on Saturday morning to compete at the Wesleyan Winter Invitational, where Zoe Kirk set a new indoor program record in the high jump.

Inside the Numbers

  • Zoe Kirk continued her strong rookie campaign with a pair of top-10 finishes. She placed third overall in the high jump with a mark of 1.50 meters, setting a new indoor program record and surpassing the previous mark of 1.46 held by teammate Grace Miklon. Kirk also finished ninth in the 60-meter hurdles, posting a time of 9.93.
  • Hannah Griffin claimed the top spot in the 800 meters with a time of 2:44.36, edging her nearest competitor by nearly one second.
  • Olivya Bush joined her fellow first-year athletes with a top-10 performance in the 400 meters, as the Texas native recorded a personal-best time of 1:09.67 to finish 10th overall.
  • Grace Micklon added another solid result for the Pride, placing seventh in the pole vault with a mark of 2.15 meters.
  • Aleyo Amasa-Titus rounded out the day with a sixth-place finish in the triple jump (9.86m) and a seventh-place showing in the long jump (4.66m).

Up Next

The Pride return to the track next Sunday, January 18, when they head to Track at New Balance for the Suffolk Ice Breaker, beginning at 9:00 a.m.



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Nowak Paces Jaspers; Men’s Volleyball Opens Program at Penn State

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – The Manhattan Jaspers’ Men’s Volleyball program (0-1, 0-0 NEC) fell in its inaugural match against the No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) in straight sets (21-25, 16-25, 20-25) inside the Recreation Hall South Gym on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • On top by a couple of points were the Nittany Lions, before an attack error by Penn State gave the Jaspers the program’s first ever point.
  • Two points ahead, it was Kasen Owens who posted the first ever attempt and kill off a perfect Drew Blonski setup.
  • Back and forth went the Jaspers and Nittany Lions, before Wojtek Nowak tied the game at nine with the program’s first service ace. Then, two points later, it was Nowak again, who was fed a perfect pass to give Manhattan its second tie in just three points.
  • The Jaspers would keep the game within two until Nowak continued his all-around game by tacking on a block solo to his resume to narrow Penn State’s lead 15-14.
  • Down the stretch, Owens and Nowak added another two points before the Nittany Lions took the first set.
  • Looking to bounce back in the second set, Blonski set up Kasen Owens for a go-ahead kill, before Max Larcheid added his first point of the afternoon to go ahead of the home team.
  • Trailing by three midway, the Jaspers, once again, took advantage of a Penn State setback, before the Nittany Lions pulled away down the stretch.
  • Opening the third set trailing by two, Chase Marston joined the inaugural party with a kill, before Manhattan tacked on another two for the program’s first scoring run. The Jaspers would tack on the next three of four points, before Marston tied the match at 12 with back-to-back service aces.

STATS AND NOTES

  • Junior outside hitter Wojtek Nowak led the Green and White with nine kills on the afternoon while attempting a total of 13, and a hitting percentage of .538. Nowak posted the program’s first service ace and logged one block solo for a total of 11 points on the day.
  • Sophomore outside hitter Kasen Owens posted six kills on 19 attempts, while blocking three and totaled 7.5 points on the afternoon.
  • Freshman opposite hitter Blake Perkins registered three kills in 10 attempts, added two digs, and one block.
  • Freshman opposite hitter Chase Marston logged three kills in five total attempts and added two aces and a pair of blocks.
  • As a team, the Jaspers posted 25 kills on 64 total attacks, while logging three service aces, and 14 team digs, while blocking seven.

NEXT UP:
The Jaspers are back in action on Friday, January 16, and Saturday, January 17 when the Green and White trek to Boston to face the Harvard Crimson beginning at 7 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. The contests can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
 
Follow Manhattan Men’s Volleyball on X and Instagram (@ManhattanMVBall).



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Hadziahmetovic, Hale and Marshall Among Ball State Leaders at Badgers Midwest Invite

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CHICAGO — Ball State won four of its 10 events Saturday in the Badgers Midwest Invite, hosted by the University of Wisconsin at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track at Gately Center. Early in the Cardinals’ indoor season, the three-team event gave head coach Adrian Wheatley an opportunity to carry a young roster and gain experience for the season ahead.

The Cardinals used a lineup heavy with freshmen and sophomores, including 6 of 7 Ball State entries in the 300m dash that was won by freshman Amina Hadziahmetovic. Winning her first college event, the freshman from nearby Mount Prospect, Illinois, set a personal record and led Ball State finishers who claimed four of the top five places, out of 17 runners. Shortly after winning her first college medal she earned another, pacing the Cardinals’ 4x400m relay team comprised of three freshman. Hadziahmetovic led off the 4×400, then handed to senior Abby Brennan who passed the winning baton to freshmen Haylie Yeazell and Lia Patterson.

Sophomore Kylee Marshall posted her best jump of the season while getting past 12 participants to claim first place in the long jump. It was the second long jump win of her career. She also finished in sixth place to lead Ball State competitors in the 60m dash.

Sophomore Lexi Hale won the high jump competition, besting 10 competitors including teammates Bella Jackson and Malina Miller who both cleared the same height at 1.65m. Hale matched her personal best and was the only jumper to clear the height on her first try. Hale, Jackson and Miller were among four who advanced to a final height at 1.70m. None cleared that height in three tries and Hale earned the win.

Senior Kenli Nettles finished second in the 60m hurdles with a personal record time of 8.76. In the 3,000 meters, freshman Emily Decker finished second with a time of 10:01.01 and junior Maci Hoskins finished third with a personal-best time of 10:10.48.

High Jump

1st, Lexi Hale, So. – 1.65m PR (tie)

t-2nd, Bella Jackson, Gr. – 1.79m

t-2nd, Malina Miller, Jr. – 1.75m

60m Hurdles

2nd, Kenli Nettles, Gr. – 8.76 PR

3rd, Lia Patterson, Fr. – 8.97

6th, Lily Eagleston, Fr. – 9.28

Long Jump

1st, Kylee Marshall, So. – 5.70m

6th, Anisa Barnett, Fr. – 5.27m

7th, Brenna Lehrke, Sr. – 5:07m

DNF, Kenli Nettles, Gr. – foul

60m Dash

6th, Kylee Marshall, So. – 7.76

8th, Trinity Bibbs, Fr. – 7.81

Savannah Lake, So. – 7.84

Jiah Davenport, So. – 7.90

Weight Throw

7th, Malena Higgins, Sr. – 15.09m

11th, Brooklyn Taylor, Jr. – 12.59m

12th, Sydney Miller, Jr. – 12.19m

300m Dash 

1st, Amina Hadziahmetovic, Fr. – 40.79 PR

2nd, Abby Brennan, Sr. – 40.89 PR

4th, Haylie Yeazell, Fr. – 41.24

5th, Savannah Lake, So. – 41.41 PR

11th, Trinity Bibbs, Fr. – 42.73

13th, Jiah Davenport, So. – 43.43 PR

14th, Lily Eagleston, Fr. – 43.89

Triple Jump

5th, Brenna Lehrke, Sr. – 11.30m

DNF, Anisa Barnett, Fr. – foul

3,000m Run

2nd, Emily Decker, Fr. – 10:10.01

3rd, Maci Hoskins, Jr. – 10:10.48 PR

Shot Put

3rd, Brooklyn Taylor, Jr. – 13.18m

4th, Sydney Miller, Jr., 13.03m

5th, Malena Higgins, Sr. – 12.82m

9th, Kenli Nettles, Gr. – 12.11m

4x400m Relay

1st, Hadziahmetovic, Brennan, Yeazell, Patterson – 3:56.48

 



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