florida memorial university lions’ den inside the€¦ · florida memorial university lions’...

FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

Lions’ Den

INSIDE THE LIONS’ DEN JULY 2019 www.fmulions.com

INSIDE

Rebirth Event pg. 3

New Hires pg. 4-6/8-9

Volleyball pg. 10

NBA Real-Time pg. 11

AND MORE....

Athletic Staff Retreat pg. 7

INSIDE THE

HBCU Picnic pg. 7

Staff DirectoryATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION

Ernest T. Jones, Athletic DirectorChevonne Mansfield, Deputy Director of Athletics/SWAStrada Joseph, Associate AD, Corporate SponsorshipJakeem Perry, Asst. AD, Compliance & OperationsStephanie Anderson, Administrative Assistant

SPORTS INFORMATIONJordean Matthews, Sports Information DirectorTaylor Payne, Assistant Sports Information Director

ATHLETIC TRAININGAmra Mujagic, Asst. Athletic TrainerTamara Jacob, Asst. Athletic TrainerMarc Mendez, Asst. Athletic Trainer

CHEERLEADING/DANCEKalyn James, Head Coach

MEN’S BASEBALLFlorentino Burgos, Head CoachAndre Payne, Asst. CoachAntonio Alfonseca, Asst. CoachRicardo Gonzalez, Asst. Coach

MEN’S BASKETBALLAnsar Al-Ameen, Head CoachAndre Thomas, Asst. CoachRuddy Boutin, Asst. Coach

MEN’S SOCCEREdil Pavon, Head CoachHoracio Ramos, Asst. Coach

MEN/WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD Marlon Baugh, Head Coach

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLGregory Stanback, Head CoachJoy Al-Ameen, Asst. CoachTaylor Payne, Asst. Coach

WOMEN’S SOCCERMarino Torrens Jr., Head CoachAnna Maliszewska, Asst. CoachRubiel Vazquez, Asst. Coach

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL/BEACH VOLLEYBALLMarrita Crockett-Moulton, Head Coach

Strength CoachAaron Thompson

Equipment ManagerClavens Charles

Jon Saxx provided live entertainment during the Rebirth Reception

on July 15, 2019.

The 2020 baseball team representing Florida Memorial at the HBCU Picnic, July 13, 2019.

The athletic department gathered together for a photo during the Staff Retreat.

July 8, 2019

Photos From HBCU Picnic & Rebirth Reception


Athletic Director Ernest T. Jones and his staff held a Rebirth Reception in the Florida Memorial University Wellness Center on July 15, 2019. The fundraising event offered supporters of the department and members of the community the chance to meet the new athletic staff and an opportunity to see the direction in which the deparment is going including the rebirth of the football program.

Check out more photos from the event at Here

Rebirth Reception Held at FMU

Volume 1|Issue 2| pg. 3



Chevonne Mansfield joins Florida Memorial University as the Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator. The senior woman administrator is the highest-ranking female in the athletics department promotes representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports. “It means a great deal to me to be named FMU’s Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator,” said Mansfield. “I am excited to join the Lions family and for the opportunity to partner with the Miami Gardens community to make a positive impact on the lives of scholar-athletes at Florida Memorial.” As the Deputy Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator, Man-sfield will be a member of the athletics senior leadership team with responsibility for external areas including communications, marketing, promotions, and development. She will have direct oversight of several athletic programs and employees, as well as providing vision and leadership to advance the athletic department’s fundraising efforts, including major gift planning and premium seating, with a concerted focus on building the donor base and engaging contributors. Mansfield joins the Lion family after serving the Director of Communications at the LEAD1 Association, which represents the athletics directors and programs of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). While there she helped expand the LEAD1 brand and influenced how the rules of college sports are enacted and implemented by building good will with LEAD1 constituencies (NCAA, conference commissioners, policymakers) and utilizing executive communications and governmental outreach. Mansfield has over 10 years of experience in college athletics and higher education and has worked in all three subdivisions of NCAA Division I athletics. “I am very excited to add Chevonne to our administrative team. She brings a wealth of experience from all levels of athletic administration,” said Director of Athletics Ernest T. Jones. “She will help enhance and build stronger communication relationships in our community as well as leading the way to long lasting sponsorship development for the athletic department.” Mansfield said, “I appreciate the support of President Hardrick, (AD) Jones, and all who were involved in this process for their tremendous belief in me.” Before joining LEAD1, she spent four years as Communications Director for the American Athletic Conference while also serving as the primary basketball communications contact. While at The American, Mansfield worked with member institutions to ensure proper usage of the conference brand. Mansfield spent nearly three years at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as the Assistant Director of Media Rela-tions during a pivotal time of transition when the league expanded and added Missouri and Texas A&M,

FLORIDA MEMORIAL ATHLETICS HIRES SWA



FMU ATHLETICS HIRES COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR

announced the creation of the SEC Network, and was instrumental in the formation of the College Football Play-off (CFP). Her career in athletics began at Howard University as the Assistant Director of Sports Information. She spent three years there before joining the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) as Assistant Director of Com-munications. During her time at the SWAC, she helped re-shape the perception and image of one of the nation’s oldest conferences and served as the sport administrator for women’s soccer, men’s tennis and women’s tennis. Mansfield earned her undergraduate degree from St. John’s University (N.Y), and a master’s degree from Univer-sity of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). She serves as an adjunct professor in the Master in Professional Studies Sports Industry Management program at Georgetown University and has spent time as an adjunct professor in the College of Management/School of Hospitality at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.

Florida native, Jakeem Perry joins the Florida Memorial University athletics family as the new Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance and Operations.

His fiery passion and ability to motivate has afforded him multiple opportunities in Athletic Administration.

Perry said, “I chose FMU because I wanted to be a part of something special. I didn’t want to make a difference, I wanted to be the differ-ence,”

He began his career at his alma mater where he served on the academic staff in the Office of Student-Athlete Services at Bethune-Cookman University.

Prior to joining Lion Country Perry served as the Academic and Compliance Specialist for Coppin State University where he assisted

in the creation, development, and execution of educational programming for 185 student-athletes.

Director of Athletics Ernest T. Jones said, “I am very excited to add Jakeem to the administrative staff in the area of Compliance and Operations. I was impressed with his work ethic, energy, and enthusiasm to get things right.”

Jones also said the entire athletic department will benefit with Perry as an edition to the team.

“I love this business because it provides me with opportunities to impact the lives of young men and women,” said Perry. “It’s a blessing when you can go to work every day, and give back all at once.”

Perry’s work at Coppin State included providing preliminary evaluations for incoming freshmen and transfer students in adherence with division by-laws and university requirements. He also structured and supervised study halls and tutoring services, including recruitment, training, and scheduling of qualified academic tutors to those in need.

Perry is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University where he earned his BS in Criminal Justice, and MS in Criminal Justice Administration.



He helped four individuals bring home titles at the 2017 NAIA Championship where the Wildcats set a program record with 57 points and finished third for the second consecutive season. He was named the South Central Region Coach of the Year in 2017-18.

In 2015, his first season there as the track and field coach, Baugh led the men’s track and field team to its third-straight Red River Athletic Conference Championship and a third-place finish in the NAIA Championship. He also led the Lady Wildcats to their second-straight Red River Athletic Conference title and a 13th-place finish at the NAIA meet - which was an improvement of six places. He was named Red River Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

Baugh led the Lady Wildcats to their third-straight Red River Athletic Conference championship and first Top-five NAIA Championship finish in program history.

“I am very excited to announce Marlon as our Head Men’s and Women’s Track and Field coach,” said Athletic Director Ernest T. Jones. “He is a proven leader and winner with two National Coach of the Year honors on his resume. I see our teams competing for National Championships immediately.”

Before going to Wiley College, Baugh spent 14 years as a volunteer coach for Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas, North Mesquite High School and Paul Quinn College in Dallas. He’s also had the chance to work with professional athletes including Steve Slowly, Dean Griffiths and Jerome Young.

Baugh ran high school track in Brooklyn, New York, and competed one year at Norfolk State University. He also ran spent time as a pro-athlete with teams in Jamaica, El Salvador and Australia.

Baugh makes his transition from Dallas where he spent the last four months as a volunteer coach at the University of Dallas working with hurdlers and helped one of his athletes to a conference title.

Prior to his time with the University of Dallas, Baugh spent time at Wiley College where he finished as the winningest coach in school history. In 2018 he led the Wildcats to new heights by winning the first national championship in school history with only eight men and finishing fifth with the women’s team.

That same year, Wiley College won its fifth-straight Red River Ath-letic Conference championship and set a conference record for most points in 2017 with a record-setting 266 points.

Florida Memorial University’s men’s and women’s track and field teams have a new head coach in Marlon Baugh.

“It feels refreshing,” said Baugh. “The excitement I felt since the first time I stepped on campus is ongoing, it’s my dream job.”

MARLON BAUGH BRINGS WINNING SPIRIT TO FMU



Staff Retreat July 8, 2019 marked the first ever athletic staff retreat at Florida Memorial University under the new administration.

The guest speaker for the event was Ms. Claudia Ruffin from Ruf-fin Consulting and Training LLC.

HBCU Picnic The 5th Annual HBCU Picnic took place on July 13, 2019. More photos Here



Kalyn James has been named the new head cheerleading coach at Florida Memorial University at the height of the new day. “It is an honor to join the Florida Memorial University family as Cheerleading Coach,” said James. “The small, family-like campus community is a wonderful atmosphere to develop leadership, character, and service in the members of the cheerleading team.” James carved out her own niche and created a multifaceted platform from which engages people in fitness, television, fashion, arts and entertainment. She is an accomplished model, voice over talent, dancer and choreographer with more than 30 years of dance training. James was accepted to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and also danced professionally at Walt Disney World. Since moving to Miami she has

performed in the MTV Video Music Awards, the Latin Video Music Awards, the Latin Billboard Awards, and danced and choreographed on the Latin Univision and Telemundo Television Networks in Miami. She has worked extensively as an events emcee, and as a print and television model appearing on the pages of Glamour, Ebony, Essence, Jet, and O Magazine. James previously taught dance classes in Miami at In Motion Dance, Dance Exchange and Sixth Street Dance Studio. She taught Barre Fitness and Pilates classes at Iron Flower Fitness Miami and Equinox Brickell Heights. She is a former instructor for the Universal Dance Association through which she traveled the country and taught dance camps to high school dance team members. James was named one of Legacy Miami Magazine’s 25 Most Influential and Prominent Black Women in Business and Leadership in 2014. She received the 2015 In the Company of Women award for Outstanding Woman in Arts & Entertainment and was listed as one of Miami Today’s 2016 Best of Miami in Arts & Culture. She also had the unique honor of being the digital Skyline Dancer on Downtown Miami’s Iconic Intercontinental Hotel in 2016. “I am very excited to add Kayln to our staff,” said Athletic Director Ernest T. Jones. “I cannot explain how wonderful it is to add a woman of this type of character, quality, and reputation to the athletic staff here at Florida Memorial University. Our young ladies will turn into women under her leadership while at the same time competing to be the best cheer team in the Sun Conference.” James was a varsity cheerleader and squad choreographer at Murphy High School and was a member of the University of South Alabama Dance Team in Mobile, Alabama. James said, “Cheerleading taught me the meaning of teamwork and camaraderie. It instilled in me a self-confidence and sense of pride that remain with me today. I look forward to the personal development that will positively impact each member of the team and I am proud to be a new member of the Florida Memorial Lions.”

FORMER MISS ALABAMA NAMED CHEERLEADING COACH



New Strength Coach

She is a Mobile, Alabama native that holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. James began her career by making history as being crowned the first, and for 25 years the only, African-American Miss Alabama where she placed as a Top 10 semi-finalist in the 1994 Miss America Pageant.

Many changes have already taken place within the athletics department at Florida Memorial University, including the hiring of head Strength and Conditioning Coach Aaron Thompson. Coach Thompson brings a vast amount of experience to Lion

country having several years of combined experience working at the high school and NCAA levels. Thompson joins FMU after working as a coaching graduate assistant at Florida Atlantic University since 2017. “I am beyond excited and humbled to be Florida Memorial Univer-sity’s first Head Strength and Conditioning Coach,” said Thompson. “At Florida Memorial I will make it my mission to professionally serve each student-athlete by cultivating the attitude, discipline, and work ethic driven culture that is necessary to build champions and achieve success in every aspect of life.” Thompson was also a volunteer assistant at Ohio State University, graduate assistant at the University of Findlay, volunteer assistant at the University of Findlay, and a volunteer assistant at Florida Atlantic University. “I am very excited to add Aaron as our Strength and Conditioning Coach,” said Athletic Director Ernest T. Jones. “I love his attention to detail and his understanding of how the body is made up and develops. He will truly allow our teams to be able to compete on a national level in athletics across all NAIA spectrums. Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise science from Otterbein University (2016) and a Master of Science degree in exercise science at Florida Atlantic University (2019). He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Certified USA Weightlifting Level I Sports Performance Coach (USAW), Certified Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRCms), and Certified in Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR). He was a member of the football team at Otterbein University where he played as a wide receiver (2012-2016). Thompson graduated from Ridgedale High School in his native city Marion, Ohio where his mother (Cindy), father (John), and three sisters (Olivia, Tessa, and Rachel) still live.


The Florida Memorial University volleyball team began a season-long relationship with Marines from the Ma-rine Corps Officer Selection team in South Florida.

Captain Valerie Krygier and members of her team hosted a two-hour long leadership session with the Lions to help them understand their team dynamic, and ways in which they can communicate better throughout the season. During the session the ladies were introduced to leadership traits and began to identify the team and individual leadership strengths and weaknesses.

“This was the beginning of a very strong training period because we established our mental strengths and weaknesses before we even got on the court,” said head coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton. “It allowed all of us to see what kind of team we are and how we can motivate each other.”

The ladies finished the first of five sessions with a new outlook on leadership. The remaining sessions, which will include a physical component, will resume a week before they officially take the court together for the first time.

Coach Crockett-Moulton said “During the session we established our team core values which we refer to as L.E.E; Loyalty, Endurance and Enthusiasm.”

The next session will take place on August 6, 2019. The Lions will began their 2019 season at the Keiser Univer-sity Tournament on August 17 against Pensacola Christian College at 4PM.

Volleyball Team Begins Leadership Series With Marine Corps


Throughout the summer many NBA and Pro League players stepped foot into the Florida Memorial University Wellness Center to train with Miami-based Stanley Remy of Remyworkouts. The athletic facility served as the training facility for many former and current players.

NBA Real-Time

Coming Up in August

Friday, Aug. 9 - New Students Arrive

Saturday, Aug. 10 --Miami Gardens Summer Jam

Sunday, Aug. 18th --Volleyball Ref Certification

Monday, Aug. 19th-- First Day of School

Tuesday, Aug. 20th --Volleyball Home Opener

Thursday, Aug. 29 - Soccer Home Openers

Women’s Soccer Schedule

Men’s Soccer Schedule

Follow Us On Social Media

Facebook: Florida Memorial LionsInstagram: GoFMULions

YouTube: Official FMU LionsTwitter: GoFMULions

Volleyball Schedule

florida memorial university lions’ den inside the€¦ · florida memorial university lions’...

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