One of the most impactful athletic directors in HBCU history is moving on. Ashley Robinson officially departed Jackson State University on August 19, 2026, to become the vice president and director of athletics at Texas Southern University, following approval by the TSU Board of Regents.
A Transformative Eight Years
Robinson's tenure at Jackson State was nothing short of era-defining. Over eight years, he oversaw 32 conference championships and two national championships. His most headline-grabbing move came in 2020 when he hired Deion Sanders as head football coach — a decision that brought unprecedented national visibility to Jackson State and HBCU athletics as a whole.
But Robinson's impact extended well beyond the Sanders hire. He brought in T.C. Taylor, who led the football team to an HBCU national championship in 2024, and hired former NBA player Mo Williams to lead the men's basketball program. In 2025, he oversaw the reinstatement of the university's golf teams.
The crowning achievement of his final year: Jackson State won the 2025-26 Dr. James Frank Commissioner's Cup, the program's first such title in 15 years.
Why Texas Southern?
The move represents a homecoming of sorts for Robinson, who previously served as athletic director at Prairie View A&M University in Texas. At TSU, he replaces former athletic director Kevin Granger and steps into a program undergoing significant transition — the university simultaneously hired Corey Lowery as its new men's basketball head coach on the same day.
What's Next for Jackson State
Alyse Wells-Kilbert, the associate vice president and senior woman administrator, has been named interim athletic director pending approval from the Mississippi Board of Trustees. The university has begun the process of searching for a permanent replacement, with multiple reports already speculating on potential high-profile candidates.
*Reported by the Urban City Podcast Sports newsroom — urbancitypodcastsports.com. Verified as of August 19, 2026.*