Vaughn Wilson (right) standing next to his late father Roosevelt Wilson (left).
Photo courtesy of Facebook.
Current FAMU Athletics associate director of intercollegiate athletics Vaughn Wilson plans to step down from his position this summer.
Wilson has officially turned in his resignation letter according to the Tallahassee Democrat, and plans to step down on June 30.
From his personal Facebook account, Wilson posted on Monday, Feb. 4 and spoke on how the size reduction in athletics and the effect of his job on his health ultimately led to his departure.
“The athletics department has been reduced in size over the years and that has resulted in many of us multitasking on a daily basis,” Wilson posted. “The load became unhealthy in my opinion. It’s nobody’s fault, but it is just too much to maintain. I also need to take more time to be able to take care of me.”
With Wilson accomplishing so many things during his time at FAMU, it was hard for him to pick what he enjoyed most. However, one thing he did pinpoint was establishing the internship program.
“Establishing the internship program…that allowed me to get interns, particularly for journalism but also SBI and other schools within the university.”
Some of those same interns, like Morgan Culler, gave insight on how it is to work with Wilson. Culler, a Jacksonville native and graduate from the School of Business and Industry, started interning with FAMU athletics in 2013 and then again as a graduate assistant in 2017.
“Over the years Mr. Vaughn has become one of my closest mentors,” Culler said. “He is actually more like another father figure to me. While working under his tutelage I have interacted with and met people I would have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise.”
Calvin Sykes, a third-year journalism student from Miami, FL, currently works with FAMU athletics and gave his thoughts on working with Wilson.
“This was my first semester working under Vaughn, and I can say my time has been insightful,” Sykes said. “I’ve learned some new things, and got to be around him as he does so many things in his personal life as well as athletics.”
Wilson put his interns in many great positions while at FAMU. He has had interns who were on weekly national broadcasts on ESPN3, as well as having interns who produced and directed shows for Fox Sports.
What athletics is now, is a far contrast from when Wilson first became part of FAMU’s staff.
“When I was hired in 2009, FAMU Athletics had no media component so all the Rattler productions were developed from scratch.”
When asked what he will miss about FAMU, he spoke glowingly about the opportunities he had working in the department. “It’s no question the number one thing I’m gonna miss is working with my interns and working with these amazing student-athletes,” he said.
FAMU Athletic Director John Eason could not be reached for comment.