Alvin Hollins jr., FAMU's director of sports information.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Hollin's Facebook page.
On Nov. 13, 2018, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced its hall of fame class for 2019, and it included Florida A&M sports information director Alvin Hollins Jr.
“I would like to congratulate the 2019 Hall of Fame class for all their accomplishments, both athletically and professionally,” MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said in the MEAC’s official release. “The honorees have made significant contributions to their families, communities, institutions, and this conference. They are to be commended.”
Hollins has been working with FAMU athletics for nearly 40 years. He worked as FAMU’s athletic media relations director from August 1979 until December 2009, he worked on the Rattler Football Preview magazine from 2011-2013 and he worked as FAMU athletics assistant sports information director from 2014 until this year when he was promoted to head director of sports information.
After working in the program for such a long time, Hollins has a hard time picking what his favorite memory is from FAMU athletics.
“I would say some of the fondest memories are having to work with some of the great coaches we had the opportunity to meet,” Hollins said in an interview with the Famuan. “Coach Jake Gaither … Bobby Lang the track coach,” Hollins went on to list several more historic FAMU coaches.
“Also, the opportunity to meet some of those great athletes (is a fond memory). Marquis Grissom, Andre Dawson, Vince Coleman. We beat Miami (in football) in 1979, that was my first year here so that’s one that I’ll always remember. I mean 40 years, there’s a lot of great memories … I guess there’s almost too many to mention. We’ve had so many great athletes and coaches and so many outstanding teams. It’s really hard to pin down one or two.”
Hollins’ career at FAMU is not only highlighted with getting to meet legendary coaches and athletes, but with several awards for his dedication to FAMU and the MEAC. For his service to the MEAC, Hollins was named the Black College SID of the Year in 1990 and the MEAC SID of the Year in 1992. For his loyalty and service to FAMU, Hollins was inducted into the Florida A&M Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Even before he came to FAMU, Hollins was awarded the Ace Higgins Award as Louisiana’s top student assistant SID while working as a student assistant in Southern University’s sports information office.
Hollins was humbled by the MEAC announcement of his membership into the hall of fame, and will continue to work behind the scenes in sports information.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized with so many administrators, coaches and athletes who made a big difference in this conference for almost 50 years,” said Hollins. “To be considered in that group is very, very special. I’m very appreciative to the conference and to the people here at FAMU who nominated me for it.”