Hardy tabbed as new athletics director at Hampton
June 20, 2007
Hampton, Va. – Hampton University has named Lonza Hardy, Jr. as its new Director of Athletics. Hardy comes to the Tidewater campus from Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena where he served as Director of Athletics for six years. He is expected to assume his new duties after July 1.
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Lonza Hardy |
Hardy succeeds Joe Taylor who had served as both AD and football coach for the past two years.
“Because the dual role of Athletic Director and Head Football Coach was so taxing, I asked President (William) Harvey to again separate those functions so that I might solely concentrate on football", said Taylor. "After a search which yielded some very strong candidates, Mr. Lonza Hardy was a unanimous choice to lead the Hampton University Athletic Department. Along with a strong resume, Mr. Hardy comes highly recommended by top administrators at the university and NFL levels. I am personally looking forward to working with him as he moves us forward.”
A 1978 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism, Hardy has enjoyed a successful career in college sports for more than 29 years. During his stint at Mississippi Valley State, he worked relentlessly to elevate the school’s dormant athletics program into a power in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. In fact, during his six-year reign, the school captured more league championships than it had in the previous 33 years combined. Accordingly, he is widely regarded as one of the premier Directors of Athletics on the collegiate level, capturing the 2006 General Neyland Outstanding Athletics Director Award by the All-American Football Foundation.
“When you think of institutions of higher learning which have affected positive changes in our society, Hampton University certainly comes to mind,” said Hardy. “Therefore, I consider it a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to enhance the great traditions which have been established at Hampton through the years.”
“Mr. Hardy’s training; experience and demonstrated work ethic make him an excellent fit for Hampton University’s outstanding Division I athletics program”, related Harvey.
Prior to his current position at Mississippi Valley State, Hardy served as associate commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference for more than 11 years (1989-2001), where he helped to elevate the image of the 10-member league while handling the conference’s public relations efforts and working hand-in-hand with the commissioner in managing the day-to-day operations of the conference headquarters. At the conclusion of his final year with the SWAC, Hardy was awarded the Kodak Good Person Award, an honor bestowed by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in recognition of outstanding community service.
From 1986 to 1989 Hardy served as sports information director at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a position he also held at Alcorn State University in Mississippi from 1980 to 1986. During those nine years he was tabbed SWAC Sports Information Director of the Year four times.
Hardy’s start in college sports came at Albany State University in Albany, Georgia, where he was a public information aide from 1978 to 1980.
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