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FAMU AD John Davis bringing a 'modern' approach to advance program
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- FAMU AD John Davis bringing a 'modern' approach to advance program
John F. Davis is ready to serve.
Florida A&M's new Vice President and Director of Athletics has been on the job since Monday, Jan. 5, in a role that "matters deeply" to him.
He takes over with student-athletes at the forefront of his mind and plans to transcend FAMU's athletic program.
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"When I picture our student athletes today, I don't just see names on a roster or numbers on a depth chart," Davis said on Friday, Jan. 9, in a joint introductory press conference with new FAMU head football coach Quinn Gray Sr. at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center.
"I see young men and women whose lives can be permanently shaped by the standard that we set, the systems that we build, and the leadership that we provide."
FAMU hired Davis away from being the Florida Lottery's secretary for five years on Nov. 14, 2025, to replace Angela Suggs, now the school's Special Assistant to the President and Advisor for Intercollegiate Athletics.
Florida A&M University held a joint introductory press conference for new head football coach Quinn Gray Sr. and Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics John Davis at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
Davis will earn an annual salary of $250,000 .
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It's the Pahokee native's first time working in an athletics administration position.
"He understands that building a championship athletics program today requires excellence in governance, student-athlete development, compliance, revenue generation, community engagement, and strategic partnerships," FAMU President Marva Johnson told the Lawson Center audience.
"He is exceptionally well prepared to lead and advance FAMU's athletic mission."
Suggs became FAMU's athletic director in October 2024 but was placed on paid administrative leave from June 2025 until November 2025 after being arrested on fraud and theft charges stemming from her former role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Sports Foundation.
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Travis Glasgow served as the interim athletic director but left to become Alabama A&M University's Deputy Athletic Director last October. Longtime employee, former Rattlers football player, FAMU Sports Hall of Famer Michael Smith then took over.
Davis, a former safety for the Florida State Seminoles football team from 1989 to 1992, is FAMU's 22nd athletic director change since 1994, interim and full-time.
"Today is just not simply about starting a new position. It is the beginning of an intentional path forward," Davis said. "To compete effectively, protect institutional integrity, and truly serve our student athletes, we must operate with rigor, transparency, and accountability of a modern enterprise."
FAMU athletic director John Davis launches 'Vision 2030'
Davis has a plan for FAMU athletics.
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The next two to three years will culminate in his 'Vision 2030,' a "comprehensive enterprise-level strategy to stabilize operations, modernize systems, diversify revenue, and position FAMU athletics for sustained, competitive and academic excellence."
Florida A&M University held a joint introductory press conference for new head football coach Quinn Gray Sr. and Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics John Davis at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
The first 150 days feature conducting a "comprehensive enterprise-wide assessment" of FAMU athletics. The assessment will examine "governance, financial operations, organizational structure, facilities, revenue strategy, and competitive performance."
The second phase is "stabilization."
That means Davis and the FAMU leadership will establish "clearly defined roles" and emphasize accountability across the entire department, strengthen controls, mitigate risks, and ensure everyone understands success measures.
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"Systemization" comes in the ensuing six to 12 months after Davis' start date as FAMU's athletic director.
It will be FAMU's ideal vision of performance in the athletic department's workings. Modern revenue strategies, compliance structures, and enhanced student-athlete support services are the focus.
John Davis, Florida's lottery secretary, shares his story of resiliency at A. Crawford Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Fla., April 18, 2024. The roundtable discussion was about Florida's "Resiliency Florida: The Power to Preserve" initiative presented by Casey DeSantis, the first lady of Florida, at the Marvin E. McCain Technology Center. (Tyler Orsburn/News Herald)
"Embracing innovation, technology, data, and best practices that affect today's intercollegiate athletics landscape while honoring the history and identity of FAMU," Davis explained the systemization stage.
"Systems, not personalities, will drive outcomes."
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At last, FAMU will undergo a "transformation" in its operations, internally and externally.
"Transformation will be both internal and outwardly facing," Davis said. Externally, we will strengthen our brand, expand partnerships, and deepen alumni and donor engagement. And we will position this university as a national model among our peers."
FAMU athletic director John Davis calls for alumni support
Davis highlighted that FAMU's coaches will be "extremely important" while he leads a renewed outlook of the athletic program.
He added that alumni will also play a vital role.
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Especially with financial support of FAMU athletics.
He asked for FAMU alums, which has approximately 75,000 graduates, to commit $100 to athletics per year. That would bring in $7.5 million.
It would help "attract top tier talent, support NIL opportunities, compete for championships, and build the internal systems that our student-athletes deserve," Davis said.
The new FAMU athletic director isn't just asking for an influx of funds.
He's also contributing.
Davis said he and his wife, Felicia, will donate $10,000 per year to the athletics department.
"Leadership is not just about vision. It's about commitment and leading by example," Davis said. "This is not a gesture, but as a statement of belief in our student-athletes, coaches, and the future that we're going to build here together."
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Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida A&M AD John Davis launches 'Vision 2030' to modernize program
