College Football’s black excellence: The first Power 5 Athletic Directors

Townsend was perhaps the first African-American Athletic Director of an FBS school. 

Few Athletic Directors are as decorated as the late Nelson Townsend. The three-time hall of famer served seven tenures are four different schools. A 1962 graduate of Maryland State College, Townsend began his higher education administration career at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 1976. After serving UMES for three years, Townsend was hired to take over at the University of Delaware in 1979.

It was Delaware State where Townsend honed his niche for transitioning programs. In 1980, Delaware State transitioned from Division II to Division I. Traditionally a doormat at the D-II level; the Hornets became a power in the MEAC conference, winning 15 conference titles in various sports. During his last stint with the Hawks, UMES became a D-I power in women’s bowling.

Townsend spent only one year at Florida A&M during his first stint, but what a year it was. The Rattlers were unsuccessful as a football independent; it was Townsend who guided Florida A&M back to the MEAC. Once again, Townsend would do so in 2005 after their unsuccessful attempt to move to the FBS (D-1A) level.

Buffalo hired Townsend in 1987 after a decade of helping HBCU programs transition levels of collegiate athletics. Townsend would move the Buffalo athletic program from D-III to D-I in just over 18 months.

Tragically, Townsend died of a heart attack during his third stint as AD of Florida A&M. Townsend was a trailblazer who paved the way for every other Black administrator.