KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State University Director of Athletics Milton Overton announced the addition of Tamica Smith Jones to serve as the Chief Operating Officer for the Department of Athletics.
 
Jones makes her way to Kennesaw State with over 20 years of experience in collegiate athletics, including the last five years as the Director of Athletics at UC Riverside. She also has recent stops at the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) as the Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Women's Administrator and Clark Atlanta University as the Director of Athletics.
 
In her new role, Jones will run the internal day-to-day operations of the department and oversee strategic planning initiatives, departmental policies, game operations, budgets scheduling, facilities and capital projects. She will also serve as the program administrator for select sports, starting her new post on Feb. 1, 2021.
 
"Tamica is a native Georgian who has dedicated her professional career to the overall success, health and wellbeing of student-athletes which places her values in clear alignment with KSU's mission to build champions in the classroom, on the field, in the community and in life with academic integrity and excellence," said Overton. "We are super excited to welcome her as the newest team member of our Owl Family."
 
During her time at UC Riverside, Jones oversaw the department's winningest academic year in Division I history, leading the Highlanders to their highest finish in the Big West Conference Commissioner's Cup standings. In her inaugural year with the program, UC Riverside captured two Big West Conference Championships and the program's first DI National Championship, an individual performance by Vesta Bell at the 2016 NCAA Track & Field Championship.
 
She currently serves on the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Sport Committee and is on the Women Leaders in College Sports Board and Foundation Sub-Committee.
 
"I am honored and grateful for this opportunity to continue making a positive impact and supporting scholar-athletes, coaches and administrators and being able to do so in my hometown is priceless," said Smith Jones. "KSU has great leadership and a rich academic and athletic history as a R2 institution. I am excited to get back to football country and be part of the vibrant spirit that a well-integrated athletics model brings to the campus and community. It will be a great privilege to serve alongside AD Overton and the Owls team."
 
 
"I want to thank UC Riverside and Chancellor Kim Wilcox for welcoming me and trusting my leadership to move the Highlanders bold vision forward for the past five and a half years," said Smith Jones. "Our coaches, staff and student-athletes inspired me every day as we made history and the impossible became possible. They contributed daily to the incredibly impactful and transformative work we were able to do together and should be proud of those efforts. I am fully confident UCR Athletics will continue to do great things as the program moves forward. Finally, I want to thank the City of Riverside, the UCR Athletics Association and UCR's alumni and fans for supporting and embracing my family during our time together in Southern California."
 
In 2017, she was named the Women Leaders in College Sports Division I Administrator of the Year, awarded the 61st Assembly District Woman of Distinction Award by California State Assembly member, Jose Medina, and recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans in Los Angeles.
  
Before her days in San Antonio, Jones served as Athletics Director for Clark Atlanta University (Division II) from 2008-2013, leading the Panthers to seven Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championships, including the first men's basketball title in 46 years and first-ever women's cross country and volleyball crowns.
 
A native of Atlanta, Jones played basketball at Troy University in Alabama, before transferring and graduating with B.S. in business management from Alabama A&M University, where she participated in basketball and cross-country. She also holds a master's degree in public administration from Savannah State University, and a certificate in business administration from Warren National University (formerly Kennedy Western University).
 
For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KSUOwlNation on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook and Instagram.

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