After two years as the athletic director at Mississippi Valley State, Hakim McClellan is moving on.
McClellan announced that he would be returning to his previous employer, Jackson State, as the deputy athletic director under Ashley Robinson. The Valley alum’s stint as AD ended on June 30, and George Ivory, the current men’s basketball head coach, will take over as the interim athletic director in Itta Bena.
“Thank you for embracing the challenge of propelling our programs to new heights,” McClellan said to Valley faithful in a statement. “Though my time here has come to a close, my love and dedication to Valley will endure.”
In the two years under McClellan’s leadership, Mississippi Valley State athletics experienced a surge in progress. A slew of facility upgrades included enhancements for the track, tennis, softball, and football programs. McClellan also set an emphasis on academics for his athletes, who saw improvement in graduation rates, academic progress rates, and the highest GPA in five years across all athletics.
In June, McClellan’s tenure was punctuated by the unveiling of a new turf football field project that will include a new jumbotron scoreboard, along with a new athletics logo. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the upgrades, MVSU President Dr. Jerryl Briggs, Sr. also announced a $1.2 million increase in scholarships for Delta Devil student-athletes.
“We are thrilled with the progress of our athletic facilities and the advancements across the campus,” Briggs said. “AD McClellan has done an exceptional job of keeping MVSU moving forward, and working alongside him has been an honor. We wish him the best in his future endeavors. When you love MVSU as he does, MVSU will always love you back.”
As McClellan sets his sights on pushing another SWAC athletics program forward, he’s confident that the progress at Valley will continue.
“The foundation we’ve laid together is strong, and I have no doubt you will continue to achieve greatness,” McClellan said.
