LeMoyne-Owen College is proud to announce the appointment of Roderick Smothers, Jr. as the institution's new Director of Athletics. Smothers brings a wealth of experience in athletic administration, strategic leadership and revenue development. These qualities position him to lead the Magicians and Lady Magicians into an exciting new era of growth and competitive success.
Smothers joins LeMoyne-Owen after serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Ticketing at Alabama A&M University, where he spent the past three years helping strengthen game-day operations and enhance the overall fan experience. His work reflected a commitment to operational excellence and student-athlete success while supporting one of the region's premier athletic programs.
Before his tenure at Alabama A&M, Smothers served as Director of Athletics at Philander Smith University from 2020 through 2023. During his leadership, he oversaw every aspect of the department, including strategic planning, corporate partnerships, revenue generation, compliance and daily operations. His vision and leadership helped elevate the institution to one of the most successful periods in its athletic history.
Under Smothers' direction, Philander Smith captured five conference championships and claimed two Commissioner's Cups, recognizing the conference's top overall athletic department. Those accomplishments reflected not only competitive excellence but also a culture built on student-athlete development and organizational stability.
His leadership also earned the respect of his peers across the conference. While serving as athletic director, Smothers was elected President of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, where he represented the conference on the Athletic Directors Association Board. In that role, he collaborated with institutional leaders to advance conference initiatives, strengthen member institutions and promote opportunities that benefited student-athletes throughout the league.
A firm believer in the transformational power of athletics, Smothers has consistently emphasized creating an environment where students can thrive academically, athletically and personally. His experience in building relationships, generating new revenue streams and fostering championship cultures aligns with LeMoyne-Owen College's commitment to excellence and its vision for the future of Tiger athletics.
Smothers earned his Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Langston University before completing a Master of Science in Sports Management at University of the Southwest. His educational background, combined with years of executive leadership, has prepared him to lead athletic departments with innovation and purpose.
As LeMoyne-Owen College continues to build momentum across its athletic programs, the addition of Roderick Smothers, Jr. signals a renewed commitment to competitive excellence, student-athlete achievement and institutional growth. The College is confident that his proven leadership and forward-thinking vision will strengthen the department while creating new opportunities for its student-athletes, coaches and the entire campus community.
