Talladega College has announced that Andre Payne, its former women’s basketball coach, will become its athletic director.
This news comes less than two months after it was announced that Payne was being hired as the next men’s basketball coach at Allen University.
In addition to taking over as AD, the school also announced that he will reclaim his role as Talladega’s women’s basketball coach.
“I am thankful and excited about returning to Talladega College,” said Payne. “My previous experience at [Talladega] was truly special. I am looking forward to working alongside the great coaching staff that’s already in place. It is a great opportunity to reunite with Dr. [Willie] Todd, who truly understands the importance of athletics on an HBCU campus. One of my main goals is to ensure that our student-athletes will grow holistically by developing them academically, athletically, professionally, and socially.”
Last month, Talladega College announced Dr. Willie L. Todd Jr. as the institution’s 22nd President.
Dr. Todd and Coach Payne previously worked together at Wiley University (then Wiley College), where the former served as vice provost and associate vice provost and the latter as men’s basketball coach.
Payne had his most successful coaching tenure at Wiley, leading the Wildcats to a 146-104 overall record and two NAIA tournament appearances in eight seasons.
He also coached men’s basketball at Texas College from 2001 to 2006 and Mississippi Valley State from 2014 to 2019.
Payne was initially hired as Talladega College’s women’s basketball coach in August 2024.
