Tennessee State University’s athletics department is facing a major leadership shake-up.
Athletic director Mikki Allen has been placed on administrative leave while the university conducts an internal investigation, according to the Tennessean.
Allen was the subject of a no-confidence letter signed by no less than six TSU head coaches in June.
University president Dewayne Tucker acknowledged that he received the letter May 29, with signatures from men’s basketball coach Nolan Smith, women’s basketball coach Candice Dupree, football coach Reggie Barlow, track coach Chandra Cheeseborough, volleyball coach Donika Sutton and softball coach Genee McRath.
In his statement on Thursday, Tucker said he took the concerns seriously and moved quickly to review them. He did not detail the allegations, but made clear that the university is treating the matter as an active personnel issue.
Effective today, TSU athletic director Dr. Mikki Allen has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation,” Tucker said.
That means TSU is not ready to say much more right now, but the impact is already obvious. Anytime a university places its athletic director on leave, it signals that the concerns reached a level that could not be ignored.
Tucker said the university would not go further while the matter remains active. “Because this is an active personnel matter, we cannot comment further at this time,” he said, adding that TSU remains committed to addressing the situation “with the appropriate seriousness and care for all parties involved.”
Allen has been the athletic director since 2020.
The next big question is who takes over in the interim and how TSU plans to steady the department while the investigation continues.
For a program that has already been under the spotlight, this is a moment that could shape the direction of TSU athletics well beyond this summer.
