By Will Tubbs, Louisiana College Sports Information
After a lengthy search, Louisiana College has landed on the man who administrators feel is the ideal candidate to lead the school’s 12 intercollegiate sports programs. Thursday at 10 a.m. Darrell Payne, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was named as the school’s new athletics director.
Payne, currently a private practice lawyer, has a resume that tells of experience not only in athletics, but law, social work and academia and represents, Louisiana College President Dr. Joe Aguillard said, the perfect blend of talents to head up LC athletics.
[img_assist|nid=7424|title=New LC AD|desc=Darrell Payne was introduced today as Louisiana College's new athletics director. Payne was chosen following a lengthy search and replaces Tim Whitman, who resigned earlier this year for personal reasons.|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=628]“We are pleased to welcome Darrell Payne to the Louisiana College family,” Aguillard said. “Louisiana College is blessed to have as our athletic director a man of faith, character and leadership to head all of our athletic programs. He is a profound athlete and scholar and will integrate athletics, academics and faith through his position. After an extensive search I believe we have found the man who, through his Christ-first attitude and God-given skill, can lead our athletics department for years to come. Mr. Payne has a wealth of knowledge and has dealt with athletes on the highest levels. He is also both a skilled attorney and accomplished academician. We couldn’t be more pleased with his decision to accept the position of Athletic Director at Louisiana College.”
Payne, who is still in the process of tying loose ends in Cincinnati, will visit Louisiana College in spurts throughout the summer before settling in fulltime at the beginning of August.
“I really feel blessed that Louisiana College is giving me this opportunity to share my faith through athletics,” Payne said. “I met with Dr. Aguillard and Brother Tim Johnson and they both made me feel like this was a place at which I could really make a positive impact. I’m truly thankful for the chance and look forward to the new challenge.”
Of his approach to the position of athletic director, Payne said, “I’m a team player. I want to come in and see how things work, what people are doing, what is working and go from there. Initially, it will be an educational process. Right now, I’m doing my homework, learning all I can about our athletic program, in order to be more able to fit in with the team and identify areas where improvement might be needed.”
Payne replaces Tim Whitman, who resigned last fall due to personal reasons. Since that resignation, Assistant Athletic Director Donnie Broussard has served as Acting Athletic Director.
At Thursday’s press conference, it was also announced that Broussard has accepted the position of Associate Athletic Director and would continue to play a prominent role in LC athletics.
“We are blessed to have many amazing, Christian coaches and administrators at Louisiana College,” Aguillard said. “Miss Donnie has been an integral part of our family for more than a decade and I am thrilled with her decision to accept the position of Associate Athletic Director. This decision not only reflects positively on her work ethic and dedication to Louisiana College, which is shared by every member of the athletics department, but exemplifies her commitment to the spreading of God’s word through athletics. I have faith that under the leadership of Mr. Payne – and with the support of Miss Donnie, the other athletic administrators, coaches and staff – we will continue to field an overall program that will be rooted in Christ, excel in both academics and athletics and be a mark of pride for all of Louisiana.”
Payne is a graduate of the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University (1988), holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville (1982) and holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Dayton (1980).
He’s been in private practice since 1991 but, in addition to extensive work in law – his thesis in law school was on sport and entertainment law – Payne has quite the background in sports.
A multiple-sport star in Shawnee, Ky., where he was a high school teammate of LSU basketball great Rudy Macklin, Payne was a member of the 1977 NCAA Division II men’s basketball national championship team at Tennessee-Chatanooga.
He later went on to work closely with professional athletes as a sports agent. During his three years in that profession he represented the likes of Dave Parker (Cincinnati Reds), Leon Durham (Chicago Cubs/Cincinnati Reds), Jeff Graham (San Diego Chargers), Tony Tubbs (former WBA heavyweight champion), Nate Tubbs and briefly with Buster Douglas.
In academics, Payne is equally accomplished having served as a full-time professor at Northern Kentucky and Indiana University as well as an adjunct professor at Wright State and the Unversity of Kentucky.
From 1993-97 he was the Assistant Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Northern Kentucky.
He’s been a public defender, prosecutor for the state and legal counsel and worked in various capacities in the field of social work.
Payne has had 12 scholarly articles published in various periodicals, has two more scholarly works in review and has been a featured or invited speaker on issues of athletics, law and social work on more than 65 occasions.
Darrell Payne Extended Biography:
Athletic achievement:
Multiple-sport star in Shawnee, Ky., and high school teammate of LSU basketball legend Rudy Macklin. Was an All-City, All-State and honorable mention All-American in high school.
Part of the 1977 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball team at Tennessee-Chatanooga.
Law thesis was on sport and entertainment law. Taught the first Sport and Entertainment Law Class at Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky.
Worked for three years as a sports agent, representing such clients as Dave Parker (Cincinnati Reds), Leon Durham (Chicago Cubs/Cincinnati Reds), Jeff Graham (San Diego Chargers), Tony Tubbs (former WBA heavyweight champion), Nate Tubbs and briefly with Buster Douglas.
Consultant for Citizens Committee on Youths – Magic Johnson Project, Cincinnati, Ohio (2005-06)
Academic Achievement:
Juris Doctor – Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University (1988)
Master of Science in Social Work – Kent School of Social Work University of Louisville (1982)
Bachelor of Social Work – University of Dayton (1980)
Assistant professor, Department of Social Work, Northern Kentucky (2002-2010 and 1991-92)
Assistant Dean, College of Professional Studies, Northern Kentucky (1993-97)
Assistant professor, Indiana University (1992-93)
Adjunct professor at Wright University, Northern Kentucky and University of Kentucky
12 scholarly articles published in various periodicals, has two more scholarly works in review and has been a featured or invited speaker on issues of athletics, law and social work on more than 65 occasions.
Legal Achievement:
Private Practice (1991-present)
Public Defender, Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office, Cincinnati, Ohio (2001-2002)
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Office of John F. Holcomb, Butler County, Ohio (1997-2001)
Social Work Acheivement:
Medical Social Worker III, University ofCincinnatti Hospital (1991)
Probation Officer, Hamilton County Juvenile Court, Cincinnati, Ohio (1984-91)
Counselor, Lighthouse Runaway Shelter (1984)
Arbitration Officer, Department of Human Services, Louisville, Ky. (1982-83)
Counselor, Louisville Jewish Community Center (1981-83)
Social Worker, Eastway Mental Health Center, Dayton, Ohio (1979-81)
Committee Memberships
Benefits Committee, N.K.U. (2006-2010)
College of Education and Human Services Grade Appeal Committee Chair, COEHS, N.K.U. (2006-2009)
Black Faculty and Staff, N.K.U. (2002-2010)
Social Work Department Admissions Committee Chair, COEHS, N.K.U. (2003-2010)
Student Development Committee, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, N.K.U. (2003-2006)
College of Education and Human Services Course Load Reduction Committee, N.K.U. (2006-2007)
Student Voice & Leadership Committee, COEHS, N.K.U. (2005-2009)
Accreditation Committee for School of Social Work, N.K.U. (1992-1993)
African-American Law Student Mentoring Committee, Chase Law School (1992-1997)
Co-Chair Minority and Women Committee, Social Work, I.U.P.U.I. (1992-1993)
B.S.W. Committee, Social Work I.U.P.U.I. (1992-1993)
Transitions Committee. N.K.U. (1993-1997)
Graduate Council Committee, N.K.U. (1992-1993)
Chair Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee (1992-1997)
Financial Aid Appeals Committee, N.K.U. (1992-1997)
Chair Newsletter Committee for College (1992-1997)
Advising Committee, N.K.U. (1992-1997)
Search Committee for College (1993-1997)
Placement Committee, N.K.U. (1992-1997)
Dean’s Search Committee for College of Business, N.K.U. (1994)
Children’s Law Clinic Search Committee, Chase College of Law (1994)
Faculty Appointment Committee, Chase College of Law (1994-1997)
Co-Chair Search Committee for School of Education (1996)
Professional Memberships, Service Activities and Honors:
Member-American Inns of Court Foundation, Cinti. OH (1987-1988)
Member-Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity (1987-2000)
Member-Moot Court Team, Chase Law School, N.K.U. (1987-1988)
Member-American Arbitration Panel of Arbitrators, Cinti. OH (1993-2000)
Member-Black Lawyer’s Association of Cinti. OH. (1991-Present)
Member-Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (1979-Present)
Member-National Bar Association (2003-2008)
Member-Cincinnati Bar Association (1991-Present)
Ambassador’s Council Committee Member on recruitment, Bankers Club, Cinti. OH. (2004-2008)
Member-Ohio Bar Association (1995-present)
American Trial Lawyers Association (2006-2008)
Member-National Association of Black Social Workers (2005-2007)
Member-Education Equity Task Force, Frankfort, KY (1996-1997)
Vice-President Black American Law Student Association, Chase (1986-1987)
Community Service Award, Chase College of Law (1989)
Tennessee Squire (1977)
I.U.P.U.I. School of Social Work Professionalism Award (1993)
Who’s Who Among Law Students (1987)
Voted Outstanding Young Man of America (1985)
Alumni Board of Governors, Chase College of Law (1994-1999)
Board of Directors, Children’s Law Center, Cov. KY (2003-2007)
Board of Directors, Ballet Tech of Ohio, Cinti. OH. (2005-2006)
Board of Directors, National Association of Social Workers, Kentucky Chapter (2006-2010)
Board of Directors, Focus on Transitions, Cinti. OH (1995-2002)
Board of Directors, Inner City Youth Tennis Opportunities, Cinti, OH (1996-2000)
Board of Directors, Alternative Dispute Resolution, N.K.U., Highland Heights, Ky. (2006-present)
Advisory Board, Sisters Network Cincinnati, OH (2008-2009)