RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Following a successful five year run at the helm of UCR Athletics, Athletics Director, Tamica Smith Jones, has accepted a position as the Chief Operating Officer for the Kennesaw State University Owls. In her new role, Jones will run the internal day-to-day operations of the department and oversee strategic planning initiatives, departmental policies, game operations, budgets scheduling, facilities and capital projects. She will also serve as the program administrator for select sports.
"I want to thank UC Riverside and Chancellor Kim Wilcox for welcoming me and trusting my leadership to move the Highlanders bold vision forward for the past five and a half years," said Smith Jones. "Our coaches, staff and student-athletes inspired me every day as we made history and the impossible became possible. They contributed daily to the incredibly impactful and transformative work we were able to do together and should be proud of those efforts. I am fully confident UCR Athletics will continue to do great things as the program moves forward. Finally, I want to thank the City of Riverside, the UCR Athletics Association and UCR's alumni and fans for supporting and embracing my family during our time together in Southern California."
"Tamica is a native Georgian who has dedicated her professional career to the overall success, health and wellbeing of student-athletes which places her values in clear alignment with KSU's mission to build champions in the classroom, on the field, in the community and in life with academic integrity and excellence," said KSU Director of Athletics, Milton Overton. "We are super excited to welcome her as the newest team member of our Owl Family."
Under the direction of Jones, UCR Athletics led the way on a wide range of strategic initiatives and important issues impacting today's student-athlete, including advocating for social justice and an increased focus on mental health and wellness.
During her time at UC Riverside, Jones oversaw the department's winningest academic year in Division I history, leading the Highlanders to their highest finish in the Big West Conference Commissioner's Cup standings. In her inaugural year with the program, UC Riverside captured two Big West Conference Championships and the program's first DI National Championship, an individual performance by Vesta Bell at the 2016 NCAA Track & Field Championship.
Jones currently serves on the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Sport Committee and is on the Women Leaders in College Sports Board and Foundation Sub-Committee. She is one of the founding members of the executive board for the newly formed Black Athletics Directors Alliance and Chair of the Race and Social Justice Taskforce.
In 2017, she was named the Women Leaders in College Sports Division I Administrator of the Year, awarded the 61st Assembly District Woman of Distinction Award by California State Assembly member, Jose Medina, and recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans in Los Angeles.
A native of Atlanta, Jones played basketball at Troy University in Alabama, before transferring and graduating with B.S. in business management from Alabama A&M University, where she participated in basketball and cross-country. She also holds a master's degree in public administration from Savannah State University, and a certificate in business administration from Warren National University (formerly Kennedy Western University).
