FAMU Appoints Veteran Leader John Davis as New Athletic Director

In a major transition for its athletic department, Florida A&M University (FAMU) has announced the appointment of John Davis as its new Vice President and Director of Athletics. Davis, a Pahokee native and former Florida State University football player, will assume the role on January 5, 2026, replacing the now-former Athletic Director Angela Suggs.

FAMU President Marva Johnson described Davis as a "dynamic and results-oriented leader" who will bring "more than three decades of executive experience in leading large-scale organizations" to the university. Davis, who previously served as the Florida Lottery's Secretary, expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating that he intends to "leverage the knowledge" he has gained to "establish and advance a new trajectory for athletics at Florida A&M University."

Despite the change in leadership, Suggs will remain on FAMU's staff as the Special Assistant to the President for Athletics. The university cited Suggs' "wealth of experience in intercollegiate athletics administration and a comprehensive understanding of NCAA and [Southwestern Athletic Conference] regulations" as the reason for keeping her on board in this new role.