FAMU’s AD adds McCluney, Lockley to staff

Special to the Outlook

FAMU’s new Vice President and Director of Athletics, Kortne Gosha, reached to the university that he came from to fill a key position, while filling another in his administration with a hire from Arkansas Pine-Bluff.

Keith McCluney, a former interim athletic director at Arkansas Pine Bluff, is now Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief of Staff. Gosha also named Karai Lockley Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business and Finance for the athletics department. 

McCluney had multiple roles at Pine Bluff before coming to FAMU, while Lockley was the University of Miami’s Associate Director for Business Operations and Purchasing. Both started in their new positions last week.

Keith McCluney is FAMU’s Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief of Staff.
Photo special to the Outlook

“We are thrilled to welcome Keith McCluney to our Florida A&M Athletics family,” Gosha said in a news release. Keith brings a wealth of athletics administration experiences and oversight for external operations. His diverse background will be a key asset to our strategic plan to move FAMU athletics to the next level.”

McCluney replaces Genyne Boston as the Deputy Athletics Director. Boston submitted her letter of resignation from the position in early December.

 “I am excited for the opportunity to join this extraordinary team of professionals that will take Rattler Athletics to a new level of excellence,” McCluney said. “I cannot wait to get to begin working on the infrastructure to support the extremely talented student-athletes, coaches, and dominant programs that we already have on The Hill.”

Lockley will also serve as the department’s Senior Women’s Administrator.

 “We are extremely thrilled to welcome Karai into our Rattler family, as her dynamic experience in the private sector, mid-major, and power 5 levels of athletics will certainly be key in our strategic mission,” Gosha said. “Karai’s work ethic, character, and professionalism is a true reflection of the high standards of fiscal integrity, accountability, and transparency that our administration will employ.”

Lockley, a Hampton University graduate, was at the University of Miami for five years before coming to FAMU.

Karai Lockley is Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business and Finance.
Photo special to the Outlook

“I am honored that VP/Athletics Director Kortne Gosha has put his faith in my work ethic and look forward to serving Rattler Nation to the best of my ability,” Lockley said. “As an HBCU alumna, I do not take this opportunity lightly. Along with the entire athletics department, and with the support of campus officials, we will continue to expand upon the illustrious history of FAMU.

“This University has produced countless exceptional individuals, and I am enthusiastic to join this elite group of Rattlers. I am eager to support all of our student-athletes on and off the field, court, pool, lane and track. As we embark on this new chapter of FAMU Athletics, I will make it a priority to strike, strike and strike again until victory is won.”

McCluney is a native of Shelby, N.C. During his time at UAPB, he launched the “Golden Lion Fund” which is the official fundraising arm for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Since its launch last July, the fund has grown to over $150,000 for unrestricted use by the Department of Athletics. During his time as Interim AD, McCluney has led the department through the initial stages of a compliance audit and review with the NCAA Committee on Infractions, and has overseen the implementation of several academic improvement plans.

Prior to his time with the Lions, McCluney served as the Associate Athletic Director for Development at Florida Atlantic University. However, his most significant contributions and impact came during his three years of leading the Blue Raider Athletic Association at Middle Tennessee State University. Under his leadership at MTSU, the Blue Raider Athletic Association experienced unprecedented growth and completely overhauled their development process while positioning the organization for sustained long-term annual fund growth and preparing the donor pool for future major capital projects.

  Lockley is a Rahway, N.J., native. During her tenure with the Hurricanes, her responsibilities were to create, analyze and monitor budgets for football, women’s basketball, academics, compliance, and the creative services team (marketing and communications). Ultimately, she was selected to serve on the department’s strategic planning committee and was eventually promoted to the role she held before coming to FAMU.