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Jackson State Vice President and Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson could have another opportunity to return to Texas, this time at fellow HBCU and SWAC member Texas Southern University.
Terrance Harris of the Houston Defender reported Tuesday that sources have confirmed Texas Southern President J.W. Crawford III has presented Robinson for the university’s vacant athletic director position. Harris also reported that Seton Hall assistant Corey Lowery has been presented for Texas Southern’s vacant men’s basketball job.
No announcement from Texas Southern stated that Robinson has been offered the position or that he intends to leave Jackson State. He remains listed as Jackson State’s vice president and director of athletics.
Still, Robinson’s name surfacing in connection with Texas Southern is notable. He has spent much of his administrative career in the SWAC. Robinson also has extensive ties to Texas. And he has overseen one of the most successful periods in Jackson State athletics history.
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Ashley Robinson has built impressive Jackson State résumé
Robinson came to Jackson State in 2018 after five years as athletic director at Prairie View A&M.
Since then, his tenure has included several coaching hires that helped elevate Jackson State nationally.
Robinson hired Tomekia Reed to lead the women’s basketball program in 2018. Reed turned JSU into the dominant women’s basketball program in the SWAC. It won multiple conference championships before she left for Charlotte in 2024.
His most prominent move came two years later.
Robinson and Jackson State hired Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders in 2020. He did so despite Sanders having no previous college coaching experience. The move helped change the trajectory of the program – and HBCU football’s national profile. Jackson State went 27-6 during Sanders’ three seasons. It won consecutive SWAC championships and made two Celebration Bowl appearances.
When Sanders left Robinson chose T.C. Taylor to take over as head coach. He led JSU to a SWAC title and Celebration Bowl in his second season.
Robinson is now in his eighth year leading the department and has collected multiple national athletic director awards along the way.
Robinson has been down this Texas road before
This isn’t the first time Robinson has been seriously connected to another SWAC job in Texas.
HBCU Gameday reported in July 2023 that Prairie View A&M was interested in bringing its former athletic director back to the university. Robinson, a Jackson, Miss. native, served as Prairie View A&M’s AD from 2013 until returning to Jackson State in 2018.
The discussions became serious.
HBCU Gameday subsequently reported that Robinson and Prairie View A&M were nearing a deal. Sources indicated conversations continued into the final days of July before Robinson ultimately elected to remain at Jackson State. (HBCU Gameday)
Prairie View A&M eventually hired Anton Goff.
Robinson’s tenure there explains why another Texas opportunity makes sense. Prairie View A&M won six SWAC championships during his five years leading the department. The university completed a new football stadium and athletics administration complex along with several other facility projects. He also expanded corporate partnerships and developed new in-house media inventory. (Jackson State University)
Now another SWAC program in the Houston market reportedly has Robinson on its radar.
Texas Southern looking for stability in athletics
Texas Southern has experienced significant turnover within its athletic department in recent years.
The university appointed Dr. Paula L. Jackson interim athletic director in August 2025 after Kevin Granger’s departure from the position. Texas Southern is also searching for a permanent men’s basketball coach following another change within one of the SWAC’s most historically successful programs.
Crawford is attempting to put his stamp on the university after taking over as Texas Southern president. The athletics hires would represent two significant pieces of that process.
For now, Robinson remains at Jackson State.
But his name being linked to Texas Southern bears watching given his history in the state – and how close he came to making another intra-SWAC move just three years ago.
This time it isn’t Prairie View A&M calling.
It’s another Texas HBCU, located in one of the country’s largest markets. And it appears to have one of the SWAC’s most accomplished athletic directors in its sights.
The post Jackson State AD Ashley Robinson rumored as choice for HBCU rival appeared first on HBCU Gameday.
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This story was originally published August 11, 2026 at 10:56 AM.