By Randall James
Tennessee State has named Jennifer Bell as its interim director of athletics, the university announced Friday, one day after placing athletic director Dr. Mikki Allen on administrative leave.
Bell, who has served Tennessee State Athletics for more than three decades, will immediately assume leadership of the department while overseeing all aspects of the university’s intercollegiate athletics program.
She currently serves as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), where she oversees compliance, student-athlete services and academic support programs.
Bell joined Tennessee State Athletics in 1991 as an assistant women’s basketball coach under former head coach Teresa Phillips. After 11 years on the sidelines, she transitioned into athletics administration, holding leadership positions in compliance, student services and student-athlete development.
According to the university, Bell has helped secure and oversee more than $1 million in grant funding supporting student-athlete academic services, leadership development and compliance initiatives. She has also served on several NCAA and Ohio Valley Conference committees while helping guide Tennessee State through two successful NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program Data Reviews.
As interim athletic director, Bell will oversee the department’s operations, budgets, personnel, coaching hires, NCAA and conference compliance, facility management and initiatives supporting the academic, athletic and personal success of Tennessee State student\-athletes\.
The appointment comes after Tennessee State announced Thursday that Allen had been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation\.
The move followed a vote of no confidence issued by six Tennessee State head coaches, including football coach **Reggie Barlow** and men’s basketball coach **Nolan Smith**\.
According to *The Tennessean*, the coaches cited concerns over a lack of transparency and communication, uneven allocation of resources and what they described as a lack of vision for the athletic department\. The letter also raised concerns about the department’s direction, collaboration, student\-athlete well\-being and support for athletic programs\.
University President **Dwayne Tucker** previously said an interim athletic director would be named while the investigation into Allen continues\. Bell’s appointment fulfills that commitment as Tennessee State navigates the leadership transition.
