Former Southern University athletic director Floyd Kerr, who was instrumental in expansions to Southern’s A.W. Mumford Stadium and athletics fundraising, died Saturday, the university reported.
Kerr was 76.
Kerr served as Southern's athletic director from 2000-05 and also helped spearhead the first Jag-A-Thon.
In 2004, Kerr was named one of the 101 Most Important Minorities in Sports by Sports Illustrated. He was selected for his role in revamping Southern’s athletics department by tightening operations and stressing academics, which led to a more than 50% increase in the student-athlete graduation rate, Southern reported.
A native of Oxford, Mississippi, Kerr held bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Colorado State, where he was a collegiate All-American.
Kerr was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the third round (30th pick) of the 1969 NBA draft. His brother Lloyd was also drafted by Phoenix with the 39th pick in the same draft.
Despite not playing football, Floyd Kerr was also drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive back in the 16th round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft.
Kerr became the first Black person to serve on the coaching staff at his alma mater, Colorado State, in 1974. Before his retirement in 2016, Kerr served as athletic director at Morgan State in Baltimore.
Kerr was married to Vivian Kerr, director of museums for the Southern University System.