A key decision-maker who brought DeSean Jackson to Delaware State has departed the program. The university announced last week that athletic director Tony Tucker is leaving to take a leadership role at St. Andrews, a private boarding school in Middletown, Delaware.
Tucker said in a statement that he is leaving and spoke highly of the institution.
“The University is a special place — a place where thousands of alumni have mentored literally tens of
thousands of young people, in competitive sports and beyond, around the world,” Tucker said in a statement released by DSU. “In Delaware, I have felt that impact all of my life: trained, coached, mentored, and guided by countless Delaware State alumni, in the classroom and beyond. To have the opportunity to give back the way someone gave to me has been the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Delaware State President Dr. Tony Allen spoke highly of Tucker's tenure with the institution.
Article Continues Below“I am proud of him and grateful for his contributions to the University,” Delaware State president Dr. Tony Allen said. “He took on the quiet work of reorganizing how we serve students before we asked him to lead athletics, and then he revamped the Athletics Department around responsible growth — with a particular emphasis on women’s sports, academic achievement for every scholar-athlete, stronger partnerships with organizations like the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA), and new opportunities for sponsorships, fundraising, and investment in critical and long-overdue enhancements to our athletic footprint.”
One of Tucker's biggest moves during his tenure was hiring former NFL star-turned-coach DeSean Jackson. Jackson had a stellar first season with the Hornets, finishing 8-4 and one game away from the Celebration Bowl and an MEAC championship. They've now entered the season with a 4-3 record as they start conference play on Friday against North Carolina Central.