Texas Southern University’s Board of Regents is set to cast its vote on August 19, deciding whether to elevate Ashley Robinson to the role of vice president and director of athletics and to appoint Corey Lowery as the new head coach of the men’s basketball program.
Robinson entered the meeting with unanimous backing from both the Personnel and Litigation Committee and the Athletics Committee, a rare consensus that underscores her extensive track record overseeing athletics at Jackson State University and Prairie View A&M.
Committee Endorsements and Rejections
In contrast, Lowery’s candidacy has been met with resistance. Although President James W. Crawford III put forward Lowery for the position, neither the Personnel and Litigation Committee nor the Athletics Committee offered a favorable recommendation, leaving the final decision squarely in the hands of the eight voting regents.
The vote comes at the tail end of a turbulent period for the university’s athletics department. Just months earlier, Dr. Kevin Granger, the former athletics director, was terminated amid allegations of inappropriate conduct and a related civil lawsuit, while head coach Johnny Jones stepped down in April, prompting a swift national search for his successor.
Both newly proposed roles carry a base salary of $350,000 per year over a five‑year term, representing a combined financial commitment of $3.5 million. The compensation package reflects an effort to attract seasoned leadership amid heightened expectations for on‑court performance and institutional stability.
Governance questions have intensified, particularly regarding the influence of Board Chairman James M. Benham, whose advisory stance and potential sway over the regents’ vote could shape the outcome in favor of Lowery.
Robinson’s professional résumé includes leadership positions that have revitalized programs at historically Black colleges and universities, while Lowery brings a coaching pedigree marked by stints at Seton Hall and Lincoln University, where he earned CIAA Coach of the Year honors.
The decisions taken by the Board of Regents will not only determine the immediate direction of Texas Southern’s basketball program but also set a precedent for how HBCU institutions navigate internal power dynamics, external pressures, and the balance between administrative recommendation and independent oversight.