North Carolina A&T’s new athletic director: Anyone, regardless of their gender, is capable of doing this job

When Katreshia Louis-Verrett learned she was chosen as North Carolina A&T’s next athletic director, she couldn’t contain her enthusiasm.

North Carolina A&T had been Louis-Verrett’s home for many years. She previously served as the university’s associate athletic director from 2011 to 2017, overseeing compliance and department resources, and has now returned.

She officially took over as athletic director on Sept. 1.

“I mean, it’s A&T. What do you expect?” she asked, chuckling. “When I found out I got the role, I was extremely excited but humble. I have a great deal of love for North Carolina A&T, so of course I was thrilled to be back.”

Louis-Verrett is the second woman athletic director in the school’s 135-year history. DeLores “Dee” Todd was the first, serving from 2005-07. According to research conducted by Arizona State and the nonprofit Women Leaders in Sports, women make up under 16% of the athletic directors at Division I colleges.

Nonetheless, Louis-Verrett trusts her skills and said she doesn’t feel pressure to keep up with her male counterparts.

“It’s interesting because people always say, ‘As a female, what qualities do you bring?’  But I just feel like anyone, regardless of what your gender is, is capable of doing this job,” she said. “I think we’re at a time where everyone knows that this job is tough, no matter who you are. 

“Everyone in the community has really just poured into me and offered me support. I don’t feel any pressure because I’m a woman. The only pressure I feel is to do a great job, but that’s something I’m putting on myself.”

Louis-Verrett’s background in sports runs deep. Before she ventured into administrative roles, she was an athlete at the University of Miami, where she ran track and was a two-time Big East champion. Prior to returning to North Carolina A&T, she was the deputy athletics director at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and assistant compliance director at Georgia Tech.

“I definitely think being a former student-athlete gives you a glimpse into what a day in the life is for them,” she said. “I have a good idea of what our athletes look for and hope to see because I was them at one point. Now, I’m in a position where I can provide them with what they need.”

Although she returned to the university five weeks ago, she has wasted no time building a rapport with the student-athletes.

“Even in the short amount of time I’ve been able to interact with her, she’s been extremely helpful and a great resource,” said Morgan Rodriguez, a sophomore on North Carolina A&T’s women’s golf team. “She understands that being a student-athlete comes with a lot of responsibilities and needs, and she’s extremely responsive when needed.

“The best thing is, you can tell she really cares about the program and the athletes she’s working with. I’m really looking forward to learning from her.”

Fostering relationships with student-athletes is only one of an athletic directors’ daily responsibilities. Louis-Verrett is adamant that the job is much more complex than it appears.

“I think people think we just go to sporting events all day,” she said. “We’re typically in a ton of meetings all day dealing with university partners, corporate sponsors, alumni … and then there’s just the day-to-day of dealing with coaches and prospective sports. Anything can come up, from travel issues to academic concerns with our students.

Louis-Verrett said she often compares the athletic department to “a small, mini village.” 

“Anybody in our village will have to travel and compete, and then they come back to the village,” she said. “It’s our job to make sure they have all they need to pack up and leave to be successful, and then come back, regroup and go to class. That cycle repeats basically all year.”

Brian Holloway, North Carolina A&T’s associate athletics director for communication, described Louis-Verrett as the “perfect” candidate for her role.

“She’s what we need in this new era of college athletics,” Holloway said. “She has a lot of advocacy for all three branches of athletics: coaches, athletes and staff. But most importantly, she’s always been a strong advocate for individuals.”

When Todd was athletic director, she was key in implementing a world-class track-and-field facility at the university. The move led to A&T becoming the first HBCU to host an NCAA Division I regional championship in 2006.

Now Louis-Verrett is hoping to leave an impact of her own.

“My hope is to be able to transform this department to the point where the sky is the limit for the next person who comes behind me,” she said. “But I also think North Carolina A&T is in a great place. 

“We are a great university, and we have so much to offer. I want athletics to meet the same muster that the campus has met. That would be my legacy.”