Hardy, who recently completed his sixth year with the University, will assume a similar position at Hampton University.

Current Hampton athletics director and head football coach Joe Taylor indicated that he was delighted with the choice of Mr. Hardy. "After a search which yielded some very strong candidates, Mr. Lonza Hardy was a unanimous choice to lead the Hampton University Athletic Department. Along with a strong resume, Mr. Hardy comes highly recommended by top administrators at the university and NFL levels. I am personally looking forward to working with him as he moves us forward."

A 1978 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism, Hardy has enjoyed a successful career in college sports for more than 29 years. During his stint at Mississippi Valley State, he worked relentlessly to elevate the school’s dormant athletics program into a power in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. In fact, during his six-year reign, the school captured more league championships than it had in the previous 33 years combined. Accordingly, he is widely regarded as one of the premier Directors of Athletics on the collegiate level, capturing the 2006 General Neyland Outstanding Athletics Director Award by the All- American Football Foundation.

"We have assembled an awesome group of coaches and support staff members who have elevated our athletics program into one of the premiere programs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference," Hardy added. "Six years ago, most of the outstanding feats that we have accomplished were unimaginable, but the members of our athletics staff have been progressive while keeping focus on the academic and athletic success of our student-athletes and by outworking the opposition. I certainly thank them for their hard work and dedication to this university. Their great teamwork has produced more championships in six years than Mississippi Valley State had produced in its previous

33 years as members of the SWAC."

Hardy has more than 25 years of experience in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, beginning as a sports information director at Alcorn State in 1980. Hardy served as associate commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference for more than 11 years (1989-2001), where he helped to elevate the image of the 10-member league while handling the conference’s public relations efforts and working hand-in- hand with the commissioner in managing the day-to-day operations of the conference headquarters. At the conclusion of his final year with the SWAC, Hardy was awarded the Kodak Good Person Award, an honor bestowed by the College Sports Information Directors of America

(CoSIDA) in recognition of outstanding community service.

From 1986 to 1989 Hardy served as sports information director at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During his tenures as SID, he was tabbed SWAC Sports Information Director of the Year four times.

"Everyone associated with the Valley Family has been supportive of me and what we have tried to do with the MVSU athletics program since I’ve been here. The administration, the faculty, the staff, the student body, the alumni, the local communities and the media have all rallied behind us," said Hardy. "That’s been our source of strength and our inspiration. As they have articulated to me, I wish them well in all of their future endeavors."