by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 13, 2025

Missy Elliott’s Futuristic Coachella Entrance Sparks Praise—While Bernie Sanders Brings Politics To The Desert Stage

Missy Elliot hit the stage in a "Transformers" inspired suit that completely shocked the audience.

Missy Elliot’s Coachella performance was more than meets the eye for fans of the hip-hop visionary.

In her debut on the music festival’s stage, Missy referenced a popular franchise that took fans by surprise. During her slot on April 11, Missy took a page out of the “Transformers” playbook to stun the audience. The Source shared clips of the transformation that rocked Coachella.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Source (@thesource)

What festival attendees initially saw as a metallic car arriving on the stage was actually the 53-year-old songstress. She then proceeded to play some of her hit records, including “Work It” and “Lose Control” to undoubtedly get the crowd moving.

While those who witnessed the “Transformers” entrance expressed awe, social media users also praised the innovative artist.

“The fact that Missy been living in the Future and we been tryna keep up the whole time,” shared one commenter under the post.

Another commenter called out the general public for not giving Missy her due props for her visual prowess.

The user added added, “Why y’all acting like she hasn’t been it?! Missy is the blueprint!!! Should’ve been a headliner!!! Missy has been ahead of her time always!!! True icon and legend!”

On Missy’s personal Instagram, fans continued to shroud her with love and praise for her decades-long career.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for the culture,” wrote a fan under her page.

Although Missy did not headline the popular music festival, she continues to set trends that inspire artists of all scales. Coachella also featured more surprises for fans, but one hit a political note. Bernie Sanders traveled down to Indio, California, on April 12 to speak to attendees about standing up for justice.

“…The future of what happens to America is dependent upon your generation,” shared the congressman from Vermont. “Now you can turn away and you can ignore what goes on, but if you do that, you do it at your own peril. We need you to stand up to fight for justice. To fight for economic justice, social justice, and racial justice.”

Sanders later thanked Coachella for letting him use the platform to speak on the pertinent issues impacting all Americans.

Thank you, Coachella.

I enjoyed introducing the great @clairo tonight.

These are tough times.

The younger generation has to help lead in the fight to combat climate change, protect women’s rights, and build an economy that works for all, not just the few. pic.twitter.com/8sGvKAuNYY
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 13, 2025

While the first weekend of Coachella wraps on Sunday evening, April 13, it continues to spark new conversations from pop culture to politics.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 13, 2025

California Defies Trump’s DEI Ban In Schools, Says Diversity And Inclusion Are Still Legal

California officials have called Trump's order demanding all federally-funded schools to eliminate DEI as "unclear."

California has refused to comply with the executive order demanding that public schools certify the elimination of all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to The Los Angeles Times, the state’s Department of Education argued that no state or federal laws actually prohibit DEI.

California’s 1,100 school districts have yet to certify the removal of programs under Trump’s definition of DEI. The state confirmed its view on the matter in a letter sent April 11 to school superintendents, charter schools, and county education officers.

“There is nothing in state or federal law … that outlaws the broad concepts of ‘diversity,’ ‘equity,’ or ‘inclusion,’” wrote Chief Deputy Supt. David Schapira in the letter.

In another letter sent to the U.S. Department of Education, the state’s own DOE called the order “unclear.”

“It is also unclear which specific programs or activities [the federal agency] seeks to regulate by this certification, although the request for certification references ‘certain DEI practices’ or ‘illegal DEI.’ It does not define such…,” detailed the document.

The move disregards an April 24 deadline by the U.S. government to certify all districts’ compliance with the anti-DEI order. All California school districts face potential cuts to federal funding as proposed by previous warnings.

Since assuming office, President Trump and his administration have cracked down on DEI measures through the executive order. The blanket title referred to initiatives that directly uplift certain groups, often pertaining to those underserved. However, Trump now considers DEI as race-based discrimination that infringes on civil rights laws.

The demand resulted in a sweep of DEI-related positions and programs across federal departments. Despite this, California continues to challenge the issue, despite over $16 billion in estimated funding at stake.

On the other hand, some school districts under GOP leadership have already complied with Trump’s demands. Colleges and universities under its public school system have also followed suit.

California has joined several other states, including New York and Minnesota, in contesting the order. However, the state has also faced additional investigations over its SAFETY Act. The act bans a “forced outing” of students’ gender identity to their parents.

California’s Supt. of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, emphasized that the law does not violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Also known as FERPA, the federal law warrants parents’ access to their child’s school records.

Moreover, Thurmond added that California remains compliant with federal laws while still pursuing the safety and wellness for all students in its districts.

“Today, California affirmed existing and continued compliance with federal laws while we stay the course to move the needle for all students,” Thurmond said. “As our responses to the United States Department of Education state, and as the plain text of state and federal laws affirm, there is nothing unlawful about broad core values such as diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

He added, “I am proud of our students, educators, and school communities, who continue to focus on teaching and learning despite federal actions intended to distract and disrupt.”

California also argued that the Trump administration is trying to change its requirements for states to receive federal funding without going through an official administrative process to do so. However, the Los Angeles Unified school district, the largest in California, has kept a neutral stance on the matter. It stated that it would adhere to state guidelines while complying with the federal law.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 13, 2025

Morgan Price Becomes First HBCU Gymnast To Win Back-To-Back USA Gymnastics All-Around Titles

Price won the title during last year's championship, with even more records under her belt now.

Morgan Price, the all-star gymnast at Fisk University, has made HBCU history as the first back-to-back USA Gymnastics All-around champion.

Price reclaimed her title during the 2025 USA Championships that began April 11 in Shreveport, Louisiana. There, the gymnastics phenom compiled the top all-around score of 39.350, securing a 9.900 on the balance beam to lead the event during the all-around stage.

Price has completed her historic season with two new records under her belt. She is not only the first gymnast representing an HBCU to win two national titles but also earned a perfect 10 in scoring for a routine performed this season. She gained the perfect score following a match in which she excelled on the uneven bars.

In rightful fashion, Price created the latter record during Black History Month, making the feat extra special for the college athlete.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HBCU GO (@hbcugo.tv)

“Making HISTORY during Black History Month, it doesn’t get much better than this,” began the caption in the shared celebratory post.

All eyes were on Price as she sought to further her legacy for herself and HBCU athletes. She completed the rest of the events with high rankings, including a 9.85 on the uneven bars to secure a tie for second place. She also received a 9.825 and 9.775 for the floor exercise and vault, respectively.

The record marks yet another all-around victory for Price, who continues to represent HBCU talent and greatness. In a recently released short film, she detailed her journey of de-committing from the University of Arkansas to pursue her academics and sports career at Fisk.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TOGETHXR (@togethxr)

“…A lot of people didn’t really understand why I switched,” she said in the project made with Togethxr, a women’s sports-focused lifestyle platform. “The decision that I made was bigger than just gymnastics. It was also about making history and being an inspiration to younger Black girls who want to become an HBCU gymnast as well. We’re representing our culture and at the same time doing gymnastics.”

“To be an athlete at an HBCU just means everything to me,” she added.

However, Price still has more history to potentially make. She aims to acquire more gold during the individual events competition beginning April 13.

by Daniel Johnson

April 13, 2025

Legal Defense Fund Pulls Out Of Meta’s Civil Rights Advisory Group Over DEI Rollback

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund cites Meta’s dismantling of diversity efforts, elimination of fact-checkers, and weakened content moderation as reasons for its departure.

On April 11, the NAACPLegal Defense Fund announced it was exiting Meta’s external civil rights advisory board due to concerns about the technology company’s January changes to its diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies.

According to The Guardian, those changes, which some saw as Meta’s capitulation to the incoming Trump administration, contributed to its decision to exit the technology company’s advisory board.

In January, the LDF, along with several other civil rights organizations on the board, sent a letter to Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, outlining its concerns regarding how the changes would negatively impact users.

“We are shocked and disappointed that Meta did not consult with this group or its members in considering these significant revisions to its content policy. Meta’s failure to engage even its own advisory group of external civil rights experts shows a cynical disregard for its diverse user base and calls into question Meta’s commitment to the free speech principles to which it claims to want to ‘return.’”

They closed the letter, hoping that Meta would recommit to the ideals of free speech, “If Meta truly wants to recommit to free speech, it must commit to free speech for everyone on its services. As Meta’s external civil rights advisory group, we offer our advice and expertise in crafting a better path forward.”

Those concerns only grew over subsequent months, culminating in another letter, this one from LDF Associate Director-Counsel Todd A. Cox, which indicated that the organization was withdrawing its membership from Meta’s civil rights advisory board.

“I am deeply disturbed and disappointed by Meta’s announcement on January 7, 2025, of irresponsible changes to the content moderation policies on its platforms that pose grave risks to the health and safety of Black communities and risk further destabilizing our republic,” Cox wrote.

He continued, “For nearly a decade, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) has invested a great deal of time and resources working with Meta as part of an informal committee advising the company on civil rights issues. Yet Meta made these content moderation policy changes without consulting or warning this group, and many of the changes directly conflict with guidance from LDF and partners. As a result, LDF can no longer in good conscience participate as part of Meta’s civil rights advisory committee.”

In a separate but related letter, the LDF pointedly reminded Meta of the obligations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other laws governing discrimination in the workplace, in contrast to the false claims of the Trump administration that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives discriminate against white Americans.

“While Meta has altered its policies, its obligations under federal civil rights laws are unchanged. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination in the workplace, including disparate treatment, workplace policies that have an unfair disproportionate effect, and hostile work environment. Nor have the Trump administration’s false attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs changed the legality of these efforts. If Meta fails its antidiscrimination obligations due to the absence of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs, it exposes itself to further legal liability,” Cox wrote in that letter.

In the LDF’s press release announcing both letters, Cox called attention to Meta’s contribution to the increasing violence and division in the country’s social climate.

“LDF worked hard and in good faith with Meta’s leadership and its civil rights advisory group to help ensure the company’s workforce reflected the values and racial makeup of the United States and to advance policies that prioritized safety for the many diverse communities who use Meta’s platforms,” Cox said. “Now, we cannot in good conscience support a company that is knowingly taking steps to implement policy changes that will sow further division and violence across the United States. We urge Meta to reverse course on these dangerous changes.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 13, 2025

Musician Yasmin Williams Posts Kennedy Center Interim Executive Director’s Email Stating He ‘Cut The DEI BS’

Kennedy Center Interim Executive Director Richard Grenell said, 'The programs are so woke that they haven’t made money. Yes, I cut the DEI bulls**t ...'

A musician who contacted John F Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts Interim Executive Director Richard Grenell received a chaotic response when she questioned the DEI practices after President Donald Trump accused the Kennedy Center of being “too woke.”

Guitar player Yasmin Williams recently reached out to Grenell with some questions regarding the direction that the Kennedy Center is taking due to concerns that others have brought up recently regarding Trump firing everyone on the Board of Directors, The Guardian reports. The genuine concern focused on what changes can be expected at the center. After getting a response she felt was unprofessional and discourteous, Williams posted the exchange on social media for the world to see.

Her initial email started with her explaining the purpose of the email as she stated that “most folks seem to be placing the blame on the President for [degrading] the formerly prestigious institution.” She told the interim executive director that many people in the area would no longer support the center while Trump was in office.

She posed two legitimate questions to Grenell: “Does the President actually care about artists cancelling shows at the Kennedy Center? What, if anything, has changed about the Kennedy Center regarding hiring practices, performance booking, and staffing?”

Grenell’s response: “Let me ask you this question, would you play for Republicans or would you boycott if Republicans came to your show?”

Assuring Grenell that she is sure she has performed in front of Republicans before, asking what that had to do with the questions asked in the email.

Grenell: “Every single person who canceled a show did so because they couldn’t be in the presence of republicans. We didn’t fire a single show. We don’t cancel a single show. You shouldn’t believe what you read in the newspapers who exist to hate Republicans.”

Williams then acknowledged what he wrote but asked two questions that focused on what she initially asked about the direction of the Kennedy Center.

“Is the Kennedy Center negatively affected by the artists who are canceling shows? What, if anything,f has changed about the Kennedy Center regarding hiring practices, performance booking, and staffing?” she wrote.

After responding that Kennedy Center is not making any money and has “zero in the bank,” and fundraising has been “atrocious,” he blames the shortcomings on DEI (Diversity, equity, and inclusion).

“The programs are so woke that they haven’t made money. Yes, I cut the DEI bullshit because we can’t afford to pay people for fringe and niche programming that the public won’t support. Yes, I cut the people making over $500k a year because we are in debt. Yes, we are doing programming for the masses in order to pay our bills.”

After reminding her that she contacted him “unsolicited,” he tells her, “Don’t be a victim now.”

Her last response to him was:

“Thanks for your responses! I would request that you re-read my original email since you seem to be extremely defensive and rude for no reason. I never accused you of being intolerant… I don’t know you. I was relaying what others have said regarding the Kennedy Center and I asked my own questions. I’m honestly shocked at how unprofessional your emails are, but I guess that’s par for the course these days, on both sides of the political aisle.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yasmin Williams (@guitar.yaz)

The post ended with her last response without details about whether he responded to the last email.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 13, 2025

Mic Drop: Flavor Flav’s 5-Year-Old Son Is Taking Over TikTok And L.A. Streets

Jordan Drayton, who uses the alias Jordan Sunshine, has been making noise with his street performances and social media presence.

The five-year-old son of reality TV personality Flavor Flav has been making a name for himself on the streets of Los Angeles and via social media by performing for crowds who gathered to see him do his thing.

According to People, Jordan Drayton, who uses the alias Jordan Sunshine, has been making strides with his street performances. With his talent, he has amassed a follower count of more than 662,000 on TikTok and 352,000 followers on Instagram. He has been singing since he was one and said he had memories of playing the ukulele with his grandfather while growing up. He enjoys performing for people and enjoys seeing them excited about his performance.

“My favorite part about performing on the street with people is that it just makes me happy, and it makes other people happy too,” Drayton told the media outlet. “They don’t have to buy tickets to go see a show at a big place; they can just watch me in Claremont. I jump off that ledge, and I just remember doing that and daring myself to do it every time.”

The young performer recently released a music video on his TikTok account on April 12. The video showcases his rap talent and acting skills. The song and video are titled “Stronger.”

“Jordan’s new music video for his rap song Stronger! #musicvideo #entertainer”

@thejordansunshine Jordan’s new music video for his rap song Stronger! #musicvideo #entertainer ♬ original sound – Jordan Sunshine Family

Of course, Jordan can’t do this alone. His supportive mother, Kate Gammel, backs whatever he does and is always present when he performs for the crowd.

“He’s been doing this for a long, long, long, long time since he was little and he practices a lot,” Gammell says. “He loves it. So he’s doing a lot of piano, drums, singing, and he does it for a long time during the day. He really, really enjoys it.”

by Mary Spiller

April 12, 2025

‘It’s Done’: Judge Tells Wendy Williams Her Career Is Effectively Over

Judge Lisa Sokoloff also condemned Williams and her niece for their statements in the public.

According to TMZ, on April 10, Judge Lisa Sokoloff ruled in Wendy Williams’ guardianship case, approving her move out of her current memory care facility. The judge also stated that Williams’ long and influential career is essentially over while criticizing Williams and her niece for their conduct in the public eye.

Sokoloff stated that Williams had a “great career” but that it was over and “It’s done.”

She continued to express frustration over Williams’ public comments amid the court proceedings about her ongoing guardianship battles. Sokoloff described instances where Williams and her niece’s statements interfered with the judicial process by leveraging public opinions with their status as famous figures.

Sokoloff warned Williams against “trying to poison the jury pool” with statements in the media and accused her and her niece, Alex Finnie, of leaking information to the press.

TMZ reported that the judge threatened both of them with sanctions for future infractions.

The news that her career could be over is disappointing for Williams, as she has continuously been vocal about hopefully returning to her previous job — stating, “Going back to work… I have options.”

However, this is not the first time someone has expressed skepticism about the prospect.

Williams’ former producer, Suzanne Bass, also said, “Since this diagnosis, that seems impossible. It makes me very sad.”

Despite Judge Sokoloff’s harsh words for Williams, Sokoloff ruled in her favor by permitting her to move out of her current secured memory unit. Williams is now allowed to move into an independent living space, with allowances for visitors and opportunities for Williams to leave the premises.

The court additionally ordered new neurological evaluations for Williams to reassess her cognitive capacity to be her own guardian. The test results will be integral to determining who will manage her affairs.

Justice Department, Sewage Settlement, Alabama

by Daniel Johnson

April 12, 2025

Justice Department Terminates Sewage Settlement In Majority-Black Alabama County, Following Trump’s DEI Executive Order

Trump calls the DOJ settlement 'illegal DEI.'

On April 11, the Trump administration announced that it would be terminating a historic settlement negotiated by the Biden administration that would have improved wastewater treatment for majority-Black communities in Alabama, calling the settlement an “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

According to Inside Climate News, the settlement was negotiated by former President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services with officials in Alabama. It marks the first time that federal civil rights laws were used to ease the impact of environmental racism.

According to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, “The DOJ will no longer push ‘environmental justice’ as viewed through a distorting, DEI lens. President Trump made it clear: Americans deserve a government committed to serving every individual with dignity and respect, and to expending taxpayer resources in accordance with the national interest, not arbitrary criteria.”

This move concerns the community’s residents.

“The Agreement provides aid to people so lacking in basic water and sewer facilities that they must pipe sewage away from their homes,” Brock stated to Inside Climate News. “What is at stake are legitimate concerns for their health and their rights to humane living conditions. Revoking those promises based on disfavored buzzwords is arbitrary, inhumane, and ignores the substance and purposes of the Agreement.”

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, the Alabama Department of Public Health previously held that the only barriers to addressing sewage issues in the state were the ability or resources to manage them.

Now, Ryan Easterling, the Department of Public Health’s spokesperson, seems to have changed that tune, saying that the department doesn’t have the authority to manage sewage issues in rural areas.

“The installation of sanitation systems and related infrastructure is outside the authority or responsibilities conferred upon ADPH by state law,” Easterling said via email. “Nonetheless, ADPH will continue working with subgrantees on installation of septic systems as contemplated by the Interim Resolution Agreement until appropriated funding expires.”

United States Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) disputed the Trump administration’s characterization, saying that the agreement had nothing to do with DEI and instead represented a public health crisis.

“It was about addressing a public health crisis that has forced generations of children and families to endure the health hazards of living in proximity to raw sewage, as the DOJ itself documented,” Rep. Sewell said. “By terminating it, the Trump Administration has put its blatant disregard for the health of my constituents on full display.”

Rep. Sewell continued, “Access to adequate wastewater infrastructure is a basic human right. Without support from the Trump Administration, it is vital that the Alabama Department of Public Health continue to do its part to remedy this injustice. I will continue fighting to address Alabama’s rural wastewater crisis and get our communities the infrastructure they deserve.”

by Daniel Johnson

April 12, 2025

‘Right, Because Grandma Is On X’: Social Security Administration Sparks Outrage Over Plans To Use X To Communicate With Public

The move to shift announcements entirely to its social media account comes as the SSA plans to cut nearly all its staff.

On April 10, the Social Security Administration indicated that it would use Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to make announcements going forward instead of posting memos or press releases to its website, spurring some outraged reactions online.

According to Wired, the SSA’s move to shift announcements entirely to its social media account comes as the SSA plans to cut nearly all its staff—as much as 87% of its staff. The move could also negatively impact the ability of remaining staffers to do their jobs.

As one anonymous employee indicated to the outlet, it is remarkable that an agency that primarily serves senior citizens expects them to navigate smartphones or social media platforms to get vital updates.

“Do they really expect senior citizens will join this platform?” one current employee asked. “Most managers aren’t even on it. How isn’t this a conflict of interest?”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted, “Right, because Grandma is on X. This is corruption, plain and simple.”

Another employee raised concerns regarding the public going without vital updates, “This will ensure that the public does not get the information they need to stay up-to-date.”

https://twitter.com/NikkiBarnesFL/status/1910817127742767555?s=19

This flagrant conflict of interest stands to serve the interests of Elon Musk while the American people are robbed of fair access to THEIR Social Security Administration and the benefits they worked so hard to earn. https://t.co/6ByRT7RAPC
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) April 11, 2025

Right, because Grandma is on X.

This is corruption, plain and simple. https://t.co/zGlUFvnVLv
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) April 11, 2025

Meanwhile, in a meeting with managers during the week of April 11, Linda Kerr-Davis, the SSA Regional Commissioner, seemed to indicate a lack of forethought about how the nation’s seniors would access necessary information.

“We are no longer planning to issue press releases or those dear colleague letters to inform the media and public about programmatic and service changes,” Kerr-Davis said. “Instead, the agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public…so this will become our communication mechanism.”

A White House spokesperson, Liz Huston, attempted to spin both developments, telling Wired that their reporting was misleading.

“This reporting is misleading. The Social Security Administration is actively communicating with beneficiaries and stakeholders,” Huston said. “There has not been a reduction in workforce. Rather, to improve the delivery of services, staff are being reassigned from regional offices to front-line help -– allocating finite resources where they are most needed. President Trump will continue to always protect Social Security.”

The agency currently staffs 547 employees across almost a dozen regional offices, but after the cuts, that number is expected to dwindle to approximately 70 employees, which Kerr-Davis seemed to acknowledge would disrupt how the SSA’s employees handle the workload.

“We know that you all depend on these folks to manage your front line, to help with questions,” said Kerr-Davis, who works out of the Kansas City regional office. “I’m going to be pretty candid here in sharing that the support will be pretty minimal until we can stand up our skinny regional office.”

She continued, reading a question from one staffer before answering. “Won’t losing subject matter experts lead directly to fraud, waste, and abuse?” the staffer asked.

Kerr-Davis answered, “And yes, I mean, we do rely on [their] help…Things are going to break, and they’re going to break fast.” Kerr-Davis indicated that the directive had come from above her pay grade, telling employees, “I know this probably sounds very foreign to you. It did to me as well. It’s not what we are used to, but we are in different times now.”

Women's Basketball, Johnetta Hayes, Alabama State

by Daniel Johnson

April 12, 2025

Veteran HBCU Women’s Basketball Coach Johnetta Hayes Hired By Alabama State

Hayes was most recently an assistant coach at Rutgers University, where she helped lead that program to the Great Eight in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament this past season.

Alabama State University hired Johnetta Hayes, a two-time Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, to replace Freda Freeman-Jackson, who retired after a 27-year coaching career at ASU.

According to Sports Illustrated, Alabama State University President Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr. praised Hayes’s hiring in a press release.

“The Alabama State University Hornet Nation is thrilled to welcome Coach Johnetta Hayes as the new head coach of our women’s basketball team,” Dr. Ross said. “Coach Hayes is a proven winner, a two-time SWAC Coach of the Year who brings championship-level experience, a relentless drive for excellence, and a passion for developing student-athletes on and off the court. Her leadership will energize our program and inspire greatness in our talented roster of young women. We are confident that with Coach Hayes at the helm, Lady Hornets basketball is poised to rise to new heights. Let’s go, Hornet Nation!”

Alabama State University has hired Johnetta Hayes New Head Women's Basketball Coach pic.twitter.com/ZKcQvRR1So
— HBCU Premier Sports & More (@HBCUSports1) April 11, 2025

Alabama State University welcomes Johnetta Hayes!

More to come…#SWARMAS1 pic.twitter.com/kSsFxa3DBK
— Bama State Athletics (@BamaStateSports) April 11, 2025

Alabama State University’s Vice President and Director of Athletics, Dr. Jason Cable, will formally introduce Hayes as the next head coach of the women’s basketball program on April 15 at the Hornet Stadium Lounge.

Hayes was most recently an assistant coach at Rutgers University, where she helped lead that program to the Great Eight in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament this past season. Hayes’ succession of Freeman-Jackson makes her only the third head coach in the program’s history.

At Rutgers, Hayes worked primarily with centers while also serving as the Scarlet Knights’ Defensive Analytics Coordinator, a role Hayes was suited for as a former star center at Rice University.

Hayes had a career year during her junior season in the 2002-2003 season. She earned First-Team All-WAC honors en route to leading the Owls in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots, and field goal percentage while also ranking 16th nationally in blocked shots per game that season.

As a head coach, Hayes compiled an 83-24 record in conference play at Texas Southern University and an overall record of 115-74 across six seasons as the Tigers head coach from 2013-2019. While at TSU, she led the program to two regular-season SWAC titles, one SWAC tournament title, one NCAA tournament appearance, two WNIT appearances, and one WCBI appearance.

In 2019, Hayes accepted an offer to be the head coach at UMBC, where she helped to develop Kiara Bell, KK White, and Ashia McCalla into All-America East Conference players while guiding the team to the America East tournament semifinals for the first time since 2015.

This winning pedigree likely led ASU’s brass to extend an offer to Hayes.

“I am deeply grateful to President Ross, Dr. Cable, and Dr. Lavalais for entrusting me with the incredible opportunity to lead the Alabama State women’s basketball program, Hayes said. “Alabama State athletics embodies a culture of unwavering dedication, a championship-driven mindset, strong family values, and faith-based principles. It is a true honor to be part of a university that stands firmly behind such core ideals. Now is the time for us to come together, SWARMAS1, and build a legacy of championship-level success for women’s basketball.”