Toney-Cox Named First McLendon Fellow at Kent State
2/7/2022 10:00:00 AM | General
KENT, OHIO- Calvin Toney-Cox has been named the first Kent State "future leader" through the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative (MLI).
MLI positions are uniquely created and tailored to the needs of the respective athletic department. Toney-Cox will serve as a MLI Future Leader for the external side of the Kent State Athletic Department with a primary focus in marketing, ticketing, game operations, social media, and communications.
"This is a great opportunity for Kent State Athletics to play a role in helping to grow future leaders within the sporting industry," said Director of Athletics Randale Richmond. "This program perfectly reflects our department mission, and we are thrilled to prioritize professional development for minority students aspiring to work in sport."
Toney-Cox is a graduate of University of Akron with experience in athletics as an athletics event operations intern and student manager for the men's basketball team. His prior internship experience includes the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School Athletic Department and the Akron Rubber Ducks, the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.
"We are excited to welcome Calvin to Kent State University as a MLI Future Leader," said Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director Suzette McQueen, who oversees external operations and revenue generation." He impressed our group with his enthusiasm and experience."
Kent State men's basketball coach Rob Senderoff was a driving force behind Kent State being a part of the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative. Last season, the Golden Flashes took part in the "This Game is No Secret" and "Eracism" initiatives. It was a social inclusion movement that features college coaches across the country committed to bringing forth change through education, awareness, and action. The initiatives honored Coach John McLendon, a trailblazing college basketball coach who is credited with the invention of the fast break. His North Carolina Central team took on the Duke Blue Devils in 1944 in what is known as "The Secret Game". It is the first racially integrated college-level basketball game in the South.
"This initiative has a number of big-time college coaches championing it and I am proud to be one of the McLendon Leadership Initiative Ambassadors," Coach Rob Senderoff said. "I was hopeful that I and Kent State could be a part of it, I am extremely thankful to our Athletics Director Randale Richmond and University President Todd Diacon for signing off on hiring a McLendon fellow."
MLI is a new program under the umbrella of the John McLendon Foundation. It is a coach-driven program to create access to and opportunity for meaningful employment experience for minority candidates - known as MLI Future Leaders - and enhancing their career options.
About the McLendon Foundation
The McLendon Foundation, established in 1999, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded and administered by NACDA. Through the scholarship program and leadership initiative, the McLendon Foundation provides minorities educational resources, practical experiences and serves as a vehicle for networking, career advancement and advocacy on behalf of the profession. More information regarding the McLendon Foundation can be found at MinorityLeaders.org.
