SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State University (SSU) President Earl G. Yarbrough Sr., Ph.D., today named Marilynn Stacey-Suggs as director of Intercollegiate Athletics effective Jan. 1, 2011.

Suggs, who has served as interim director of Intercollegiate Athletics since Jan. 2010, will be responsible for all matters related to managing Savannah State's 16 NCAA Division I sport teams for men and women including budgeting; compliance with university, University System of Georgia and NCAA policies and rules; and fundraising for programmatic needs.

"Mrs. Suggs has demonstrated her passion for the success of Savannah State's students and student-athletes," Yarbrough said. "During her tenure in the athletic department she has provided continuous, stable leadership and worked diligently to ensure rule compliance. I look forward to working with her to continue building a quality program that will make us all proud."

Prior to serving as interim director of athletics, Suggs was SSU's assistant athletics director/senior woman's administrator, a position she held since 2008. Suggs also serves as the advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and has been instrumental in implementing SAAC initiatives as well as exposing student-athletes to NCAA related opportunities and leadership exposure.

 "I thank Dr. Yarbrough and the search committee for this opportunity," said Suggs. "This is more meaningful to me because of the relationships I have with the students and student athletes, past and present.  In this capacity I am able to be an effective resource for them. I believe in Savannah State University athletics and know that we can position ourselves as one of the leading athletic programs in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference and the country."

Yarbrough's announcement, made during an afternoon media conference at Tiger Arena, ended a four-month, nationwide search that attracted more than 50 applicants for the director position.

A native of Reidsville, N.C., Suggs earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in business management from Winston-Salem State University in 1980. She also attended Fayetteville Technical Community College where she received her associate of arts degree in funeral service education in 1983.