Raynoid Dedeaux returned to the MEAC in July 2023, where he now serves as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer. He returns to the conference office after a stint as Director of Athletics at his alma mater, Alcorn State.
During his tenure in Lorman, Miss., the athletic department boasted an overall GPA of 3.23, Alcorn graduated 76 student-athletes during the 2022-23 academic year, and the Braves won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular-season championship in men’s basketball before appearing in the NIT.
Dedeaux's tenure at Alcorn also saw the athletic foundation record the highest single-year earnings in its history.
After interning with the conference office from 2004-05, Dedeaux had also served the MEAC since 2006 in a variety of role, including Assistant Director of Championships and Compliance, Director of Championships, Assistant Commissioner for Championships, Senior Associate Commissioner for Championships and Administration and, most recently, Deputy Commissioner.
He supervised the MEAC’s football and men’s basketball operations, as well as officiating programs for football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball. In addition, he served as the conference's liaison to the head coaches and Directors of Athletics, and he also was the overall manager of the conference's annual Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament.
During his time with the MEAC, Dedeaux oversaw a marked increase in attendance at the Basketball Tournament throughout his tenure with the conference. He was also at the forefront of innovation among FCS football conferences, leading the MEAC in becoming the first FCS league to implement instant replay for football.
Dedeaux supervised all 15 of the MEAC’s championships, manages all conference and non-conference schedules, and he was the conference’s primary contact for apparel.
He also assisted in generating revenue for the conference, helping with research and executing corporate partner activations. He also serves on the management team for all of the MEAC’s telecasts. He revenue generations came to the tune of over $20 million for the conference's member institutions. Dedeaux's first tenure also saw him spearhead Basketball Tournament negotiations with the cities of Raleigh, N.C., Winston-Salem, N.C, and Norfolk, Va., to the tune of $5.2 million.
In addition, Dedeaux coordinated the MEAC’s annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony (including the selection process), held the week of the Basketball Tournament, and the football and basketball youth clinics.
He also established the use of Vokkero hands-free communications devices for on-field football officials, and he also supervised the NFL's HBCU Careers in Football forum and helped launch the MEAC Digital Network. As the MEAC's liaison to several high-profile corporate partners, Dedeaux also worked with such entities as Nike, ESPN, the NFL, Coca-Cola, Russell Athletic and Spalding.
With almost two decades of Div. I athletics administration experience, Dedeaux is currently a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA). He served on the NCAA Division I Sports/Management Cabinet, NCAA Olympic Sports Committee and NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet Committee.
Dedeaux began his professional career as a physical education teacher in the Jackson (Miss.) School District, while also working as an assistant track & field and football coach.
He graduated from Alcorn State University in December 2002, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Social Science. He followed that up in August 2003 by earning his Master’s in Secondary Education, also from Alcorn State.
As an undergraduate, Dedeaux played for the Braves football team.
A native of DeLisle, Miss., Dedeaux is married to Shamika and the couple has two children: daughter Kristyn-Marie and son Raynoid-Cameron II.