Shaw University names Jacques Curtis Athletic Director

Shaw University Names Jacques Curtis Athletic Director

June 3, 2009

Shaw University announced today that it has named Jacques Curtis as Athletic Director.  Curtis was formerly the University Women's Basketball Coach, where his teams accumulated a 194-82 record over nine seasons and won four consecutive CIAA titles (2002/03 - 2005/06), as well as the 2007/08 title.

"Athletics has played an important role in developing disciplinary skills among our young men and women, and we are excited about what Coach Curtis brings to the table," said Attorney Willie E. Gary, who serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Shaw University.  "We are making a shift in our athletic program which will position us to achieve our long-term goals of enrollment growth, improved student retention and graduation rates, and an overall better quality of our campus life at Shaw." 

During Curtis' tenure as a head coach, the Lady Bears have had a cumulative GPA of over 3.00 and have consistently placed over half the team on the Shaw Honor Roll or on the conference all-academic team.

As the head women's basketball coach, Curtis has implemented a number of programs that provide opportunities outside the classroom for the young women under his tutelage.  The squad has its own Toastmaster's chapter, and their chapter champion, Tavia Clemenador, won the local competition against high-level professional executives.  The team also performs countless hours of community service.

"The Athletic Program exists to create a rallying point for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community, while still enhancing educational values.  It is my goal to make sure that Shaw University is able to successfully accomplish by engaging our student athletes," said Curtis.

His student graduation rate at Shaw University is one of the highest in the nation.  All the student-athletes who have completed their eligibility have either earned their degree, or are in the process of completing their degrees.

Curtis was named coach of the Lady Bears in 2000.  Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach at Shaw, before being named the head men's basketball coach of his alma mater, Savannah State University in 1998, amassing a 20-34 record in two seasons.  

Curtis graduated from Savannah State University with a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering Technology, and went on to earn a master's degree in Information Science from North Carolina Central University.

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Curtis now lives in Raleigh.  He is married to Michelle and has two sons, Jacquim and Jamile.