Benedict College Named Jerome Fitch Interim Athletics Director
The veteran administrator will lead the department following the death of former director Willie Washington.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in People
Benedict College President Roslyn Clark Artis has appointed Jerome Fitch as the new interim athletic director. This leadership transition follows the recent passing of the institution's former athletic director, Willie Washington.
Why it matters
The appointment ensures leadership stability within the athletics department during a mourning period for the college. Fitch brings decades of experience to the role as the school navigates this transition.
Jerome Fitch brings over 50 years of experience in collegiate athletics to his role as interim athletics director. He previously served as an academic adviser at the University of South Carolina for nearly eight years.
The players
Roslyn Clark Artis
She serves as the president of Benedict College and made the decision to appoint the interim director.
Jerome Fitch
He is a veteran collegiate athletics administrator with five decades of professional experience.
Willie Washington
He was the former athletics director at Benedict College who recently passed away.
The details
Fitch has held head coaching positions for men's basketball at Johnson C. Smith University, Voorhees College, and Livingstone College, along with leading the women's team at Elizabeth City State University. He has served as an athletics director at four other institutions, including Claflin, Alabama A&M, and Savannah State, before joining Benedict as a compliance consultant in 2026.
Timeline
Fitch began his collegiate athletics career in 1972.
He served as athletics director at Alabama A&M from 1995 to 1997.
He led the athletic department at Savannah State from 1998 to 2000.
Fitch acted as athletics director at Claflin from 2012 to 2020.
He began working as a compliance consultant for Benedict in July 2026.
Market Landscape
This appointment highlights the continued movement of veteran athletic administrators within the landscape of collegiate sports. Benedict College is positioning itself to maintain departmental continuity by selecting a leader with deep knowledge of NCAA compliance and collegiate operations.
The transition in leadership is not expected to change current athletic department operations or schedules for students and staff. Supporters of the program can expect continuity in compliance and administrative management under the new interim leadership.
The takeaway
Selecting an experienced interim leader helps institutions minimize disruption during unexpected periods of loss. Schools benefit from appointing individuals with proven track records who can stabilize operations immediately.
Further reading
For more updates on leadership changes in the region, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Savannah Tribune.
