AT 22, Jordyn Foster has been appointed first female director of football at A&T, the largest HBCU in the country

North Carolina A&T State University recently announced Jordyn Foster as its new director of football operations, the first woman to hold the position. At age 22, Foster is breaking barriers in the male-dominated sports industry as the youngest football director in the institution’s 132-year history.

Working as a senior pool manager, Foster realised she loved organizing. This knowledge led her to pursue a career in sports management. In May, she graduated from A&T with a bachelor’s degree in sports science and fitness management with a business administration major.

In her junior year, Foster took the initiative to gain practical experience in sports management. She approached JaQuan Respass, the director of football operations at the time and asked to be an intern. She became the first intern to work with him, exposing herself to numerous opportunities.

I walked in and asked the director of football operations if I could be his intern. He never had an intern before under him. So I was the first one.

Jordyn Foster in The A&T Register

Previously Foster had applied to the NFL Experienceship Program but was unsuccessful. With her enriched experience, she tried once again and was accepted. She went on to work as a Celebration Bowl Operations intern and at Quality Control Sports Basketball Operations in her Senior year. Foster was also invited to assist at the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City.

When Respass took a new job with the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL, Foster expressed her interest in the director of football operations position. Before her graduation, the team’s head coach situated her in a three-month interview period. She used this window to display her qualifications and skills. Ultimately, Foster was appointed as A&T’s director of football operations.

In her new position, Foster is in charge of managing expense reports, supervising media training, and arranging travel plans. With an enrollment of over 13,000 students, A&T is the biggest HBCU in the US.