Athletics Update

Homecoming Spotlights New Beginnings for the Bears

Homecoming at Morgan State University is always a celebration like no other, but the 2022 iteration will add a commencement, of sorts, to the mix: a new start and another step up for Morgan Athletics.

In May, the University named 25year athletics executive and administrator Dena Freeman-Patton as Morgan’s new Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, replacing Edward Scott, Ph.D., who left in January to pursue another career opportunity. She is the first woman to hold the post. A former standout scholar-athlete at Lake Clifton High School, Freeman-Patton was born and raised in Baltimore City and grew up in a Morgan family: her mother, Doris Freeman, is a Morgan graduate, Class of 1969.

Coming to Morgan after leaving her last job, as Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at California State University, Dominguez Hills, Freeman-Patton went straight to work on the high-priority task of leading a national search for a new Head Football Coach. The search ended with a prize catch: Damon Wilson, who accepted the top post with Bears Football in May, after a 13-year, championshipwinning tenure at Bowie State University. Wilson replaced Tyrone Wheatley, who left early this year to take a coaching job with the NFL’s Denver Broncos, after three seasons with the Bears.

Like Freeman-Patton, Wilson is direct in his speech, and he doesn’t deviate from that in discussing his budding relationship with Morgan alumni.

“I think I’ve met with every group that cares about Morgan State University, and one thing that I can tell is that (alumni are) excited, they care about the University, and they’re going to have a job in this as well. I’ve let all of them know that,” Wilson says. “We’re going from just talking about how excited you are. Now you’re going to have to show, whether it’s with your time or your treasure, whatever it may be. We have to embrace our current student-athletes to provide them with an opportunity to be successful, once again, on and off the football field.”

The new Athletics Director and new Head Football Coach both say they expect near-term gains and long-term greatness for Morgan Athletics.

“Our long-term goal is to be as successful on the athletic side of the house as we are on the academic side of the house and to live up to that National Treasure name in all aspects,” says Freeman-Patton. “…Ultimately, I want our student-athletes to be champions in every aspect of their life. Our short-term goals are to grow the program, meaning we’re growing in number of sports. We’re adding wrestling, and tumbling and acrobatics, for 2023–24. We’re just hiring the coaches now,” she continues. “We’re also getting football on the right track and moving forward, helping that program to be successful. And we’re positioning Morgan for the changes that are coming with the NCAA transformation and conference realignment.”

This year’s Homecoming game will be Wilson’s first ever at Morgan and FreemanPatton’s first as an adult. (She participated in some Bears Homecoming events when she was a three-sport athlete at Lake Clifton High.) Both are pumped about the event, but when we talked with Wilson in August, he reminded us that the team’s season opener was next.

“Our focus is first Georgia Southern, but I understand the importance of Homecoming. And I’m a firm believer that Homecoming is not for the current student-athletes. It’s for everyone who’s paved the way for us all,” Wilson said. “We’re going to make sure our guys understand the importance of that event and that game as well.” n

Athletics Vice President and Director Dena Freeman-Patton and Head Football Coach Damon Wilson with Morgan Mascot Benny the Bear

Reginald F. Lewis Museum 830 E. Pratt Steet • Baltimore, MD 21202

Parking $9 with validation • PMI Garage • 815 E. Pratt Street

MUSIC | OPEN BAR | HORS D’OEUVRES | GIVEAWAYS

ADVANCE TICKETS $100 per person for the first 100 buyers $150 per person thereafter

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED ON EVENTBRITE.COM For more information, call (443) 885-3015.

A portion of the proceeds will go toward MSU student scholarships.