Daralene Jones
Sytia Necole Messer
ANCHOR/REPORTER WFTV-CHANNEL 9
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aralene Jones is an Emmy award-winning news anchor and investigative reporter at WFTV Channel 9 in Orlando. She anchors the 4 p.m. newscast, alongside Greg Warmoth. She is the executive producer of the award-winning Ocoee Massacre documentary and Groveland Four: Journey to Exoneration, leading both projects that culminated into specials, airing on WFTV and its streaming platforms. The Ocoee Massacre is now required instruction in Florida schools, thanks to legislation championed by former State Senator Randolph Bracy. Jones has a reputation for producing in-depth reports, with meticulous detail, focused on major issues. She was lured to journalism through her college newspaper and television station, where her first stories were about health-related matters, which hit close to home because she lost her mother to a brain aneurysm when she was just 8 years old. She was inspired by Ida B. Wells and Ethel Payne. Both journalists were fearless in their pursuit for truth, writing about monumental moments in our nation’s history. Jones previously worked as a reporter for the NBC-owned and operated television station in Philadelphia, where she was the lead reporter on some of the region’s biggest stories, including the Gov. Chris Christie G.W. Bridge scandal, which gained national attention, the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes, the D.C. Navy Yard shooting, Boston Marathon bombings, and murder trial of abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell. She is a community leader and volunteer, serving as a board member for the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, and the Boys and Girls Club. Jones is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Jack and Jill of America, and Florida Executive Women. She is also a frequent guest speaker and moderator. Jones has lived in New York City, Memphis, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Decatur, Georgia, and Springfield, Illinois. She and her husband have three children and live in the greater Orlando area.
HEAD COACH UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
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ytia Necole Messer, was born on to the late Stella and E.J. Messer. She is the youngest of eight children. She is a 22-year coaching veteran who won a national title and
appearances as an assistant coach, was named the 13th head women's basketball coach in UCF history on April 3, 2022. Messer is the head coach of the University of Central Florida women’s basketball team following a stint as associate head coach at Louisiana State University for the 2021-22 season. As an assistant coach at Baylor from 2013-14 through 2020-21, Messer helped lead the Bears to a combined record of 260-23 (.918) in eight seasons, winning eight Big 12 Conference regular-season championships, six conference tournament titles, an NCAA title in 2019, and making six NCAA Elite Eight appearances. With Messer’s help, Baylor won 32 or more games in each of her
in 2019 and second in 2018. Messer’s eight seasons at Baylor included 23 NCAA Championship victories and at least a tie for the Big 12 regular-season title every year. Messer got her start in coaching as an assistant coach for two years at Arkansas State in 2000-01 and 2001-02. Other coaching stops for Messer include assistant coaching positions at Memphis (2002-03 and 2003-04) and Georgia Tech twice (2004-05 through 2008-09; 2012-13). She has been an honorary chair of Habitat for Humanity and she also is a 2012 graduate of the Center for Coaching Excellence. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a member of the Black Women Coaching Association.
“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” IDA B. WELLS
“Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.” MAYA ANGELOU
48 ONYX MAGAZINE
ONYX MAGAZINE 49
