Leonard L. Haynes IV is in his 23rd year directing the media relations office for the Morgan State Athletics Department. He joined the Athletics staff in March of 2002.
Haynes and his staff coordinate all of the media relations for the Bears’ athletic program. His office writes and edits all athletic publications, including game programs and media guides, and coordinates all press conferences and interviews with Morgan State student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
Haynes currently serves as the primary contact for football and men’s basketball. In addition, he serves as the game day program editor for both football and men’s basketball, handles all credential requests for the Morgan State football and both basketball teams, and oversees MSU’s athletics website and social networks.
For the past two decades, Haynes has gained valuable experience as the director of Morgan State. He served as the Media Coordinator for the 2010 Men’s Basketball 1st Round appearance in the NCAA Tournament site in Buffalo, New York. In addition, he was the primary media contact for the 2002 MEAC Volleyball Tournament, the 2007 MEAC Track & Field Championships, the Annual MSU Legacy Track Meet, and the 2007 MEAC Softball Tournament, all events hosted by Morgan State.
Haynes came to Morgan State from Johnson C. Smith University, where he served as Sports Information Director from 2000-2002. At JCSU, he was responsible for overseeing the media relations activities for the 13-sport program. Haynes also served as the 2001 Tournament Manager for the NCAA Div. II South Atlantic Regional Men’s Basketball Championship and created and designed the Golden Bulls Sports News website (GBSN).
Before his service at Johnson C. Smith, Haynes began his Sports Information career at Livingstone College in 1998 as the Director, where he was responsible for coordinating all local, state, and national media coverage for eight varsity sports. He also served as editor for the Blue Bears’ media guides and game programs, including two feature stories, which were named first place in a story competition by the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
Haynes also gained valuable work experience as a news assistant for The Voice of America and as an intern at Fleishman-Hillard Inc., one of the leading public relations firms in the nation.
He has published on matters relating to college athletics, and his opinions have appeared in the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Examiner, Baltimore Afro, Salisbury Post, and Charlotte Post. He has also written material for the Morgan Magazine and MSU’s Promethean Yearbook.
A native of Baton Rouge, La., Haynes earned a B.A. in communications from Howard University in 1992. While at Howard, Haynes interned at Howard’s student television station (WHUT-TV), WRC-Channel 4, and PBS-Baton Rouge (La.).
He also attended Iowa State University, where he worked as a graduate assistant coach for the Cyclones’ Women’s Basketball Program under Head Coach Bill Fennelly from 1994-95. Haynes graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Relations from Iowa State in 1995.
Haynes is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America and the Black College Sports Information Directors Association. He also served as a member of the MEAC Basketball Tournament committee (2006-07).
Haynes and his wife, Monica, reside in Anne Arundel County, Md., and are the proud parents of a daughter, Hayden (17), and son, Leonard V (15).
