Stephen Joyner became JCSU's new Athletics Director April 1, 2005. He previously worked as the university's assistant athletics director. Joyner holds his longstanding position of Johnson C. Smith University Men's Basketball head coach.

"In my role as athletics director I will have the primary responsibility for the day-to-day operations and supervision of the athletics department staff while also promoting effective communication among JCSU staff, faculty, student-athletes, media and public."

JCSU enjoyed unparalleled success in 2005-06 under Joyner's watch, winning three CIAA western division championships. The Golden Bulls claimed CIAA titles in men's tennis, women's basketball, and men's basketball. In addition to a strong year in the CIAA, two Golden Bull teams advanced to NCAA post-season play: men's and women's basketball.

Along with their excellence on the field, Golden Bulls student-athletes have reached new heights outside of the stadiums in Joyner's first year at JCSU. Thirty six student-athletes at JCSU had a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. This year, JCSU Athletics announced that 39 student-athletes which represents 87 percent of those eligible to graduate, received their undergraduate degrees.

Joyner recently completed his 18th season as head coach of the JCSU Golden Bulls. His career record is 342-206. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., he became the star point guard for the Golden Bulls from 1969-73. For more than two decades, he has taken the men's program to unprecedented levels, establishing Smith as one of the most feared teams in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

"Coach Joyner has shown leadership both as a coach and assistant athletics director," said Johnson C. Smith President, Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy. "His new position fits the university's strategic goal to become noted as an outstanding liberal arts college with a strong institutional identity."

Joyner is the winningest men's basketball coach in Golden Bulls history, having recorded 342 victories. He led the Golden Bulls to their third CIAA western Division Title in 2006. In 2000, his team finished fourth in the CIAA, third place finishes in 1991, 1993 and 2003, second place finishes in 1992, 1998 and 2002, and CIAA Tournament Champions in 2001.

Joyner earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Johnson C. Smith University and a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Virginia State University. Joyner and his wife Narell live in Charlotte, North Carolina. They have two sons and a daughter: Steve Jr., who serves as an assistant women's basketball coach at JCSU, Asheville, Brian, and Janel, a junior at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.