Personal: The 2008-09 academic year marks the eighth year for Dr. Caldwell as the head of the Winston-Salem State University Athletic Department. After serving as the Director of Planning and Development at Iowa Valley Community College District, Dr. Chico Caldwell joined Winston-Salem State University as the Director of Athletics in 2000. He has been instrumental in leading the Rams in the transition from the NCAA Division II level to NCAA Division I competition (Football Championship Subdivision in football) through a five-year reclassification program.

Throughout his career, Caldwell has served as a coach, athletic director, Dean of Instruction, interim dean, instructor, and fundraiser. He has extensive experience interacting with the community and business leaders, as well as leading fundraising events and student leadership development activities.

As the head of the WSSU Department of Athletics, he is responsible for sweeping changes that have both restructured and reorganized the athletic department. He has dramatically improved every area of WSSU Athletics from fundraising and facilities to graduation rates. He is truly a leader and pioneer in the area of collegiate athletics and has helped to elevate WSSU back into the national spotlight.

Caldwell has managed the never-ending challenge of the WSSU Athletic Department budget for the last six years and continues to helped athletic fundraising efforts to exponentially grow in size. He has added more than 22 full-time positions within the WSSU Department of Athletics and has helped the Rams in their move to Division I with an extensive research-and-development program to support athletics. He was the organizer and project manager in the restoration and improvement of the WSSU Clarence E. "Big House" Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame and coordinated the development of the WSSU Red and White Athletic Giving Fund to the brand new Amon's Booster Club.

Dr. Caldwell has been instrumental in creating and leading the Rams' March Thru The MEAC fundraising initiative and was recently involved in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's decision to play the MEAC Basketball Tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C. for the next three years.

Under Dr. Caldwell's guidance the Rams have seen the construction of the $5.1 million WSSU Athletic Fieldhouse, the $1.3 million WSSU Track and Field Complex, and the WSSU Tennis Complex as well as having seen construction started on a state-of-the-art softball complex as well as a first-class football practice facility.

In addition to the enhancements of staffing and facilities, the Rams and Lady Rams have seen the annual Athletics Department budget nearly quintuple under Dr. Caldwell's leadership helping to level the playing field for WSSU student-athletes by increasing scholarships and grant-in-aid for all 15 of WSSU's intercollegiate athletic teams.

A firm believer in relationship building, Dr. Caldwell has helped to instill a people-first mantra throughout all areas of the Winston-Salem State University Department of Athletics. A family oriented teacher and talent developer, Dr. Caldwell has enabled and fostered the growth of not only the WSSU student-athletes but the administrators and staff members of the WSSU Department of Athletics.

Dr. Caldwell has overseen the creation of new administrative positions and has openly encouraged the development of the careers of staff members within the WSSU Department of Athletics. Through his tireless teaching efforts and the mentoring of young staff members, Caldwell has surrounded himself with a staff of some of the greatest talent in the nation.

A tireless giver of his time, Dr. Caldwell has spent countless hours and logged thousands of miles traveling throughout the nation promoting Winston-Salem State University and the WSSU Department of Athletics. From speaking engagements with alumni organizations to community service initiatives in the community with WSSU student-athletes, Dr. Caldwell continues to serve as the face of Winston-Salem State University Athletics.

Prior to his coming to WSSU from the Iowa Valley Community College District, Caldwell served as the athletic director and head basketball coach at West Virginia State College, head basketball coach at South Carolina State University, assistant basketball coach and physical education instructor at Livingston University, and coach and administrator at Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama during his nearly 35 years of collegiate athletics experience.

While at West Virginia State, Caldwell was named West Virginia Conference Coach of the Year in 1990 and Athletic Director of the Year in 1989. He built program funding from $200,000 in 1987 to $500,000 in 1988 and continued to build funding to more than $1.5 million during his time at WVSC from 1987 to 1991. At Miles College, Caldwell led the basketball team to four consecutive conference championships, advancing to the NCAA Division III finals once. He also was named Coach of the Year in 1978 by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

Caldwell was Miles College's Teacher of the Year in 1979 and Most Outstanding Administrator in 1977. Caldwell earned his B.S. degree in sociology/psychology at Miles College, his M.S. degree in health, physical education and recreation at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and his Ph.D. in higher education administration from Iowa State University. He has been married to his wife Bertha for 37 years, and they have two children, Felicia (36) and Brian (30).