Grambling State athletic director Trayveon Scott confirmed that the university is in active contract extension talks with head football coach Mickey Joseph.
Speaking with HBCU Sports on Thursday, Scott said discussions with Joseph and his representatives have been ongoing since the start of the season and are now progressing toward a formal resolution.
“We’re in contract discussions now,” Scott said. “We’re going to get something done. I like the momentum around the program. I like how it’s being built out, and I think the future of the program is trending upwards.”
Scott emphasized that the timing of the talks was intentional, noting that he did not want contract matters to become a distraction during the season.
“I didn’t want to interrupt the flow of what he was doing,” Scott said. “We’ve had conversations throughout the season since August, to be honest. It provided him comfort knowing he wasn’t coaching for his job, and it gave me comfort knowing we didn’t need to start putting together a shortlist.”
Scott said he and the university’s legal team are working with Joseph’s agent and expect the process to conclude in early January, pending approval from the University of Louisiana System Board.
“If I had to put my finger on it, I’d say the first week of January,” Scott said.
Joseph, who took over Grambling’s football program in December 2023, earns $325,000 annually under a contract that includes incentives tied to winning the Bayou Classic, conference championships, and additional postseason achievements. His current deal expires December 31. Through two seasons at Grambling, he holds a 12–12 overall record. The Tigers finished 5–7 overall (2–6 SWAC) in 2024, followed by a 7–5 overall mark and a 4–4 conference record in 2025.
Confidence in Mickey Joseph moving forward
While acknowledging that the season did not finish as strongly as hoped, Scott framed the results within the realities of injuries, youth, and transition.
“When you’re coaching 18 to 23-year-olds, you’re going to lose some games you shouldn’t and win some people don’t expect,” he said. “But I like what he’s doing. I’m going to support it.”
Scott said that any forthcoming staff or title adjustments would be part of a broader football rollout, aligned with improving cohesion and clarity within the program.
“I believe in one voice, two at the most,” Scott stated. “You’ll see some things title-wise that reflect that moving forward.”
Scott said the university remains committed to its current approach.
“We opted to build this a certain way,” he said. “And we’re sticking to the plan.”
Recruiting and staff continuity remain intact
Scott also pushed back against concerns that uncertainty surrounding Joseph’s contract could negatively impact recruiting or staff retention, noting that Joseph is still under contract and that continuity remains strong.
“It’s not like he has an expired contract,” Scott said. “We’re still within the language of the deal, and I’m opting to move forward because of some internal changes on campus. This is going to be good for us.”
As of the conversation, Scott said Grambling had minimal attrition.
“I don’t have any coaches who have indicated they’re leaving,” he said. “As of today, I only have one starter who’s indicated he wants to enter the portal.”
Scott pointed to Grambling’s youth on display in the Bayou Classic as a key indicator of the program’s long-term growth.
“The quarterback was a freshman, the running back was a freshman, Tyson George [wide receiver] was a freshman,” Scott said. “We’ve got young, talented kids, and now we can be intentional instead of just recruiting numbers.”
Infrastructure, NIL, and facilities investment
Beyond the football field, Scott highlighted ongoing investments in facilities, NIL, and student-athlete support as evidence that the program is stabilizing and modernizing its operations.
“We are distributing money to our student-athletes, specifically football,” Scott said. “They have contractual agreements and do get paid. But we’re also educating them on money management, time management, and life skills.”
Scott also confirmed that Grambling is moving forward with facility upgrades, including new football locker rooms expected to be completed in January.
“The ship is starting to turn,” Scott said. “We’re raising money, programs are starting, and you’re seeing the impact across the department.”