Kentucky Hall of Fame coach hired as new Fayette County athletic director

Fayette County Public Schools has hired as the district’s new athletic director a well-known athlete, coach and athletic director who was inducted into the Kentucky Track and Field, Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020, according to Kentucky State University.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Gordon Duvall will lead and provide general oversight of the district’s athletic programs and activities, effective Aug. 18. She replaces Rob Sayre, who retired, district spokesperson Miranda Scully said.

A 2017 Frankfort State Journal article about Duvall becoming athletic director for Frankfort Independent Schools said she was a 2003 Frankfort High School graduate, a valedictorian, a five-time 400-meter dash state champion in track, a 1,000 point scorer in basketball and a member of the 2000 Class A state champion girls cross country team.

Duvall went on to compete in track at the University of Kentucky, the article said.

Duvall’s career as a leader in athletics

Her recent professional roles include associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at Kentucky State University and director of Athletics, Equity & Extended Learning at Frankfort Independent Schools.

At KSU, Duvall supervised and oversaw men’s and co-ed sports programs and coaching staff, assisting with the intercollegiate athletics program, a news release said.

She managed personnel, budgetary, facility, and equipment resources, developed policies and procedures, and served as a compliance officer for NCAA rules and Title IX implementation. She also acted as a liaison with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and assisted the athletic director with initiatives and evaluations, officials said.

Who was on the selection committee?

A selection committee composed of district administrative staff, school-level leadership, and community members made the recommendation to hire Duvall in Fayette County.

“Her selection directly reflects the priorities expressed by community stakeholders in a recent survey,” a district news release said. “Additionally, Duvall’s experience strongly aligns with a student-centered approach to decision-making, communication...understanding policies and procedures, and advocacy for all schools and sports.”

“Duvall has operations management experience, a visionary and innovative mindset, technical knowledge of athletics, and proficiency in conflict resolution, collaboration, public relations, and organization,” the news release said. “Her background also demonstrates many of the sought-after attributes, such as being a team builder, approachable, competent, proactive, and collaborative.”

Duvall has a master’s degree in Child & Family Studies and a master’s in Organizational Leadership from Western Kentucky University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Communication & Informational Studies from the University of Kentucky, Fayette schools’ officials said.

She was also in the NCAA Division II’s Athletic Director Association mentoring program and has experience as a girls track and field coach and assistant girls basketball coach.

This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 5:16 PM.