Winston-Salem State University announced Sunday that head football coach Robert Massey will resign at the end of the calendar year, marking the first college head football coaching change of the 2025 offseason in North Carolina.
Massey, who has led the Rams since 2019, informed the university of his decision to resign effective December 31, 2025. He will continue coaching through December while assisting with transition planning and recruiting efforts.
“Coach Massey has served our student-athletes with dedication and care,” said WSSU Chancellor Bonita J. Brown. “We are grateful for his leadership and the positive impact he has had on Rams Football.”
Massey compiled a career record of 25-33 over six seasons, including a 4-6 mark this fall (2-5 CIAA). His best year came in 2024, when WSSU finished 7-3 and won five of seven conference contests.
The Rams dropped four of their last five games this season, including losses to in-state rivals Fayetteville State, Johnson C. Smith and Shaw. WSSU has not appeared in a CIAA Championship Game since winning the title in 2016, a stretch during which Fayetteville State has reached six straight league finals and Johnson C. Smith will play in this year’s game (Saturday).
“Athletics is about more than competition; it’s about helping young people discover who they can become,” Massey said in the school’s release. “I am proud of the student-athletes I’ve been able to coach and the culture we built together. WSSU will always have a special place in my heart.”
Interim Director of Athletics Eric Burns said the search for a new head coach will begin immediately, emphasizing continuity and player support during the transition.
By the Numbers – Robert Massey at WSSU
| Season | Record | CIAA Record | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4–6 | 3–4 | T-3rd (Southern) |
| 2020–21 | — | — | No season (COVID-19) |
| 2021 | 3–6 | 3–4 | 3rd (Southern) |
| 2022 | 3–6 | 3–4 | 3rd (Southern) |
| 2023 | 4–6 | 4–4 | T-3rd (Southern) |
| 2024 | 7–3 | 5–2 | T-3rd |
| 2025 | 4–6 | 2–5 | T-7th |
