Jalen Hamilton, Staff Writer, MSU Spokesman
A few hundred Morgan students, faculty, family members, and friends gathered outside Hurts Gymnasium on Tuesday, March 4, to mourn the passing and celebrate the life of Sterling Steward, Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Revenue Officer.
A native of New Orleans, Steward joined Morgan State University’s athletic department on December 7, 2022. From the moment he arrived on campus, he put down roots and became a key part of the Morgan State University family.
“He was a small man but had such a big impact on us. He was always at the games, no matter if it was basketball, football, softball, he always showed athletes support,” said women’s basketball student manager, Kamryn Jackson. “I’m so sad that he is gone but I am glad that we have his philosophies because one thing about him is he was always giving wisdom, always, even with the simplest conversations because of the type of person he is, he just wants to see everybody else succeed.”
At precisely 7:11 p.m., a tribute to 1911, the founding year of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., to which Mr. Sterling was proudly affiliated. Attendees stood in unity, lighting candles and sharing memories, reflecting on Mr. Sterling’s significance in the Morgan community.
“Sterling was all about impact,” said Marvin Cornish, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development. “He and I partnered together on events such as the Youth Education Day which was his pride and joy because he believed the earlier you introduce kids to college, especially HBCUs in our local community, the more they’ll gravitate towards college, specifically Morgan State University.”
A wave of emotions swept through those in attendance while the 90’s R&B song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” by Boyz II Men played, leaving not a dry eye in sight and for many to embrace one another as they navigate this difficult time together.
“He went from being a colleague to being like a brother to me. We held each other accountable to the nth degree,” said Cornish. “It wasn’t always pretty but we agreed on what we needed to do to move forward to make sure these kids were good. He always put them first.”
Members of the Morgan State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and The Nu Eta Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., conducted the vigil describing him as a caring father figure, a mentor, and a supporter of student success, both on and off their respective fields.
SAAC Chief of Staff and senior in sports administration, Teylyn Neal, reflected on her first encounter with Mr. Sterling, a moment that would begin a bond built on guidance and care.
“When Mr. Sterling first got hired, he changed a lot in the athletic program. I’m a cheerleader, so having a good DJ is very important — so I saw him and told him his DJ sucks we need to hire a new one, and he told me to come up with a plan, send a list of songs and we’re going to get it to the DJ and from then I worked with him finding sponsorship for the program and I really learned a lot,” said Neal.
His contributions extended far beyond athletics, constantly enlightening those who had the privilege of knowing him. In a short amount of time, he was able to touch the lives of many through his commitment to student-athletes and passion for the local Baltimore community.
“He led in a lot of ways with our corporate partners that we have now. He helped open the door to a different type of relationship with the Mayor’s office — that’s what made it a joy to work with him,” Cornish said.
Two more celebrations of Steward’s life have been planned. Morgan State Athletics hosted a memorial service on Monday, March 10, at Hill Fieldhouse, and his official homegoing celebration will take place on Saturday, March 15, at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in New Orleans.