Distinguished Professor Dr. Dennis Felder Leaves His Mark on Athletics and His Students at WSSU – Statesville Record and Landmark

“If Doc calls me, I pick up,” said Massey, who is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Winston-Salem State football team. “He usually calls at 5 or 6 in the morning, but there’s a reason he’s calling, so I answer.”

When Felder, who is in his 40th year as a WSSU professor and chair of the sports management department, calls Massey, it’s usually about one of his players. And it’s usually to let Massey know that one, sometimes two or three, of his players haven’t attended one of Felder’s classes.

Felder doesn’t call Massey to suggest a play for the next game or what Massey will have for breakfast.

“Dr. Felder doesn’t play, so he holds his kids accountable and they need that,” Massey said. “And my players need that, and even though they don’t realize it, when they get out of here and they’re done, they’re going to come back and thank him.”

Not every athlete at WSSU majors in sports management, but many do, and Felder has been a pseudo-coach off the field for many athletes.

Felder doesn’t care how many touchdowns the student scores or those NFL dreams. He also doesn’t care how many points a student may have scored in a basketball game or what his or her points per game average is.

“I’ve always been about holding these young people accountable,” said Felder, 72, who still comes to work every day, loving what he does for a living. “They might not like it sometimes, but guess what, life isn’t always easy either.”

There’s no doubt that Felder is old school, and that’s refreshing these days.

Felder was hired at WSSU in 1984 and helped shape the program into what it is today. He is an Alcorn State graduate and said if it weren’t for the opportunities he had at the HBCU, he never would have landed at WSSU.

“Alcorn State made me and gave me the opportunity to thrive, and that’s what I’ve tried to convey here,” said Felder, whose official title at WSSU is associate professor and program coordinator of the sport management program.

Josiah Alexander, a linebacker and special teams star, came to WSSU five years ago from Raleigh. Alexander graduated with his degree in sports management last spring but is taking classes as a graduate student and has helped the Rams to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the CIAA with a key home game Saturday against Johnson C. Smith at 1 p.m.

“Dr. Felder is my man,” Alexander said. “He’ll get you right. He makes sure that all his children, as he calls us “his children”, are academically sound. And if you have problems, he will stay on you.

One of Felder’s hallmarks is holding face-to-face meetings with students. He’s not a big fan of Zoom and his morning meetings are early.

“If you have a meeting with him and it’s 6 in the morning, you better be 10 minutes early,” Alexander said.

Offensive lineman Dakota McLendon, another freshman, transferred before last season from Fayetteville State. He was injured early in the preseason and missed all of last season.

McLendon is taking more courses in Felder’s program and is in her second year at WSSU.

“I think he gives us a lot of good advice,” said McLendon, who, at 25, is one of the Rams’ oldest players. “He’s an older guy, but he’s been around and has a lot of insight into things. I just think he’s been great for me in my two years here.”

Back in the day, Felder wasn’t shy about interrupting football practice when it was warranted. When the Rams practiced next to Gaines Center on the grass field next to a parking lot, he would park his car right on the field and practice would stop.

“I did that because a player missed my class the other day, but he was at practice,” Felder said. “So I made it a point to ask him in front of his teammates and coaches why he wasn’t in my class that day?”

Felder also said he has been known to go to the Gaines Center to cut practice if basketball players decide to skip his class.

Over the years, Felder helped athletics by serving as a compliance liaison and in other capacities. Many of his students help with in-game operations for football and basketball games.

Felder will check on his students by ducking into the Bowman Gray Stadium press box to make sure they’re there for game day.

Not only has Felder left his mark at WSSU, his reputation as a person who gives back to the community is real. He serves on the board of The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina and the Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Commission.

He is involved in a local Kiwanis Club and works with the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club.

Felder won the Board of Regents Award for Teaching Excellence in 2008, and in 2007 was named Sports Management Professional of the Year by the North Carolina Athletics, Health and Physical Education Alliance.

About 10 years ago, former Rams quarterback Thomas Washington had a brief NFL career, but by age 26, he was out of football and without a degree. But one day Washington called Felder about possibly going back to school.

Felder did, and Washington earned a degree in sports management when he was in his late 30s.

“Dr. Felder was great and helped me kind of get things going and you know what, he hasn’t changed one bit,” Washington said a few years ago. “He wants me to be responsible, to be a man, organized and respected. He’s like that with everyone, not just me, so going back to school has been a blessing.”

Monte Ross, who is the men’s basketball coach at NC A&T, graduated from WSSU in 1992 with a degree in sports management. Ross, who played for Big House Gaines, said a few years ago that he needed Felder to finish school.

“(Felder) rode me pretty hard, but I needed it,” Ross said. “Trust me.”

Massey’s soccer program needs someone like Felder.

“Dr. Felder is a good man,” Massey said. “To have someone who’s been a part of the university for so long and he’s been a staple here, and that’s great.

“He’s that academic coach if you will… We throw around the word ‘Ramily’ a lot and he’s a part of that and he’s been here for 40 years as a teacher, but he’s just young so he can relate and I just thank God for him.”