Marlon Clement Dechausay

Marlon Clement Dechausay, a devoted husband and father, a beloved leader in collegiate athletics, mentor and advocate for student-athlete welfare, passed away on December 4, 2024 at the age of 49 in Maui, Hawaii while attending the Maui Invitational Basketball Tournament.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Marlon’s passion for athletics and education was evident from a young age. From 1992 to 1999, he proudly represented the Canadian National Track and Field team, setting Japan's 400-meter record for runners under 19. He also served as an alternate for Team Canada during the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. A standout student-athlete, Marlon excelled in track and field at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where he claimed Sun Belt Conference titles in the 400 meters. At Louisiana, Marlon was a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., where he embraced the organization's principles of brotherhood, scholarship and service. He later earned his master’s degree from Syracuse University, where his passion for mentoring student-athletes took root. At Syracuse, he worked diligently to support the academic success of the men’s basketball team, contributing to their journey towards a national championship in 2003.

Over the span of 21 years in college athletics and 18 years in higher education, Marlon served in critical leadership roles across institutions, leaving a legacy of excellence, dedication and innovation for all student-athletes. He was deeply passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), both at Memphis and with the American Athletic Conference, championing initiatives that created spaces of belonging and opportunity for all. He tirelessly worked to promote education, awareness, and meaningful change, ensuring that every voice was heard and valued. Marlon’s career took him to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Syracuse, Iowa State, Florida State, Texas Tech, Indiana State, Florida Atlantic, Illinois, and most recently, the University of Memphis.

In his six years at Memphis, where he served as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Welfare, Marlon played a transformative role in enhancing student-athlete development and wellbeing. He oversaw student-athlete wellness initiatives, chaired UMADE (University of Memphis Athletics for Diversity and Equality), and developed Tiger Bites, a nutrition program focused on education, fueling stations, and partnerships to optimize performance. He was active was also appointed to the LEAD1 Association’s national working group on diversity, equity and inclusion in college sports.

Marlon’s impact was far-reaching. At Illinois, he enhanced academic services for 500 student-athletes across 19 sports, launched the REAL Talk Series on societal issues, and expanded career development programs, contributing to top NCAA Public Recognition Awards. At Florida Atlantic, he drove academic resurgence, raising the student-athlete GPA from 2.71 to 3.10, and revitalized the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Marlon championed holistic student-athlete success at Indiana State by implementing mental health programs, academic tutoring and career fairs, fostering well-rounded growth and development.

Through partnerships with campus departments, city of Memphis initiatives and national organizations like the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A), Marlon was known for creating positive change. As a proud graduate of the NCAA Leadership Institute, Marlon was recognized as an exceptional leader and communicator. He facilitated workshops, presented regularly at the NCAA and N4A conferences, and earned the Lan Hewitt Leadership Award for his outstanding contributions. Marlon took pride in his work with the Institute for Sport and Social Justice (The Institute) where his Huddle Up family said, “His thoughtful presence in the training room always moved the needle, offering support, encouragement, and a listening ear to everyone around him.” Marlon was also a fierce advocate for the Race for Reconciliation in Memphis. Organizers of the race said, “He was our first point of contact (for the athletics department) as we cast a vision to unite our great city. Marlon was one of the first to champion the mission. He cared about people, he cared about unity, and he lived out seeing the beauty in each person.”

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Marlon was a dedicated son, brother, husband, father and friend. He is survived by his loving wife, Tina, and their two sons, Marlon Jr. and Braylon. Also surviving are his mother Lucy, sister Nadine (Ryan Williams) Dechausay of Dallas, Texas and brother Lucius (Terra Dafoe) Dechausay of Toronto, Canada as well as his father and mother in law, Sam and Fran Thomas of Peoria, Ill. and sibling in-laws Angie (Rick) Shaw of Pekin, Ill., Chris (Reeno) Thomas of Bartonville, Ill., Danny (Debbie) Thomas of Hoffman Estates, Ill., Monica (Jeff) Robinson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Keith (Tina) Thomas of Washington, Ill., and Katie (Paul) Manning of Peoria, Ill. He had many nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts and uncles with whom he had special relationships. His father, Clement Dechausay, preceded him in death.

Marlon cherished his family and treasured every moment spent together. He instilled in his sons the values of kindness, honesty, and dependability, while emphasizing the importance of hard work and determination. As their biggest supporter, he encouraged them to pursue their dreams and always strive for more. The support Marlon himself received from his family was a source of strength throughout his life and career. He was proud of his Caribbean and Canadian heritage and loved his Toronto sports teams including the Blue Jays, Maple Leafs and especially the Raptors. He shared his passion for them and his beloved Syracuse Orange with his family.

Marlon passing is a tremendous loss to his family and friends, the collegiate athletics community and all those fortunate enough to know him. His leadership, kindness, and passion for his family as well as student-athlete welfare will leave an enduring legacy.

"The measure of a life well-lived is not in years, but in the impact on the lives of others."