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Showing posts with label CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry. Show all posts
Leon Kerry never set out to be the commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. It just kind of happened.
But as he and the rest of the CIAA settle in this week in Charlotte for the annual women's and men's basketball tournaments, Kerry will be in his element. He loves tournament week because it's the culmination of the conference's long-standing commitment to putting on a good show.
And as the tournaments have grown, Kerry, as much as anybody, knows it's about more than just basketball.
"We've changed the way people envision sports at Division II," Kerry said of the CIAA Tournaments, which will start today with women's games. "Everybody is trying to do what we do with having an event, having functions around the event and getting the fans and alumni involved.
Demand for tickets to the 66th annual Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament is running ahead of last year’s pace. With former members Lincoln (Pa.) and Winston-Salem State universities rejoining the league, ticket sales are up, according to CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry. The men's and women's tournaments will take place Feb. 28-March 5 at Time Warner Cable Arena – their sixth year in Charlotte.
The CIAA consists of 13 schools – 12 of them historically black colleges and universities – from Pennsylvania to North Carolina. Charlotte organizers and league officials have agreed to an extension of the tournament through 2014, the first time a host site has secured the event for nine straight years.
“Ticket sales are strong,” CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry said at a press conference Feb. 10 at the Charlotte Convention Center. “Almost $2 million in ticket sales, that’s up from last year. What makes the CIAA go and what makes this great is the community, and the connection we have with the city.”
The tournament concludes March 5 with the women's final at 5 p.m. and the men’s final televised on ESPNU at 8 p.m. TV One will broadcast the men’s quarterfinals and the semifinal rounds.
CIAA alumni may buy tickets from their respective schools; the general public can buy them online at www.ciaatournament.org or Time Warner Cable Arena box office.
HAMPTON, VA – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) welcomes seven individuals as its 2011 class of inductees into the John B. McLendon, Jr. Hall of Fame. The honorees will officially be enshrined on Friday, March 4, 2011 at the Charlotte Convention Center at 11:00am- as part of the CIAA Tournament’s week of events.
This year’s class is filled with star-power, exceptional talent and inspiring dedication to the conference through corporate support.
Anita Cooper Epps led the Lady Pirates Basketball Team to two Virginia Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (VAIAW) state championships; a CIAA tournament title, and to two appearances in the NCAA Division II national tournament. At the end of the 1986 season, Epps was named Kodak first team All-American and the American Women's Sports Foundation's Regional Player of the Year. She was voted to the All-CIAA team for the second time, captured Kodak All-District III honors and was named to the first team All-America by the Black College Sports Information Directors Association and made the National Association for Women's Sports All-America team. She currently holds the Hampton University career field goal record with a percentage of .542, is second in career field goals with 762 and is third in the Hampton University record book for career scoring with 1,795 points.
Dr. Paulette Walker Johnson spent 30 years coaching the nationally recognized Virginia State University “Woo-Woos” Cheering Squad. Setting the standard for HBCU cheering programs, the Woo Woos and Dr. Johnson have been featured on the BET television network, Urban Sports Network, ESPN and have had numerous appearances on locally based television stations. In the 1990's the squad performed at a boxing match staged by the legendary promoter Don King. In 1999, the Mayor of the City of Petersburg established “Dr. Paulette Walker Johnson Day”. Johnson is noted as the first female athletic director in VSU history and coached the VSU softball team to win its first CIAA Softball Championship. In the conference she was the first president and founder of the CIAA Cheerleader Coaches Association. She is 2003 inductee of the VSU Wall of Fame.
Gregory Hines is a four- year starter and men’s basketball letterman (1979-1983) for Hampton University. He is the university's second all-time scorer with 1,967 points and rebounder (1,254). Hines is ranked in the Top 30 of CIAA All-time career scorers and is 11th in CIAA career rebounding. He has been named as a three time All-American; CIAA Rookie of the Year (1980); CIAA MVP (1982), and is a member of both the 1982 and 1983 CIAA Championship teams. Even after his years as a Pirate, Mr. Hines continued to excel in his sport as an NBA draft choice for the Golden State Warriors. His professional sports career spanned for more than 12 years and included playing in Europe, South America, Canada, Mexico, and Israel. Gregory Hines was inducted into the Hampton University Hall of Fame in 2009.
Charlie Neal began his broadcasting career over 30 years ago as a radio disc jockey before turning to television as a sportscaster, working for several affiliates in the Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. markets. In 1980, Charlie Neal commentated the first nationally televised regular season CIAA Basketball game and became the television voice and face of Black College Sports. Neal and Black Entertainment Television (BET) provided a platform to bring the CIAA into American homes. Neal became a part of the CIAA by serving as an emcee for tip-off banquets and refereeing CIAA All-Star games.
Yancey Thigpen was named to the All-CIAA Football teams of 1989 and 1990. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 4th round of the 1991 NFL Draft. After being drafted, he spent six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1992-97); breaking and recording several records which are still unbroken today. As a Steeler, he was a Pro Bowl alternate on special teams before emerging as one of the best receivers in the NFL. This two-time Pro Bowl honoree and most sought after free agent wide receiver, signed with the Tennessee Oilers; becoming the highest paid wide receiver in the league. Thigpen spent the next three years with the Oilers, assisting them in reaching the Super Bowl. Yancey Thigpen retired after the 2000 season with 313 career receptions for 5,081 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for four yards, returned two punts for 30 yards and gained 188 yards on eight kickoff returns.
Richard Franklin, Coca-Cola’s then African-American Consumer Marketing Manager, managed its corporate sponsor relationship with Commissioner Leon Kerry for a span of 18+ years. In 1998, he was involved in securing the first HBCU Conference $2 million dollar sponsorship commitment with the CIAA. He was also able to secure the first tournament visit of a Fortune 500 company president with the tournament participation of Coca-Cola Company President Jack Stahl. In 2003, he was instrumental in renewing the commitment for $3 million dollars and five more years. Under his guidance, Coca-Cola initiated numerous marketing programs such as the Ball Boy/Ball Girl program, the Slam Dunk Competition, the CIAA Step Show, High School Day sponsorship, the men's and women's tournament championship awards presentation, the Big House Gaines Men's Commemorative Championship Trophy and the Football Championship MVP trophies and hospitality tent.
James Morgan holds the CIAA Basketball Career rebounding record with 1,741rebounds (1967-70). While starring at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), he was a member of the CIAA’s first undefeated regular season basketball team in 1969-70, with a regular season record of 29-0. Morgan was named to the All-CIAA team in 1970 and the CIAA All-Tournament Team 1969 and 1970, where he was second in the NAIA in rebounds during the 1967-68 season (23.3). He played in the NAIA quarter finals in 1970 and was a 7th round draft pick for the Seattle Supersonics; but played in the Continental Basketball Association. Morgan was inducted into the UMES Hall of Fame in 1984.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The CIAA isn't going anywhere. That's the word from the head of the tournament after Charlotte's NAACP called for major sporting events to boycott the city it calls a "bastion of racism".
Leon Kerry, commissioner of the CIAA, is very happy with the tournament being held in the Queen City. Kerry posted a statement on their web site Wednesday night which reads, in part: "Charlotte is a great partner and host city for the CIAA Tournament. Charlotte's can do spirit and teamwork has contributed vastly to the growth and success the Tournament has experienced."
The hugely popular tournament is contracted to be in Charlotte until 2014. Kerry also said "since the tournament's move to Charlotte in 2006, the CIAA has generated over $9 million in scholarship dollars for graduating high school students to attend any CIAA school."
From the Desk of CIAA Commissioner Leon G. Kerry Regarding the Proposed NAACP Boycott of the City of Charlotte
January 19, 2011
“Charlotte is a great partner and host city for the CIAA Tournament,” say CIAA Commissioner, Leon Kerry. “Since the Tournament’s move to Charlotte in 2006, the CIAA has generated over $9 million in scholarship dollars for graduating high school students to attend any CIAA school. Through our Education Day event, Charlotte area high school and middle school students have direct access to college admissions counselors to discuss their educational pursuits. Also, in our 2010 CIAA Post-Tournament survey results, 94 percent of our fans recommend the ‘CIAA Charlotte Experience’, which measures the city’s safety, hospitality and friendliness. Charlotte’s can do spirit and teamwork has contributed vastly to the growth and success the Tournament has experienced and it’s evident when the CIAA Board of Directors voted unanimously on November 1, 2010 to renew the CIAA Tournament contract with Charlotte until 2014.”
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte chapter of the NAACP won the support Wednesday of the organization's state leaders for a letter-writing campaign urging major sports organizations not to hold their events in the city.
Kojo Nantambu, president of the Charlotte NAACP, first suggested the campaign Monday during a march to protest Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' decision to hold classes on the holiday which honors Martin Luther King Jr. CMS approved the holiday two years ago as a possible snow make-up day, and the plan was activated after last week's winter storm shut down schools for three days.
Dr. William Barber, president of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP, said Wednesday...
At a Martin Luther King Jr. Day protest over school policies, the head of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP Monday announced a campaign to urge the CIAA basketball tournament and other groups to boycott the city.
Pledging to "expose Charlotte for the racist bastion it is," NAACP President Kojo Nantambu announced a drive to keep the CIAA, NCAA, PGA "and any other 'A'" from coming to Charlotte. He also said his group would ask the national NAACP to consider asking the Democratic Party not to hold its 2012 convention in Charlotte.
His comments came just before he led about 100 people on a march through uptown to protest the decision by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to hold classes on the King holiday to make up one of three days lost to snow last week.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association voted unanimously Monday on a three-year extension that will keep its prestigious basketball tournament in Charlotte through 2014.
Commissioner Leon Kerry told The Associated Press the Division II league of mostly historically black colleges and universities decided to stray from past history and hold the event in the same spot for nine straight years.
"We usually move the tournament every six years," Kerry said. "We're here because the fans love Charlotte. They like the arena, they like the things you can do in Charlotte. And we did a survey and I think 98 percent of the fans said they'd return to Charlotte."
Virginia State will go into Saturday's game at archrival Virginia Union controlling its destiny for the Northern Division berth in the CIAA championship game, which will be played in Durham County (N.C.) Stadium for the third straight year Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.
"We look forward to our premier football event returning to Durham. Without question, the 2010 season is one of the most exciting in CIAA history," Commissioner Leon Kerry said. "We still have seven teams with a realistic chance of winning their division and a place in the championship game."
Still in the Northern Division hunt with the Trojans over the closing weeks of the regular season are Bowie State, Elizabeth City State and Chowan.
Leon Kerry never set out to be the commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. It just kind of happened.
