Shaw U. hires Jolisa Williams as Sports Information Director

JOLISA WILLIAMS
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
SHAW UNIVERSITY

RALEIGH, North Carolina – Jolisa Williams has joined Shaw University Athletics as its Sports Information Director, Marcus Clarke, the Director of Athletics announced Monday afternoon. In this capacity she will be the primary media relations contact for the Bear's 11 varsity sports.

After serving a one-year stint as Director of Sports Information and Marketing at Richard Bland College, Williams brings with her experience and knowledge in the athletic media relations field.

During her time at Richard Bland, Williams was the media relations contact for all nine athletic varsity teams including the men’s basketball program, who not only captured their respective 2015 Region 10 Conference title, but also the 2015 NJCAA National Championship for DII men’s basketball. She was also responsible for the 2015 Region 10 regular-season champion softball team and five track and field national qualifiers. Atop of her sport responsibilities, Williams was a key ingredient to launching and enhancing the Statesmen social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

No stranger to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), Williams’ roots in the field came way of CIAA Conference foe, Virginia State University where worked as a Life Skills Coordinator and Sports Information Assistant for the 2013-14 athletic year. While working with the Trojans, she aided the Office of Athletic Communications in various areas. Along with assisting in the publicity for men’s basketball, football, and baseball, she served as the primary contact for women’s basketball, volleyball, women’s tennis and softball. Williams also played a role in growing VSU athletics’ social media platforms.

Prior to her role as an assistant, Williams interned with the Trojans’ Office of Athletics for one year where she contributed to all aspects and needs to the department. In addition to day-to-day and game-day tasks, Williams was also a full-time graduate student at Virginia State.

A 2012 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Saint Augustine’s University, Williams earned her Bachelors of Science in sport management. A three-year letterwinner for the Lady Falcons women’s basketball team, Williams served as the starting point guard and contributed to the CIAA Western Division title in 2009-10 and three CIAA Team Highest GPA Award (2008, 2011, 2012) for women’s basketball during her tenure. Williams received her master’s degree from Virginia State University in 2014.

A native of Charles City, Va., Williams was All-District First Team recipient for four years at Charles City High School, where she ranks second on the all-time scoring list and current assist leader. She averaged 21.1 points, 4.2 assist, and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Williams is a member of CoSIDA and BC-SIDA.

COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Veteran NBA trainer joins XU sports medicine staff

MARK ARMOUR II

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana athletics department announced Monday the hiring of Mark Armour II, formerly of the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, as athletic trainer.

Armour worked for the Pelicans from 2010-15 and provided the team with daily sports medicine coverage. Among his many duties, he developed and administered rehabilitation protocols.

Armour has a combined 10 years of experience at the professional and collegiate levels. He was an athletic training assistant during the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl championship season of 2009, and he worked two years as a graduate assistant trainer at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, from 2007-09. Armour also interned with the Arena Football League's New Orleans Voodoo in 2006 and 2007.

"Mark is a valued asset to the Ochsner Sports Medicine team," Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute's Jordan Blough said. "We are excited he is now able to share his knowledge and skills with Xavier Athletics."

Armour will be the primary sports medicine contact for men's basketball, men's and women's cross country and men's and women's track and field. He will assist with the other teams as needed.

"Mark brings a wealth of experience managing and working with athletes at the NCAA Division I level, as well as the world-class athletes of the NFL (Saints) and most recently the NBA (Pelicans)," said Jason Horn, XU director of athletics and recreation. "Mark will prove to be an excellent addition to our support staff as we continue to progress in the classroom and work to improve our programs to compete at a high level nationally."

Armour received his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2007 and his master's in kinesiology from Lamar in 2009. He lettered in football (wide receiver) and baseball (right-handed pitcher) at Clark Atlanta University and ran the 800 and 1,500 meters on the track team.

Armour is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

"I am excited about starting this new venture in my career," Armour said. "Xavier University has such a rich history and tradition here in my hometown, and I'm looking forward to being a part of the success of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets. I appreciate the coaches and administrators for selecting me to be a member of their team."

The XU trainer positions are part of the partnership between Xavier Athletics and Ochsner Health System's sports medicine division. XU's other full-time athletic trainer is Allie Wood, a member of the staff since April 2014.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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NCAA awards AASP Grants to six HBCU schools

Funding will support academic programs to help student-athletes graduate

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- The NCAA has awarded more than $4 million in grants to nine Division I schools to support academic programs that help student-athletes earn their degrees.

The recipients of the Accelerating Academic Success Program Comprehensive Grants (multi-year) include: Alcorn State University ($900,000), California State University, Bakersfield ($870,686), Hampton University ($675,000), Florida A&M University ($675,000) Delaware State University ($449,850) and North Carolina A&T State University ($277,284.38).

Recipients of Accelerated Academic Success Program Initiatives Grants (single year) include: California State University, Northridge ($100,000), Idaho State University ($8,333.33) and Texas Southern University ($80,608).

The grants help schools improve the academic success of their student-athletes. The goal is to support the school’s efforts to meet the requirements of the Division I Academic Performance Program, which was developed to ensure schools provide an environment that supports education while enhancing the ability of student-athletes to earn a degree.

The NCAA has awarded more than $4 million in grants to nine Division I schools to support academic programs that help student-athletes earn their degrees.

The recipients of the Accelerating Academic Success Program Comprehensive Grants (multi-year) include: Alcorn State University ($900,000), California State University, Bakersfield ($870,686), Hampton University ($675,000), Florida A&M University ($675,000) Delaware State University ($449,850) and North Carolina A&T State University ($277,284.38).

Recipients of Accelerated Academic Success Program Initiatives Grants (single year) include: California State University, Northridge ($100,000), Idaho State University ($8,333.33) and Texas Southern University ($80,608).

The grants help schools improve the academic success of their student-athletes. The goal is to support the school’s efforts to meet the requirements of the Division I Academic Performance Program, which was developed to ensure schools provide an environment that supports education while enhancing the ability of student-athletes to earn a degree.

Schools eligible to apply for the program are non-FBS Division I schools in the bottom 10 percent of resources as determined by per capita institutional expenditures, athletics department funding and Pell Grant aid.

The comprehensive grants will be distributed over a three-year period and used to fund increased academic support services staffing and space; technology upgrades (software and hardware); career planning; professional development; and increased availability of summer financial aid for student-athletes.
Schools can request a maximum of $300,000 per year for three years. The participating schools are required to match grant dollars each year of the program, with either direct funds and/or in-kind contributions. In the first year, the school must commit a 25-percent match, 50 percent in year two and 75 percent in year three.

“We want to make sure we address the critical issues we’re facing, and the Academic Progress Rate is one of those,” said Alcorn State University Associate Athletics Director for Compliance Jason Cable. “We’re focused on degree completion, and we have a program where former student-athletes can come back and receive funds to complete their degree. While doing so, they must mentor a current student-athlete. We also plan to increase staffing. Our student-athlete-to-counselor ratio is around 100:1. We want to make that more sustainable.”

California State University, Bakersfield Interim Athletics Director Ziggy Siegfried said some of the grant funds his department receives will focus on facility enhancement.

"The current space we have is nice, but it is too small for our student-athletes," Siegfried said. "We couldn't conduct study halls there or enough tutoring. We've outgrown that facility and the square footage is going from 2,200 square feet to 7,000-plus square feet. There is an existing building that we'll be able to move into. This will give our student-athletes more space."

The announced awards mark the third round of Accelerating Academic Success Program funding distributed by the NCAA.

By Greg Johnson
COURTESY NCAA MEDIA RELATIONS

Ravens rookie corner Tray Walker (TSU) passes physical, cleared to practice

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Ravens rookie cornerback Tray Walker is all set to practice..

Walker officially passed his physical Saturday, clearing him to participate in training camp after the Ravens' rookie class reported Wednesday.

Typically, the Ravens don't pass a player on his physical until he passes a mandatory conditioning test. That entails running six timed 150-yard runs.

Walker didn't have any injuries that sidelined him during offseason practices.



The fourth-round draft pick from Texas Southern was regarded as a draft sleeper after not being invited to the NFL scouting combine.

Walker excelled at the NFL super regional combine.

A big press cornerback at 6 feet 2, 200 pounds with 4.42 speed in the 40-yard dash, Walker had visited the ...

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Edward Waters, Talladega to compete for A.I.I. softball title in 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- - Edward Waters and Talladega will all be eligible to compete for the Association of Independent Institutions Softball Championship in 2016 the association announced over the weekend.

A total of 13 teams will vie for eight spots and a chance to play for one of the two automatic bids given to the tournament Champion and Runner-up.

Georgia Gwinnett College will host the double-elimination tournament in Lawrenceville, Georgia at the Grizzly Softball Complex from May 5-7 with May 8 set as a make-up date in case of rain.

The field of six will be named between April 18 and April 25. Georgia Gwinnet recieves an automatic bid as the tourney host with the other five schools selected based on national ratings.

Edward Waters won both the GCAC regular season and tournament championships this past season.


COURTESY GULF COAST ATHLETICS CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS

Philander Smith College Release 2015 Volleyball Schedule

HEAD COACH ALEXIS LOWE
LADY PANTHERS VOLLEYBALL
PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- The Philander Smith Lady Panthers' 2015 volleyball schedule, released today, is highlighted by a number of challenging non-conference games along with its 12-game Gulf Coast Athletic Conference slate.

Philander Smith will take on three teams from the Red River Athletic Conference, as well as opponents from the American Midwest, Southern States, Midlands Collegiate, and Southern Intercollegiate (NCAA Div II/SIAC) Athletic Conference along with one NAIA Independent.

Alexis Lowe is 15-11 against GCAC foes in her two seasons at Philander Smith.

This season unofficially begins with the 2015 Green & Gold inner-squad scrimmage on Aug. 19 in Mims Gymnasium with the first official regular season match against intrastate foe Lyon College coming three days later on Aug. 22.

The month of August also features a road game at Wiley College on the 26th followed by a matchup with Henderson Sate University's junior varsity squad at home on Aug. 29.

September kicks off with the PSC Volleyball Classic from Sep. 4-5. The Lady Panthers visit Henderson State on Sep. 9 and travel to compete in the Belhaven Volleyball Tournament from Sep. 11-12. The road trip continues with games at Texas College on Sep. 15 and the conference opener against Talladega College on Sep. 19. Philander Smith returns home to take on former GCAC foe Fisk on Sep. 22 before a pair of conference matchups against Tougaloo on Sep. 26 and Southern University at New Orleans on Sep. 28. They close out the month on the road at Jarvis Christian College on Sep. 30.

The October/November schedule is dominated with conference matchups as PSC plays 10 of its final 13 games against GCAC competition. Non-conference opponents LeMoyne-Owen (Oct.3), Cental Baptist (Oct. 8), and Fisk (Oct. 14) fill out the remainder of the schedule.

The Lady Panthers finished the 2014 season 15-20, including an 8-6 mark in the GCAC. Philander Smith is the only school in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference to have improved their win total in each of the past three seasons. Head Coach Alexis Lowe will rely on her three returners Samantha (Comet) Moore, Zyra Wright and Victoria Hicks.


 

Philander Smith 2015 Volleyball Schedule
Date	Time	Opponent	Location	Notes
August
19	6:00 PM	Philander Smith	Mims Gymnasium	2015 Green & Gold Game
22	1:00 PM	Lyon College	Mims Gymnasium	Home Opener
26	6:00 PM	Wiley College	Marshall, Texas
29	1:00 PM	Henderson State	Mims Gymnasium	HSU Junior Varsity Game
September
4-5	TBA	TBA	Mims Gymnsaium	PSC Volleyball Classic
9	6:00 PM	Henderson State	Arkadelphia, Ark.	HSU Junior Varsity Game
11-12	TBA	Belhaven University	Belhaven, Miss.	Belhaven Volleyball Tournament
15	6:00 PM	Texas College	Tyler, Texas
19	1:00 PM	Talladega College*	Talladega, Ala.	Conference Opener
22	6:00 PM	Fisk University	Mims Gymnasium
26	1:00 PM	Tougaloo College*	Mims Gymnasium
28	7:00 PM	Southern University at New Orleans*	Mims Gymnasium
30	6:00 PM	Jarvis Christian College	Hawkins, Texas
October
3	2:00 PM	LeMoyne-Owen College	Memphis, Tenn.
5	6:00 PM	Talladega College*	Mims Gymnasium
8	6:00 PM	Central Baptist College	Conway, Ark.
10	12:00 PM	Xavier University*	New Orleans, La.
12	6:00 PM	Edward Waters College*	Jacksonville, Fla.
14	7:00 PM	Fisk University	Nashville, Tenn.
17	1:00 PM	Dillard University*	Mims Gymnasium
18	3:00 PM	Edward Waters College*	Mims Gymnasium
24	1:00 PM	Southern University at New Orleans*	New Orleans, La.
26	7:00 PM	Dillard University*	New Orleans, La.
31	8:00 PM	Tougaloo College*	Tougaloo, Miss.
November
2	7:00 PM	Xavier University*	Mims Gymnasium	Senior Night

Home games are in BOLD     *indicates GCAC games

Dr. Collea McKinney, Ed.D., Sports Information Director 

COURTESY PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION 

Glover introduced as new sports information director at Wiley

ANDREW GLOVER
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
WILEY COLLEGE

MARSHALL, Texas – Wiley College and the Wiley Department of Athletics have introduced Andrew Glover as the new sports information director.

Glover, a native of Littleton, Colorado, comes to Wiley from Stillwater, Okla., where he was a sports reporter for the Stillwater News Press from 2012-2015. He helped with the newspaper's coverage of Oklahoma State University, which included covering the baseball team's run to Super Regionals in 2014. Glover covered the OSU women's basketball team this past season.

"I'm looking forward to becoming a part of Wildcat Nation," Glover said. "I've always had a passion for college sports. I'm excited about using that passion to increase the fan base at Wiley College."

Before working in Stillwater, Glover served as the sports reporter for The Pampa News in Pampa, Texas, from 2009-2012. He covered Pampa High School, other area high schools and local athletics. In 2011, Glover won third place in sports writing at the Panhandle Press Association Awards.

Glover graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism in May 2009. He will start officially as sports information director August 1.

The RRAC is an affiliated conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics with 12 member colleges and universities in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana. Established in 1999, the RRAC sponsors 15 championships annually in eight women's sports and seven men's sports. Due to its commitment to character and sportsmanship, the RRAC has been recognized as a Five-Star Conference under the NAIA Champions of Character program. 

COURTESY RED RIVER ATHLETICS CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS