Timothy Walsh Named Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Coppin State University

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Coppin State University's Director of Athletics Derek Carter announced Timothy Walsh as the 12th women's volleyball head coach in school history.

Walsh comes to Coppin State after spending the last two seasons at Marywood University as their women's volleyball head coach. He guided the Pacers to a 25-36 combined record and a 15-7 conference record in two years, including the program's 400th all-time victory in 2015. His 2015 team was one of 141 Division III schools to be named an American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award recipient. Walsh and his Pacers reached the CSAC playoffs for two consecutive seasons. The 2016 squad collected 17 wins, the most for Marywood's program since the 2013 season.

Prior to Marywood, Walsh served as the head coach at Francis Scott Key High School in Union Bridge, MD for six seasons. He led the Eagles to the 2A Maryland State Championship in 2009. Walsh led Key to a 66-18 overall record and a .727 winning percentage. The Carroll County Times named him Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2013. He coached two county players of the year in 2009 and 2014. Eight of his players went on to play collegiately and his 2012 team reached the Class 2A West Regional Finals.

Additionally, Walsh was a court director and coach at the Volleyball Factory, Inc. in Columbia, MD. He worked, traveled and trained with former All-Americans and USA National Team Members Cheryl Weaver and Kristee Porter to help student-athletes excel in volleyball. He also was a head volleyball club coach at Carroll Viper Volleyball Club and Maryland Elite Volleyball Academy. Walsh has also helped out the 2014 and 2015 Big South champions and 2016 Sunbelt champions, Coastal Carolina's head volleyball coach Jozsef Forman with his summer volleyball camps.

Walsh taught special education and American sign language at Key from 2007-14.

Walsh is a member of the AVCA. He was a two year captain and starter in the Empire State Games, Hudson Valley Region Men's Volleyball Team and played in various clubs and leagues during and after his stent at Towson University. He was a four-year Division I, cross country and track and field letter winner and captain for the Tigers.

Walsh received his Bachelor of Science in Deaf Studies with Cum
Laude distinction from Towson in 2004. He earned his Master of Science Degree in Deaf Education (2006) and his Education Administrator I Certificate (2012) from McDaniel College. He currently resides in Scranton, PA with his wife Shannon and baby daughter, Ayla Jeanne.

COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

National Champion Grambling State Installing New Turf In Historic Robinson Memorial Stadium

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Hellas Construction is installing new turf for Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium at Grambling State University. Excitement is growing about the new possibilities that artificial turf brings.

Paul "Tiger" Bryant was hired in January as director of athletics and one top priority was stadium renovations. Out of five turf companies that submitted proposals, Hellas was the only one to ask for a geotechnical report to look below the surface. They selected Hellas.

Hellas will be installing Matrix® Turf, organic Geo Plus® Infill, and Cushdrain® Pad. Hellas' Cushdrain Pad allows for proper drainage, absorbs stress and diffuses points of impact, adding safety for athletes with increased shock absorption, reducing concussions. The 100% organic Geo Plus® Infill is recyclable, made from select cork and coconut fibers, which resists compaction, increases traction, and will reduce field temperatures up to 40 degrees, compared to rubber infill.



"The game day experience will be something we've never had at Grambling. This is going to transform the way we are looked at and opens doors for opportunities to host more than just football games," said Bryant.

Head Coach Broderick Fobbs said, "We are champions and champions deserve to play on a field as such." They went 11-1 last year, winning the SWAC Championship and HBCU National Championship at the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.

Rick Gallot, university president said, "As exciting as this is for our alumni and fans, it's really exciting for our football players and band members. Our World Famed Tiger Marching Band members are truly thrilled that they get to perform on a top tier turf."

The first home game is September 9 and an extra home game was added October 28, for the annual homecoming game.

About Hellas Construction, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX. One of the largest sports construction contractors in the U.S., specializing in general construction of sports facilities with innovative artificial turf manufacturing and installation, base construction, field, track, and tennis planning, installation, and maintenance. Visit hellasconstruction.com.

About Grambling State University Grambling State University, located in Grambling Louisiana, is a historically black university founded in 1901. The University is accredited by 13 accrediting associations and holds accreditations in all programs required by Louisiana Board of Regents. The 590-acre campus offers 43 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Grambling State University is a member of the University of Louisiana System.

Upstart Texas Southern prevails 4-2 over Alabama State in 13-inning marathon for SWAC title

NEW ORLEANS -- On paper, Texas Southern wasn't supposed to be quite good enough to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball championship.

The Tigers, after all, entered Sunday's title game with just 19 victories and their roster had just one player to make the all-conference team.

And that player only made the second team.

But there Texas Southern was near the pitcher's mound at Wesley Barrow Stadium Sunday, hoisting the SWAC championship trophy for a second time in three years after a 13-inning, 4-2 victory over Alabama State.

"It was a total team effort," TSU coach Michael Robertson said. "Yes, we had one guy to make all-conference, but that's TSU. That's what we're all about. We don't put the focal point on one guy. We try to do everything as a team. We stick to our system, and I think that explains it best."

Gerrick Jimenez, in his first at-bat, drove in what proved to be the game-winner in the top of the 13th with his RBI single.

CONTINUE READING

Gold Rush repeat as NAIA national runner-up

Results

MOBILE, Alabama — Streaks ended and continued Saturday when second-seeded Xavier University of Louisiana fell 5-0 to top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett in the final of the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship.

It was a rematch of the 2016 final, which the Grizzlies won 5-2, and it was the fourth consecutive national title for Georgia Gwinnett (23-0). But this time XULA (14-6) didn't win a match; the Gold Rush lost 8-4 on all three doubles courts after winning 2-of-3 in doubles a year ago.

"We got off to a really slow start in doubles, and that took a lot out of us," XULA coach Alan Green said.

"We fought hard to come back in singles, and for 20 or 30 minutes it looked like we shifted the momentum.

But Georgia Gwinnett did what it had to do to clinch."

It was the first time since the 2014 quarterfinals that the Rush failed to win a doubles match at nationals. All three matches ended within three minutes of each other, and it was the first losses of the tournament for the teams of Antoine Richard-Moses Micheal and Karan Salwan-Tushar Mandlekar.

About 90 minutes later, the Grizzlies clinched and capped a second straight unbeaten season. Rafael Coutinho defeated Adam Albrecht 6-0, 6-4 on the sixth singles court, then Federico Duran beat Mandlekar 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5. Mandlekar, XULA's all-time winningest player at nationals, lost for the first time in nine singles decisions at the tournament.

XULA's brightest moments were in singles, where Micheal led Jordan Cox — the ITA's second-ranked NAIA player — 7-6 (7-4), 0-1 when the dual was clinched, and Catalin Fifea led Connor Clements 6-3, 4-2. When XULA lost 5-0 Feb. 19 at Georgia Gwinnett, Micheal lost 6-0, 6-0 to Cox. Micheal is the second NAIA player to win a set against Cox in dual matches this season.

"Moses has gotten better with every match," Green said. "Cat (Fifea) has been rock-solid and a leader for us all season."

The Gold Rush are 0-6 all-time against Georgia Gwinnett and have yet to win a singles match. The Grizzlies extended their overall win streak to 55 dual matches — they were 26-0 in 2016 — and they're 34-0 the last three seasons against NAIA opponents and 16-0 all-time at nationals.

Can any school catch the Grizzlies? "We've got to keep trying," Green said. "We're not going to put our heads down after this and shut it down and quit. We're going to come back next year and keep trying."

NOTES: It was the final college competition for XULA seniors Albrecht, Mandlekar and Salwan . . . Albrecht and Mandlekar reached the national quarterfinals or better each of their four seasons . . . Salwan's final two singles matches were unfinished, and he finished the semester 11-1 with five unfinished matches, four of which he led . . . XULA's .700 winning percentage this season is the second highest of Green's 14 seasons as coach. The Gold Rush finished 17-7 (.708) in 2009.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Bethune-Cookman overpowers Norfolk State for MEAC baseball title

SALISBURY, Maryland -- Bethune-Cookman scored nine runs in the first three innings Saturday on the way to an 11-1 victory over Norfolk State in the championship round of the MEAC baseball tournament at Perdue Stadium.

The game was stopped after seven innings by the 10-run rule. The Spartans (26-22), the Northern Division champion, needed to win twice to claim their first conference title.

Norfolk State pitcher Brian Beard (Great Bridge) led off the game with a double, advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on Alex Mauricio's sacrifice fly.

After that, it was all Wildcats. Bethune-Cookman (33-23), the Southern Division winner, answered with three runs in the bottom of the first, then scored four in the second and two in the third.

The Spartans, who had just four hits, didn't get a runner to second base after the first inning. Beard (0-4) took the loss, allowing 12 hits and nine runs in four innings. Forced to play twice on Friday and come through the losers' bracket, Norfolk State's pitching staff was taxed.

CONTINUE READING

WSSU hopes to renew rivalry with N.C. Central in 2020

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State is close to an agreement to play the defending MEAC champion N.C. Central Eagles in football in 2020.

The rivalry is one of the best in the state, and it’s something Tonia Walker, the athletics director at WSSU, says would bring a lot of exposure.

“As of now we don’t have a contract from N.C. Central, but it’s a verbal agreement,” Walker said. “We think it’s a good rivalry game, and it’s a rivalry game that’s been missed in the last several years.

“Right now, we are waiting on a contract from them.”

The game would be played at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on the campus of N.C. Central, Walker said.

Walker said she often hears from alumni and fans asking when Division II WSSU would renew its rivalries with N.C. Central and N.C. A&T.

CONTINUE READING

Coppin State Athletics Tabs Nichole Person Interim Assistant Athletic Director/SWA

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Coppin State University's Director of Athletics, Derek Carter announced that Nichole Person will serve as the Interim Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator for the athletics department.

Person, who has been with Coppin State since 2012, is also an Adjunct Professor in the College of Business instructing sport management and internship courses for students. In addition, Person worked with the National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend, T.D. Jakes 3-day Mega Fest and the New York Urban League Football Classic managing show flow, staffing and logistics. She also has experience with the Senior Professional Golfers Association (PGA) serving as an event Tournament Coordinator.

Person began her career in intercollegiate athletics as a student ath
letic trainer. She was a graduate intern for the 1996 Summer Olympic Paralympic Games. Person is a 1994 graduate of Morgan State. She obtained her master's degree from Georgia State in 1997.

COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION