FAMU is currently conducting background checks and Mr. Townsend and FAMU President Dr. James Ammons are expected to make the public announcement on the selection as soon as a contract is finalized. The announcement is expected next week.
These are exciting times for FAMU and the MEAC. Each of the coaches brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our conference. With the new teaching gym, expect FAMU to become a mid-major power in basketball---soon. (beepbeep)
Coach Eugene Harris (photo on right)ATLANTA (April 23, 2007) – Georgia State head men’s basketball coach Rod Barnes has announced Eugene Harris as his second hire for his new coaching staff.
Harris, a veteran of 23 years in college athletics in the southeast, brings more recruiting contacts and experience with his basketball knowledge.
“Eugene Harris is known as one of the best recruiters in the southeast,” Barnes noted. “We are excited to be able to add him to our staff at Georgia State because he is well thought of and respected. No doubt, he will be an asset in helping us take this program to a higher level.”
Harris began his college coaching with Cliff Ellis at South Alabama in 1983 and moved on to 10 years at Clemson University, 11 years at Auburn and one year at Alabama. He has also been a high school coach at Rickard High in Tallahassee, Fla., Pelham High in Pelham, Ga. and Smiths Station High in Smiths, Ala.
As a college player, Harris was a three-year starter for the Seminoles of Florida State under Coach Hugh Durham. The guard was a co-captain of the Florida State team that won the Metro Conference in 1978 and was the team’s most valuable defensive player winner for three seasons.
“It is obvious that Coach Harris has improved the programs every where he has been a coach,” Barnes added. “He brings invaluable experience and maturity to our program. I know he has recruited not only good college players, but players who have gone on to play extensively in the NBA.”
Harris is a graduate of Scottsboro, [Ala.] High School and of Florida State University in 1979.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to coach with Rod Barnes,” Harris said. “Coach Barnes has an outstanding reputation on and off the court. I look forward to helping improve this program.”
Harris and his wife, Phyllis, have three daughters.
Coach Paul Graham
(from Web files - Colorado basketball)
Paul Graham coached for fourth season with Colorado and brings over 19 years of coaching expertise. “Paul is a great addition to our staff and brings vast experience having served with future Hall of Fame coach Eddie Sutton,” Patton added. “Paul adds a great deal of experience and knowledge, and we expect him to continue to add to the success this team will have.”
Graham, 55, came to Boulder from Washington State, where he was the head coach from 1999-2003. He assists the Buffaloes with on the floor coaching, the development of the student-athletes, recruiting and scheduling. With over 18 years coaching experience, Graham was an assistant at Southern Methodist University, the University of New Mexico, and Oklahoma State, with 12 of his teams advancing to the NCAA Tournament. In 1995, Graham was part of a coaching staff at OSU from 1992-1999 that went 150-72 with five NCAA Tournament appearances including the 1995 Final Four when the Cowboys lost to eventual national champion UCLA. Five of those NCAA teams produced 20-win seasons.
At New Mexico from 1990-92, Graham was an assistant coach and helped the Lobos to a 40-23 record and a NCAA Tournament appearance in 1991. While an assistant at SMU, Graham helped the Mustangs to three NCAA Tournament berths (1985, 1986, 1988) and 129-58 mark. In addition to his coaching experience, Graham was the head boys’ coach at Justin F. Kimball High School in Dallas from 1974-82 with an impressive 111-40 record. Graham graduated from North Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and history minor in 1974 and earned his master’s degree in Education Administration from Prairie
View University in 1979. While at North Texas, he qualified for the NCAA Track and Field Championships in the high hurdles.
Born March 11, 1951, in Kansas City, Kan., Graham graduated from Sumner High School and was a member of a state championship basketball team as well as being an all-city basketball selection and a state track champion in the high hurdles and 60-yard dash. Graham and his wife, Vanessa, have two children, Nicholas (25) and Brittany (19).
The Graham File
Full Name: Paul Graham
Family: Wife Vanessa, son Nicholas,
daughter Brittany
Birth-date: March 11, 1951
Hometown: Kansas City, Kan.
High School: Sumner High
College: North Texas State ‘74
Graduate School: Prairie View ‘79
Coaching Career
2003-Present
Assistant Coach, University of Colorado
1999-2003
Head Coach, Washington State
1992-99
Assistant Coach, Oklahoma State
1990-92
Assistant Coach, New Mexico
1989-90
Head Cross Country Coach, Samuell
High School (Dallas, Texas)
1988-1989
Assistant Athletic Director, Southern
Methodist University
1982-88
Assistant Coach, Southern Methodist
University
1974-82
Head Coach, Kimball High School
(Dallas, Texas)
If Walls Could Speak...
Here is what is coming out of Houston regarding Paul Graham who received the endorsement of the Houston Chronicle sports writer Ronnie Turner on August 19, 2007, for the vacant head coaching position for basketball at Texas Southern University.
"Speaking of Texas Southern athletic director Alois Blackwell, he really needs to speed up his search for a men's basketball coach. Classes start Aug. 27, and there's no one in place to help prepare the Tigers for the upcoming season.
Some alumni have pushed for the hiring of former Rocket and Basketball Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy, but I'm not so sure this would be a wise thing. After all, Murphy doesn't have any real coaching experience, and probably isn't too familiar with NCAA rules.
Considering the turmoil the TSU athletic department is currently mired in, the school can't afford to screw up this coaching hire. TSU needs someone who is very familiar with NCAA rules, who has several years of experience at the collegiate level and who has the top-notch credentials that recruits look for when deciding on which coach to sign with. TSU needs someone like former Colorado assistant coach Paul Graham.
I can't vouch for the other candidates (many whom I don't know), but Graham, who spent the last four seasons on Ricardo Patton's staff at Colorado, would be my pick for the job. Graham, who put in his application last week, probably has the best resume of the entire group.
Graham, 56, has 22 years of experience at the collegiate level, including a four-year stint as head coach at Washington State (1999-2003). He was apart of three NCAA Tournament teams (1985, 1986, 1988) as an assistant at SMU from 1982-88, and five NCAA Tournament teams as an assistant under legendary coach Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State from 1992-99. He also helped lead the Cowboys to an appearance in the 1995 Final Four.
I spent nearly an hour talking with Graham on Saturday night, and he's excited to have a chance at another head coaching gig. His four years at Washington State produced a lowly 31-79 mark, but he's confident that, given some time, he could turn around the TSU program.
Graham's former boss, Patton, left Colorado at the end of last season and was hired by Northern Illinois, but Graham declined to join him. Now out of work, Graham is simply praying for another opening into the college coaching business.
After our conversation, I'm convinced Graham has a great vision for the TSU program, which I'll share with you at some point in the near future. However, it's been a long day, so I think I'll bring this entry to a close and call it a night.
Anyways, Graham is my pick, but that's just me. Who would you rather have: a highly-experienced coach such as Graham or a basketball celebrity with few, if any, coaching credentials such as Murphy?
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9/14/2007 - The Houston Chronicle reported that the leading candidate at Texas Southern is Kevin Granger. He is the school's leading career scorer and led the nation in scoring in 1996.
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