Shaw's Asberry makes his mark‎

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Darrell Asberry can't erase this loss from his mind. The fourth-year Shaw football coach holds on to defeats and uses them as a source of energy. This particular loss, to Elizabeth City State, came during his first season with the Bears, in 2006. And it wasn't so much that his team lost, but that they were crushed 36-0 near the end of an ego-bruising 3-7 campaign. Vikings coach Waverly Tillar called for a two-point conversion after a fourth-quarter touchdown with five minutes to play. The run attempt failed, though it came as a stark reminder of how weak opponents considered the Bears.

"He called time out and went for two," Asberry said last month through coarse laughter. It's only funny now because that was the last game the Bears lost to Elizabeth City State. Two years later, Asberry's team won its second consecutive CIAA championship, defeating the Vikings 36-7 in the title game. Last season, the Bears were a botched snap away from returning to the conference championship game - led by their offensive-minded coach, who despite limited resources has spearheaded a successful program. "He made it known, you got me down now, but I'm not going to stay down," Tillar said.

A former quarterback at Jackson State, Asberry helped head coach Rod Broadway - now at Grambling State - orchestrate two CIAA championships at N.C. Central in 2005 and 2006, serving as an assistant head coach before accepting his first head coaching job at Shaw.

In a short time, Asberry, 38, has won 28 games, captured two conference titles, led the Bears to the NCAA Division II playoffs and distinguished himself as one of the nation's top Division II coaches. "To do what he's done at Shaw definitely puts him in the arena with successful [historically black college and university] coaches in the country," said LeCounte Conaway, an analyst with Heritage Sports Radio Network. "He's winning. ... He's proven that his teams are going to be very competitive, well-prepared and also they're going to have talent."



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