Stillman College Tennis Coach Will Riley and Southern University Alumnus Avery Johnson (Cover Story) Featured in Tuscaloosa Magazine

COACH WILL RILEY
STILLMAN COLLEGE TENNIS
COURTESY: STILLMAN COLLEGE ATHLETICS

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama --  It took five cans of Pepsi, yards of pacing and a championship victory for Will Riley to overcome his nerves.

The Stillman College tennis coach always drinks Pepsi when he's nervous. That spring day in 2013, Riley's teams were competing for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. He had all kinds of butterflies in his stomach as he paced from court to court.

His men's tennis team had claimed a quick 5-0 victory over Morehouse College. His women's team was taking longer, prolonging the players' nerves as well as his own. Finally, with a last effort, the Stillman women took the victory, 5-3, over Benedict College. For years, Riley's teams had been competing at the SIAC, but this was the first time they left as winners.

The rest can be read here.

CONTINUE READING (Pages 89-90 Tuscaloosa Magazine)

AVERY JOHNSON STORY ON PAGES 1, 45-51 (Link)

COURTESY STILLMAN COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION