It's Official! Clemon Johnson Resigns to Coach Division I FAMU

After four seasons at the helm of the University of Alaska Fairbanks men's basketball team, head coach Clemon Johnson is stepping down to take a Division I head coaching job at his alma mater, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).

Johnson finishes with a 28-74 overall record with the Nanooks (NCAA Division II).

Alaska fell just short of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference playoffs this season after finishing 8-17 (5-13 GNAC). He also recruited and coached the 2010-11 Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, Parrish West.

"The best part of my job is watching student-athletes go on to distinguished careers and seeing staff members pursue their dreams and move on to exciting professional opportunities,” Alaska Director of Athletics Forrest Karr said. “I couldn't be happier for Clem and his family."

Johnson played for FAMU from 1974-1978, during which time he set rebounding records for a single game (25), a season (412) and a career (1,494). Those records still stand, and he still ranks in the top-twenty in scoring with 1,381 points.

“The opportunity to return home is another blessed moment in my life,” Johnson said. “The departure from UAF is a bittersweet moment. I felt the incoming class and the returning players would recreate the stir heard during earlier years in the GNAC.

“But coming home to Florida A&M University allows me to continue my growth in my desired profession on another level. The past four years has been a great learning experience for my coaching and life development. The athletic staff, my coaching staff and administrators have provided guidance, patience, encouragement and knowledge.”



FAMU Head Basketball Coach Clem Johnson
(Photos courtesy of University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics)

After graduating from FAMU with a degree in economics, Johnson was drafted to the NBA by the Portland Trailblazers in the second round of the 1978 draft. He played 761 professional games with four different teams, including the Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Seattle Supersonics.

Johnson retired from the NBA in 1988 and went on to play five years of professional basketball in Italy.

He then began coaching at the high school level in Florida before taking on a coaching internship with the Atlanta Hawks in 2006 and eventually making his way to Fairbanks the next year.

Last season, FAMU finished 12-20 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). They made the MEAC tournament, but lost 87-85 to Maryland Eastern Shore in the first round.

Alaska's head coaching position is posted on UAKjobs.com, NCAA.org and on various college coaching websites. The position will remain posted through Tuesday, May 17. A final decision will be announced by the end of May.

“It is with this presentation of support that I move forward confident of the job I retired for 18 years ago,” Johnson said. “I will always be grateful to Fairbanks and UAF.”

Courtesy University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

Author: Nick Steyn

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FAMU to interview Virginia Commonwealth assistant coach

VCU Assistant Coach Mike Jones (Howard U.,1990)

Tallahassee, FL - Mike Jones, who is currently an assistant at Virginia Commonwealth University, is expected to interview today for the Florida A&M men's basketball job, multiple sources have told the Tallahassee Democrat.

 Jones, a former assistant coach at the University of Georgia, met with FAMU athletic director Derek Horne during the week of the NCAA Final Four, a source in Richmond, Va., said Thursday night.

It wasn't clear if Horne and Jones came to terms and that he would be signing to become the next head coach of the Rattlers. Horne wasn't available for comment Thursday night. Should Jones sign, he would become the second major FAMU athletic hire with a history in the SEC.

FAMU's Taylor satisfied with spring practice

After giving the Florida A&M football team its first look at what to expect from its opening day opponent, coach Joe Taylor expressed satisfaction Thursday afternoon with the Rattlers' progress at the end of spring practice. FAMU culminated the spring with one last scrimmage, simulating Fort Valley State's offense and defense.

 FAMU opens the season at Bragg Stadium on Sept. 3.

"It's 143 days before that game kicks off, but when you come back in August, there is a lot going on so this is all about preparation and giving them some reps," Taylor said. "Those guys who we feel we would be playing really got a chance to play as a team.

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VIDEOGRAPHER: FAMURecreationCenter;
On April 6th, 2011 the Florida A&M Recreation Center officially opened Phase II & Phase III of the buildings completed projects. The FAMU Recreation Center is also know as the Hansel E. Tookes Student Recreational Center "The Tooke"!


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FAMU looks to fill coaching vacancy

Tallahassee, FL - The wait might not be too long before the Florida A&M men's basketball team finds out who its next coach will be. Athletic director Derek Horne said Friday that the university will move expeditiously in an effort to have a replacement for Eugene Harris in place by mid-April. Harris was fired Thursday, but remains on FAMU's payroll until June 10.

Harris was terminated after four seasons after leading the Rattlers to as 46-80 record. His five-year contract expires in April 2012 (not Sept. 2012 as previously reported), but Horne hedged on saying specifically how FAMU will settle the remaining 10 months that Harris was contracted through.

Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium-- Home of the FAMU Rattlers Basketball and MEAC Championship Volleyball Teams. 

(The on-campus facility is 135,000 s.f. and has seating for 9,639 fans. Completed on April 4, 2009 at cost of $40 million).

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FAMU women's hoops team eager to earn first banner

Rattlers already out on floor preparing for 2010-11 season

As a handful of players from the Florida A&M women's basketball team went through their unsupervised offseason drills inside the Lawson Center, the bare rafters overhead were very obvious. There isn't a single banner hanging yet in the gym that was opened last fall. The FAMU women's basketball team wants to be the first to get one. The process begins when the season does in November.



But the players seemingly are willing to put in the necessary time on the floor and go through early morning workouts in an effort to reach their goal. "It starts right now," said junior forward Antonia Bennett. "I think we really have the talent this year to win. As long as we have the right attitude and the work ethic we can pull it off. We just have to put all the pieces together." Of course, coach LeDawn Gibson will be the one deciding how that is done. But for now the players are making do on their own as they prepare to play at Gibson's up-tempo pace.

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Florida A&M 61, Alabama 52

FAMU scores big comeback win, 61-52

Alabama was on a run that produced a five-point lead over FAMU with eight minutes left in the game, when Qiana Donald summoned the rest of the Rattlers into a huddle. "Once they started taking the lead, I had to call everybody together and let them know this is our game," Donald said. "We couldn't let them walk out with the win." The Crimson Tide didn't, as the Rattlers regained the lead with 6:01 left and completed a stunning comeback for a 61-52 victory Tuesday night at the Lawson Center. It was FAMU's second third victory over a major women's basketball program and its second over a SEC team. This one seemingly was headed the way of a blowout loss to Kentucky just four days ago as the Rattlers (6-3) spotted Alabama (6-5) a 13-point lead early in the first half. During the Alabama run, not even routine plays worked for the Rattlers.

Photo Gallery: FAMU vs Alabama Basketball

Women's Basketball Drops 61-52 Decision at Florida A&M

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The women's basketball team fell 61-52 to Florida A&M on Monday at the Al Lawson Center. With the loss, the Crimson Tide drops to 6-5 overall, while the Lady Rattlers up their season standing to 6-3. "You can't go on the road and shoot the way we did tonight," said head coach Wendell Hudson. "We have to step up and make those shots. We did all the things we were supposed to do from a defensive standpoint and all that added up, you would have thought we won the game. Like I've said before though it's hard to win basketball games on the road, and even harder if we can't make shots."

Final Stats

NEXT GAME: Dec. 30, FAMU at Alabama State, 8 p.m.

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No. 23 Georgia Tech Routs Florida A&M

ATLANTA, Ga. - Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph was a little concerned about how her team would respond after a 10-day holiday layoff. She shouldn't have been. Jacqua Williams led four double-figure scorers with 16 points as No. 23 Georgia Tech routed Florida A&M 77-42 for its seventh consecutive victory on Tuesday night. FAMU (4-6) missed 21 of its first 24 shots while falling behind 24-7 and trailed 40-17 at halftime. The Rattlers were down by as many as 42 points in the second half.

"I was pretty pleased defensively the way we came out," said Joseph, who said she "didn't expect the fast start against the Lady Rattlers." Instead the Yellow Jackets (11-2) dominated defensively and shot 51.7 percent from the field, going 30-for-58. Williams, a senior guard, led the way, making 7 of 9 shots, including two 3-pointers, to go with five assists and four steals.

"She filled up the stat sheet," Joseph said, "and she does so many intangible things out there as well. … I was impressed with her leadership." The Yellow Jackets also got 13 points from Brigitte Ardossi, 12 from Alex Montgomery and 10 from Deja Foster. Stephanie Foster scored 18 points for FAMU. The Rattlers shot just 20.6 percent from the floor (7 of 34) in the first half and 24.6 percent (16 of 65) for the game.

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FAMU hunts for playoff spot

TALLAHASSEE, FL — This is Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor's first experience with the Florida Classic, the rivalry game between the Rattlers and Bethune-Cookman University. He's heard about the atmosphere and the revelry. "The Classic is the fanfare," he said. "It's for people to come and party. But that's not why we're there."

The Rattlers (8-3, 4-3 MEAC) are there to earn at least a share of second place in the conference and line themselves up for a possible Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth, which they can do with a win over the Wildcats (8-2, 5-2 MEAC). Few thought FAMU would get to this point so quickly. The Rattlers lost six of their last seven in 2007 to finish 3-8. That led to the dismissal of coach Rubin Carter and the hiring of Taylor, who spent 16 years coaching Hampton University.

The Rattlers lead the MEAC in scoring offense and are third in passing offense and total offense. They've won five of their last six games, and linebacker Vernon Wilder said it's a different feeling around the program. "It's exciting," Wilder said. "The Classic is already exciting, but all this stuff on the table makes it even more exciting. "Winning cures a lot of stuff. A lot of things go smoother," Wilder said. "We're having fun."

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Harris inherits FAMU, little time to prep for season

By Andy Glockner

You'll have to believe Eugene Harris when he says taking over at Florida A&M is the right opportunity for him.

The former Florida State standout is friendly with some former Rattlers, so he understands the nature of life in the MEAC. He is passionate enough about coaching to have spent almost two decades as an assistant before getting his own program but had enough perspective to walk away for several years to spend more time with his ailing parents before they died. He's OK with taking over a team that made the NCAA Tournament last season but now needs to rebuild -- and heal in the wake of former coach Mike Gillespie's dismissal after he was arrested for stalking a former girlfriend.

Right now, we're already two months behind everyone else.
--Eugene Harris

Now, if only Harris could officially bring his assistant coaches on board, or have time to work with his players, or at least have them cleared for supervised workouts. Such is life for a coach hired on Sept. 20.

"It's been kind of tough because I haven't hired some staff yet because you have to advertise the positions," Harris said, whose staff has yet to be hired because of the public university's job-posting requirements. "I've not been able to do a lot of breakdown drills with the guys, and some guys haven't been able to take their physicals because some things at this school run a little bit slower.

"With basketball players, you know they're going to find pickup games. What we missed on here is breakdown drills, fundamental drills, technique stuff. … Right now, we're already two months behind everyone else."

Instead, Harris has spent his time on the recruiting trail. His Rattlers only have 11 scholarship players this season, so he needs to land a good-sized class for next season. A long-time talent evaluator in the Southeast who helped build championship programs at Clemson and Auburn, Harris is in his element delivering a sales pitch. His biggest issue is that he can't clone himself.

"I don't have a problem, because I'm pretty good in the homes and I am the head coach, but you can't cover a lot of ground," Harris said. "You're only getting maybe one or two [visits] a day when a lot of coaches are doing maybe four a day, so that puts you behind in recruiting."

Photo: FAMU Men's Basketball Coach Eugene Harris

That's all for next year, though. Harris still needs to ready himself for this season and the trials and tribulations of a first season at a new program. UTEP's Tony Barbee knows what that's like. He actually had to rerecruit his entire roster when he first landed the job in August 2006 and understands the numerous issues Harris, who wants to install a similar up-tempo system at FAMU, will face.

"Probably the biggest challenge [after salvaging his roster] was instituting the philosophy of the program," Barbee said. "Not just style of play, but the philosophy in how we're going to do things from a discipline standpoint, class attendance being mandatory, everything from A to Z. You become comfortable in your routine as an assistant and you've been around it for awhile, you know things are going to work. Now you're the head coach. … Now all of a sudden you have to institute a whole philosophy on a program, and you had no grace period."

It's only been a couple of weeks, but Harris said that he hasn't had to deal with any possible defections or discipline issues … yet.

Mike Gillespie Sr. led Florida A&M to two NCAA Tournament appearances during his six-season tenure but was fired in the offseason after being charged with stalking his former girlfriend.

"We might run into it when we get to the court," he said. "Guys want to do things their way and my style is going to be my way. I'm a man-to-man guy. They played a lot of zone defense [under Gillespie]. I like to get after people. I'm also big on being on time and stuff like that."

If you can judge by the initial response from a team captain, though, it sounds like the Rattlers are ready to buy in.

Photo: Larmar Twitty, 6-4/200, Guard, Junior, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Boyd Anderson HS

"Coach Harris coming in, I know we have to learn his system. We'll adjust, but the résumé speaks for itself," said senior forward Akini Adkins. "He's coached in the SEC and the ACC, and I think we should be ready to head in a new direction.

"The first thing he said to the team was that we're going to be in shape. It wasn't an option. We're going to run, play up-tempo and play man-to-man defense. He doesn't believe in zone defense, so it's going to be a big adjustment. Most of the guys are excited about it because they like to play man-to-man. We're going to work on it, get better at it and everything's possible."

A return trip to the NCAA Tournament -- last season's run ended unceremoniously in an opening-round game loss to Niagara -- might not be possible this season; the Rattlers return only one starter from that team. There's also the issue of getting over Gillespie's legal troubles (he pleaded no contest to the stalking charge and was sentenced to probation) and subsequent firing, a development Adkins said he first heard about when it ran on ESPN.

Despite his predecessor's awkward end, Harris is not downplaying what Gillespie accomplished at the school and said the incident hasn't hindered the new coach's efforts on the road.

"The man did a good job here, and I'm going to build on that," Harris said. "He went to the NCAA Tournament and he graduated players. Those are two of the most important things you can do in a program. Now, what happened to him is unfortunate, but I'm not going to have to fight that in recruiting. The man just made a mistake."

Harris points to a forthcoming new arena and the ongoing efforts of the university's president as evidence he made the right decision in taking this job. He said he sees a future built around the plentiful talent in the Southeast and other urban centers where A&M has alumni presence.

"Florida A&M has a name where I think we can go get a player," Harris said. "You're not always going to get the All-American … but I'm going to at least talk to them and they're going to have to turn me down."

Given all that he has experienced just to get to this point, a little rejection is nothing to fear.

Eugene Harris takes over FAMU men basketball program

Photo: FAMU Men's Basketball Coach Eugene Harris

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Former Florida State player Eugene Harris was hired as the men's basketball coach at Florida A&M, today. University president James Ammons said Harris' contract would be a four-year deal, though the details were still being finalized.

The Tallahassee Democrat has reported this afternoon that Harris contract was approved this morning by teleconference by the FAMU Board of Trustees for a period of four years at a salary of $155,000 per year.

Harris succeeds Mike Gillespie, who is now serving a year's probation after a no contest plea to stalking a former girlfriend. Gillespie coached six seasons for the Rattlers and took the school to the NCAA tournament on two occasions. FAMU went 21-13 last season and made the NCAA tournament, losing to Niagara in the opening round game.

"My goal and my job is to take it to the next level," Harris said. "To win games in the NCAA tournament and go on to the Sweet 16."

Although he has spent most of his coaching career as an assistant in collegiate circles, Harris also coached high school basketball in Tallahassee and Alabama.

Harris played for coach Hugh Durham at Florida State and scored 956 career points. He was a three-year starter and co-captain of a team that won the Metro Conference in 1978.

"Once a Seminole now a Rattler," athletic director Nelson Townsend said as he introduced Harris. "These are no ordinary times and we didn't go looking for any ordinary coach."

Harris, a 1973 Scottsboro High graduate, has had college coaching stops at South Alabama, Clemson, Auburn and Alabama and was formally recently hired for the new staff for coach Rob Barnes at Georgia State. Coach Harris spent last basketball season as the head coach at Smiths Station High School near Auburn.

"I'm very excited. I think (the FAMU men's basketball players) are excited, too," FAMU Athletic Director Nelson Townsend told the The Tallahassee Democrat.

FAMU selects men head basketball coach

Thursday at 1:00 p.m., Florida A&M University will hold an official press conference to introduce its new men head basketball coach to replace Mike Gillespie. Unfortunately, the selection will come as no surprise to many that frequent the Tallahassee Democrat's FAMU forum or read ESPN.com, who publicly released an announcement on the selection yesterday, based on information from multiple sources.

As expected, the new coach selected is Florida State University graduate and Georgia State University assistant coach, Eugene Harris. Our only hope and wish is that Coach Harris is given the support necessary to build FAMU into a national mid-major power that will be a beast in the MEAC and southeast with frequent NCAA tournament appearances. With a 10,000 seat FAMU Teaching Gym under construction, this is not an impossible task for a coach with a reputation as an excellent recruiter and developer of Division I players.

No doubt the MEAC will become much stronger Thursday with this hire, as the league is showing a serious commitment to basketball. If the upgrade in talent continues to flow to Delaware State, Hampton University, Morgan State, South Carolina State, FAMU, Winston Salem State and other league members, the MEAC will become very exciting to watch. How can you not like the basketball coaching talent of the MEAC? Welcome, Coach Harris....

Bio: 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.

Graham or Harris, FAMU's next men basketball coach

Florida A&M University athletic director Nelson Townsend confirmed last evening that the selection process for the new head basketball coach is nearing completion. The two finalist are Georgia State assistant coach Eugene Harris and former Colorado assistant coach Paul Graham. If your questions are like mine--who the heck are these guys and what do they bring to the table, here are a brief bio on both.

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?
-----------------
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.

FAMU narrows search for men's basketball coach to final five

By Heath A. Smith, Tallahassee Democrat

The search for Florida A&M's next men's basketball coach has been narrowed to a list of five finalists.

University of Michigan assistant coach Jerry Dunn, Mississippi State assistant coach Robert Kirby, Georgia State assistant coach Eugene Harris, Chipola Junior College coach Greg Heiar and former Colorado assistant men's basketball coach Paul Graham are expected to be interviewed for the position in person or by phone this week, according to FAMU Athletic Director Nelson Townsend.

"No one has been contacted yet," Townsend said. "We have some very good candidates."

Townsend said he expects to meet the self-imposed Sept. 15 deadline to name a new coach. FAMU fired Mike Gillespie Sr., the university's coach for the past six years, last month.

"I feel confident that we'll be on time," Townsend said. "We have not set an interview schedule yet."

The seven-member search committee met for three hours Saturday after going through the resumes of more than 50 applicants last week, according to state Sen. Al Lawson, who is on the committee.

Lawson said each committee member chose a list of 10 applicants to be voted on by the committee Saturday.

Each applicant from that pool who received two votes from the committee moved on to the next round of votes until the list was paired down to five finalists.

Lawson said that in addition to picking the five finalists, the committee made a motion that he be a part of the interviewing process along with Townsend and FAMU President James Ammons.