Search committee for Southern University A.D. named

Baton Rouge, LA - Southern University’s 10-person committee to search for an athletic director will be chaired by Doze Butler, Southern Chancellor James Llorens said Tuesday.

Butler is the interim dean of Southern’s College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences. He was recently appointed to the NCAA’s Champions/Sports Management Cabinet, which is a group that oversees drug testing and education, NCAA rules and Olympic sports issues.

Southern is beginning a search for a new athletic director at a time when the department is dealing with funding deficits, student-athlete graduation standards and off-the-field issues.

Former Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur was fired in April after being arrested in Houston on a misdemeanor prostitution count. LaFleur is currently suing the university for wrongful termination. Women’s basketball coach Sandy Pugh is serving as the interim athletic director.

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UAPB Athletics Announces Staff Additions

Pine Bluff, AR - The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Department of Athletics has announced the additions of Nyeshia Aldridge and Christopher McCoy for the 2011-12 athletic season.

Aldridge has been named interim head volleyball coach while McCoy is set to take over the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Cross Country and Track and Field programs serving as head coach for both the men's and women's programs.

Last season Aldridge served as an assistant coach for the Lady Lions volleyball team. Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished the regular season in second place in the SWAC's Western division marking the programs highest finish in school history.

The Texas native played a significant role in the programs overall operations assisting with running practices in addition to providing instruction on the court. Under the direction of Aldridge UAPB's Britta Wilmers was named to the 2010 SWAC All-Conference team while also being named the conference Player of the Week (9/20-9/24).

Prior to being named head coach Cross Country and Track and Field coach at UAPB McCoy spent three years as an assistant coach with the Hampton University women's track & field program. His responsibilities included coaching the sprint athletes, while also implementing the team's strength and conditioning programs.

Before arriving at Hampton, McCoy spent three years (2006-09) as an assistant track & field coach at Bethune-Cookman University, while also serving as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach for the Wildcats. At Bethune-Cookman, he coached sprints, hurdles, jumps, throwing events and multi events, while also designing and implementing the teams' strength and conditioning programs.

He began his coaching career at St. Augustine's as a part-time assistant for three years, before he moved on to Murray State where he served as a graduate assistant and coached jumpers and hurdlers in 2002 and 2003. McCoy returned to St. Augustine's from 2003-04, where he served as assistant track & field coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach.

McCoy graduated from St. Augustine's College in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Human Performance and Wellness. While at St. Augustine's, McCoy primarily ran the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash, and he earned All-CIAA honors six times. He was also named an NCAA Div. II All-American in the 400-meter dash and the 4x400-meter relay.

A native of West Memphis, Ark., McCoy is a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and he is a certified Level I and II coach; he earned the designation in sprints, hurdles and relays in 2005, and in jumps in 2007.

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NCAA Investigating Texas Southern University Athletics

The investigation is on inconsistent Academic Performance Program data provided to NCAA for the years of 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, found by the present university administration and self-reported.

HOUSTON - FOX 26 Sports has learned the NCAA is investigating the athletics programs at Texas Southern University. The school was formally notified of the investigation on Oct. 18, 2010. The investigation is scheduled to be completed next month according to a letter written by NCAA vice-president of enforcement David Price and sent to TSU president John Rudley.


NCAA Investigating TSU Athletics: MyFoxHOUSTON.com
LINKS:
READ NCAA Letter, Page 1
READ NCAA Letter, Page 2

TSU probe nears end

The NCAA’s investigation into possible violations committed by the Texas Southern athletic department is expected to be completed in February, according to a letter the NCAA sent the school Oct. 18.

The letter, which was obtained through an open records request, was written by NCAA vice president of enforcement David Price and addressed to TSU president John Rudley. It indicated that violations mostly involve those found by the institution and the NCAA during an Academic Performance Program data review.

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Turnaround trio leaves mark on PV

 Basketball Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper-Dyke  

Like Robertson, Cooper-Dyke, Frazier departs after reviving dreadful program

Henry Frazier III’s decision to leave Prairie View A&M for North Carolina Central last week closed the book on one of the school’s most successful football coaches.

It also signaled the exit of the last remaining coach in Prairie View’s former “big three.” The three were Frazier, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (women’s basketball) and Michael Robertson (baseball). They stood out as Prairie View’s most significant coaches in recent years because of their roles in turning around programs that were doormats before their arrival.

When Robertson began in 2003 after leaving Forest Brook High, the baseball team had won only 17 games in...

Northern ready for the next step at Prairie View

Heishma Northern was placed on the fast track to become a Division I head coach when Prairie View A&M named him coach-in-waiting Oct. 13.

It turned out to be much faster than the sixth-year defensive coordinator or most others envisioned. Northern was elevated to head coach Monday after Henry Frazier III stepped down to pursue coaching opportunities at programs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. A person familiar with the situation said Frazier, who went 43-30 in seven seasons at Prairie View, will fill the coaching vacancy at North Carolina Central.

Meanwhile, Northern is left with the keys to a program that went 32-9 over the last seasons and won the Southwestern Athletic...

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Fulton Named Arkansas-Pine Bluff Interim Athletic Director

Pine Bluff, AR – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Chancellor Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., has named Willie Fulton, the interim athletic director. Fulton, the Golden Lions associate athletic director for business, replaces Louis "Skip" Perkins who is now the athletic director at Howard University, Washington, D.C.

“He is experienced, knows how to handle the administrative end and works well with the rest of the Athletics staff,” says Davis. “I’m very pleased with Chancellor Davis’ selection of me,” says Fulton. “I want to thank the athletics staff and all those that have supported me. This is a great opportunity.”

New interim AD at UAPB

Longtime athletic department employee Willie Fulton has been named interim athletic director at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Fulton was appointed to the position by Chancellor Lawrence A. Davis Jr. on Thursday and began Friday. He’ll serve as interim athletic director until Davis finds a permanent replacement for Skip Perkins, after which Fulton will be allowed to return to his previous post as associate athletic director for business.

Perkins took over earlier this month as athletic director at Howard, a position he accepted in October before staying at UAPB through the remainder ofthe fall semester.

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Commentary: TSU AD has stamp of a winner

TSU AD McClelland boosts wins, graduations

Texas Southern's success on the football field reflects a larger feel-good story, and that story includes someone who hasn't made a tackle or called a play this season. Charles McClelland is the school's 38-year-old athletic director, hired by TSU president Dr. John Rudley 21/2 years ago to clean up a program smothered in scandal and red ink.

As TSU tries to win its first Southwestern Athletic Conference football championship in 42 years on Saturday, there are plenty of other reasons for optimism.

"Dr. Rudley laid out a vision and a philosophy," McClelland said. "He wants to use our athletic program to help build the reputation of our entire university."

Soccer stadium/TSU football stadium, a done deal for Dynamo and Tigers

Texas Southern University, which will play its football games at the new stadium, is expected to contribute $1.5 million toward construction.

The Dynamo have agreed to pay $76 million to build a professional soccer stadium in downtown Houston and then lease it from the city and county for $65,000 a year.

The board of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, a joint city-county agency that acts as a pro sports stadium landlord, unanimously approved the deal Thursday morning. While the Dynamo will pay most of the cost of construction, the city and county will own the stadium.

Thursday's (Dec. 2, 2010) approval sets the stage for construction to begin as early as next month just across U.S. 59 from the George R. Brown Convention Center.

"It's an absolute win situation for not only Harris County but for the residents of Houston that for no expense to them — basically, no cost - we're getting a stadium," board member Tom Sprague said before the vote.

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Note: TSU currently pays $40,000 per game for use of the University of Houston's Robertson Stadium for home games.  The Tigers also rent Reliant Stadium at a cost $115,000 (2010 rate)  for the Labor Day Classic with Prairie View A&M University. TSU on-campus Delmar stadium seats only 4,500, too small for most SWAC football contests.

The Tigers are expected to sign a 20-year lease as consideration for the $1.5M (prepaid rent) towards stadium construction, and receive in return:  --  a private TSU locker room, 100% income from all TSU merchandise sales, 50% income from concession sales on all  its games and no per game rent for the entire lease period. 

From our view, this is a great deal for a $91 million-state-of-art stadium with luxury boxes in the 10th largest television market in the United States. Texas Southern football should become in short order, one of the premier brands and a hot destination point for the Labor Day Classic within five years. Mr. McClelland and TSU president Dr. John Rudley are clearly on an upward path with an economic engine (Dynamo Stadium) that will generate dollars comparable to other highly successful mid-major Division I FBC programs.

The question is, who's laughing now? Congratulation's TSU....Go Tigers!!
(beepbeep)

Dr. Carolyn Meyers and Dr. M. Christopher Brown II selected as preferred candidates for the presidency of Jackson State University and Alcorn State University

Dr. Meyers was strong advocate for athletics at NSU

Dr. Christopher Brown II

The preferred candidates to lead Alcorn State University and Jackson State University say they are aware of the daunting budget situations they would face as leaders of Mississippi's two largest historically black universities.

The state College Board announced Monday it had selected former Norfolk State University President Carolyn Meyers as JSU's potential new leader and Fisk University Vice President Christopher Brown to take the helm at Alcorn. Each will visit the respective campus next week to meet with alumni, students, faculty and staff before the appointments are finalized.

Reached by phone Monday, Meyers and Brown both said they were "humbled" by the selection.

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BIO for Dr. M. Christopher Brown II (former executive vice president and provost, Fisk University)
BIO for Dr. Carolyn Winstead Meyers (former president, Norfolk State University)

PVAMU Inaugural Athletic Director's Challenge Officially Kicks Off

Prairie View A&M University Athletic Director Fred Washington is proud to announce his first-ever Athletic Director’s Challenge. This open challenge to everyone across the nation and state or who is a part of the Panther Family is an effort to share our story and generate support for the proposed Sports Complex.

To participate in the challenge, log on to www.helppvbuild.org and click on the donate link at the bottom of the complex rendering. The second step of the challenge requires that after submitting a gift you contact five additional prospective supporters and invite them to accept the challenge. Once you and five others contacted by you have made a contribution, e-mail your name along with the names of your five contacts to athletics@pvamu.edu become a Challenge Champion.

Prairie View A&M Sports Complex/Football Stadium Presentation

Solomon: Stadium plans show Prairie View's progress | College ...

A picture of the proposed complex, which will be developed in three phases and include amenities such as a 15,000-seat football stadium and adjoining athletic facility, is above while step-by-step directions on how to participate in the challenge are listed below.

"We’re proud to have a presence and support in Houston and the surrounding communities," said Washington. "This is not a simple task and to accomplish it, we’ll need as much assistance sharing the message and raising financial support as we can get".
Panther Athletics looks for you to become a Champion today.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S CHALLENGE

1. Log on to www.helppvbuild.org.

2. Click on the donate link at the bottom of the complex rendering.

3. In the other amount field under Your Gift, pledge $30

4. Fill out the required fields below (designated with a gold asterisk)

5. Under the Additional Information section, type Athletic Director’s Challenge in the message block and then proceed to submit your gift using the button at the bottom.

6. Contact and encourage 5 prospective donors to participate in the challenge

7. Once they complete the challenge, e-mail your name along with the names of the five donors to athletics@pvamu.edu to become a Challenge Champion.

ASU Board of Trustees Approves Danley for Athletic Director Vacancy

Alabama State University’s Board of Trustees announced the hiring of the Hornets new athletic director at the University during its 2 p.m., July 23 meeting at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

The Board named Stacy L. Danley II as the University’s new athletic director. Danley was the director of athletics at Tuskegee University from 2008-2009. He developed and managed the department’s budgets and provided fiscal overview for the athletic programs. Prior to Tuskegee, Danley was the associate athletic director and the men’s sports coordinator at Auburn University. His accomplishments include creating and serving as publishing editor for AU Connection, a biannual magazine designed to improve and restore relationships between the university and former athletes.

Danley has a bachelor’s degree in Vocational and Adult Education from Auburn University (1993) and a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Auburn University (1996).

While attending Auburn, Mr. Danley was a member of the football team and went on to play in the National Football League. The 6'-3"/216 lbs., Auburn star tailback is more famously remembered for the hit he received in a nationally televised game bowl game with Ohio State University in 1989 (See Video below).



He also completed an internship at the Southeastern Conference commissioner's office. Danley has served the Southeastern Conference (Birmingham) in the areas of compliance and championships/events management. He was previously associate athletic director for external affairs at Auburn University. He has participated in compliance seminars on both the regional and national levels, and has attended four NCAA conventions.

Danley is a member of the Black Coaches Association, the National Advising Association, the National Consortium for Academics and Sports, and the Greater Lee County 100 Black Men.