2016 SWAC Football Media Day Roster announced

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Head coaches accompanied by a pair of student-athletes from all 10 Southwestern Athletic Conference schools will share in the 2016 SWAC Football Media Day.

The annual event is set for July 15 at the Birmingham - Marriott in Birmingham, Ala.

Dee Jackson and Robert Williamson will moderate the live coverage which will get underway at 10:00 a.m. CT live on the SWAC Digital Network.

SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at NRG Park Nina Jackson, Coordinator of Football Officials Harold Mitchell, Executive Director of the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl John Grant and other guest will be in attendance and available to the media upon request.

The SWAC’s official website, swac.org, will carry continuous coverage of MD16 via online video and audio broadcast stream.

The list of head coaches and student-athletes participating in SWAC Football Media Day include:

Alabama A&M
James Spady - Head Coach
DeAngel "Tuttie" Ballard (QB • 6‐0 • 200 • Sr. • Macon, Miss.)
Averee Giles (DL • 6‐0 • 345 • jr. • Lilburn, Ga.)

Alabama State
Brian Jenkins - Head Coach
Kourtney Berry (LB• 6-0• 215• Merrillville, Ind.)
Kerry Williams (OL• 6-2• 295• Gaffney, S.C.

Alcorn State
Fred McNair - Head Coach
Lenorris Footman (QB • 6‐0 • 181 • So. • Monticello, Fla.)
Michael Hurns (LB • 6-2 • 194 • Jr. • Cleveland, Miss.

Grambling State
Broderick Fobbs - Head Coach
Justin Miller (OL• 6-4• 305• Sr.• Ruston, La.)
Guy Stallwortth (S• 6-1• 205• Sr.• Gulfport, Miss.)

Jackson State
Tony Hughes - Head Coach
LaMontiez Ivy (QB• 6-3• 225• SR• East St. Louis, Ill.)
Javancy Jones (6-2• 230• SR• Macon, Miss.)

Mississippi Valley State
Rick Comegy - Head Coach
Booker Chambers (WR • 5-9 • 175 • Greenwood, Miss.)
Alvin Soloman (OL • 6-2 • 305 • Bessemer, Ala.)

Prairie View A&M
Willie Simmons - Prairie View A&M
Trey Green (QB• 6-3 • 220• Sr. • Beaumont, Texas)
Marquice O'Leary (Rov • 5-11 • 200 • Sr. • Fontana, Calif.)

Southern
Dawson Odums - Head Coach
Aaron Tiller (DE • 6-1 • 237 • Jr.• Columbus, Ohio)
Lenard Tiller (RB • 5-10• 186 • Sr. • Baton Rouge, La.

Texas Southern
Mike Haywood - Head Coach
Jay Christophe (QB • 6‐4 • 205 • Sr. • Addis, La.)
Jarius Moore (LB • 6-5 • 220 • Sr. • (Houston, Texas)

Arkansas‐Pine Bluff
Monte Coleman - Head Coach
Nolan Sorenson (QB • 6-4 • 220 • Jr. • Clovis, Calif.)
David White (DB • 6-2 • 180 • R-Jr. • Baton Rouge, La.)

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

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Trinity Christian's Cameron Campbell commits to Lincoln U.(Pa.)

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania -- Trinity Christian graduate Cameron Campbell, a 6-foot-3 guard, committed to Division II Lincoln (Pa.) University of the CIAA on Tuesday night.

He chose Lincoln over fellow CIAA member Virginia Union and Concordia College, an HBCU in Selma, Alabama.

In May, Lincoln hired former NBA player Doug Overton, 46, to coach the Lions, who went 9-20 last season. His son, Miles, started his college career at Wake Forest before transferring to Drexel in the family's hometown of Philadelphia.

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VSU Trojan Football Names Sanders as Defensive Coordinator

PETERSBURG, Virginia -- As Virginia State University Trojan Football prepares for the 2016 season under the leadership of new head coach Reggie Barlow, the program has added depth to their coaching staff with the addition of Defensive Coordinator Dwone Sanders.

"Sanders is a guy who has a wealth of knowledge and experience," said Coach Barlow. "He coached me in college and left a lasting impression, so I have always wanted to work with him since then. Sanders has been a head coach and knows the profession. I am glad he is here to lead our defense."

Prior to his arrival to VSU, Sanders was Langston University's head football coach from 2012-2015 and their defensive coordinator from 2011-2012.

In the early 2000's, Sanders served as the defensive coordinator and head coach at several high schools to include Miller-McCoy Academy, Booker T. Washington High School and George Washington High School.

After coaching the secondary at Utah State University for a single season in 1995, Sanders ventured to Alabama State University where he served three years as the Co-defensive coordinator. During his time at Alabama State, Sanders coached VSU's current head football coach Reggie Barlow.

In 1992, Sanders entered the collegiate coaching arena as the linebackers coach at Southeast Missouri State. After getting his first initial coaching position fresh out of college as the linebackers coach at Buras High School in 1990, Sanders served as a graduate assistant at Penn State in
State College Pennsylvania.

The New Orleans native graduated from McNeese State University in 1990. He also received his master degree in urban education from Southern University in 2005.

"I was honored by the invitation from Coach Barlow to be a part of this fine football staff," said Sanders. Coach Barlow and I go way back, so I know his growth and passion for the game and the development of the student-athletes. I believe in Coach Barlow's vision and direction for this team because we are inclined to do great things here at VSU. I am excited to be a Trojan as we work toward being one team with one dream."

The 2016 VSU Trojan Football season officially kicks-off on September 3 at Lenoir-Rhyne.

For more information on VSU Trojans football, follow Trojans Athletics on Twitter @VSUsports, or call 804-524-5030.

COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

CIAA Football Media Day Set to Open 2016 Season

Charlotte, North Carolina -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) will kick off the 2016 football season with its annual Football Media Day on Thursday, July 21st at 9:00 a.m. at the Marriott - Research Triangle Park in Durham, North Carolina.

Each of the CIAA's twelve head football coaches, accompanied by select student-athletes, will take the stage for discussion regarding their football program, athletes, and season schedule as teams anticipate the conference championship. This season's circuit will feature extended sessions for Q&A dialog between head coaches, student-athletes, and media. CIAA Football Media Day will open at 9:00 a.m. and close with remarks from Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams at 11:10 a.m.

This year, five new head coaches will be welcomed to the conference: Reggie Barlow of Virginia State, Tim Chavous of St. Augustine's, Richard Hayes, Jr. of Fayetteville State, Adrian Jones of Shaw, and Earnest Wilson III of Elizabeth City State.

Media interested in attending the Media Day circuit must RSVP via theciaa.com. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, July 13.

The 2016 CIAA football season will open on Saturday, September 3rd with the CIAA Football Championship scheduled for November 12, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. The nationally televised championship game will be played at Durham County Memorial Stadium and feature the CIAA Northern and Southern Division champions.

COURTESY CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS

SIAC to host Football Media Day in Montgomery

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) will host the annual Football Media Day on Wednesday, July 20 at the Doubletree by Hilton Montgomery Downtown (120 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104). Head football coaches and two student-athletes from each team will be available to offer an up close and personal look on the upcoming 2016 football season.

This year the SIAC will have a limited number of tickets available to the public for the press luncheon portion of the Media Day. Tickets can be purchased by calling Taunita Stephenson at (404)221-1041 or stephenson@thesiac.com. Tickets are $40 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons) and must be purchased by Friday, July 15.c

Media members may obtain a credential for the luncheon and/or one-on-one interviews by completing an application found on www.thesiac.com. One-on-one interviews will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. Ballroom.

COURTESY SIAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Randall Named Women's Basketball Assistant Coach

DAYTON, Ohio -- Wright State head women's basketball coach Katrina Merriweather announced Wednesday the addition of Semeka Randall as an assistant coach.

Randall joins the Raider staff after serving as the head coach at Alabama A&M the past three seasons.

Under her guidance in 2014-15, the Lady Bulldogs led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in free-throw shooting, making 449 of 652 attempts for a .689 percentage. Senior point guard Brittney Strickland, who was named second team All-SWAC, was the league's top free-throw shooter, making 134 of 158 attempts for a .848 percentage.

Before coming to Alabama A&M, Randall was the head coach for five years at Ohio University from 2008-12. Under her guidance, several players received All-MAC honors. Randall was also an assistant coach at West Virginia from 2007-08, at Michigan State from 2005-07 and at Cleveland State from 2002-03. During her tenure at Michigan State, the Spartans played for the national championship in 2005, advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2006 and made it to the NCAA second round in 2007.

"Semeka’s reputation, love for the game, tenacity, and pedigree made her an immediate frontrunner for our recruiting coordinator position," said Merriweather. "She brings valuable experience and we share similar beliefs about the student-athlete experience and development. I am confident that her energy will bring the best out of our kids and challenge them to reach their personal best."

A standout guard at Tennessee from 1998-2001, Randall earned Kodak All-America First Team honors in 1999 and 2000. She was an integral part of Tennessee’s 1998 NCAA Championship team that went 39-0, averaging 15.9 points a game while earning honorable mention All-America recognition.

In addition to her All-America honors, she was named the Women’s Basketball Journal’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000, First Team All-Southeast­ern Conference in 1999 and 2000, Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team in 1998, and was on the NCAA Mideast Regional All-Tournament team in 1998 and 2000.

Randall scored 1,915 points during her career at Tennessee (13.7 ppg) and added 716 rebounds (5.1 rpg), 286 steals and 236 assists. She ranks fifth on the Lady Vols’ career charts in both points and steals, and third in free throws made (439). Tennessee posted a record of 134-10 during her four-year career, including championship appearances in 1998 and 2000. During the summer of 1998, Randall was the leading scorer for the gold medal-winning USA Jones Cup team.

Randall was the first player chosen in the second round (17th overall) of the 2001 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm. She started 30 of 32 games as a rookie, averaging a career-best 9.4 points. She averaged 5.8 points during her 123-game WNBA career, including 55 starts.

In 2001-02, Randall started all 16 games at point guard and averaged 19 points while playing for the Israeli Professional Basketball League. She played in the Greek Professional Basketball League in 2002-03, again starting all 16 games for her squad. In 2003, she was a member of the Tennessee Fury of the National Women’s Basketball League, averaging 12.2 points as a shooting guard.

In 2004, she completed her four-year WNBA career which included stops in Seattle (2001-02), Utah (2002) and San Antonio (2003-04).

Prior to her exemplary playing career at Tennessee and in the professional ranks, Randall was an accomplished basketball player in high school. She was Parade Magazine’s Player of the Year and a First Team All-American in 1997 while starring at Trinity High School in Garfield Heights, Ohio. She was Ohio’s Miss Basketball in 1996 and 1997, a member of the 1996 and 1997 USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Teams, the MVP of the Ohio state basketball tournament in 1994 and 1996 and the Gatorade Circle of Champions Midwest Player of the Year in 1997. She was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame on May 17, 2008.

Randall graduated from Tennessee in December 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in speech communications.

COURTESY WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

XU's Kitto selected second-team Academic All-America

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Brent Kitto has been selected second-team Academic All-America in men's track and field/cross country by the College Sports Information Directors of America. CoSIDA announced the honor Tuesday for its college division: student-athletes from NAIA, Canadian and two-year institutions.
     
Kitto, a pharmacy major from Chalmette, La., and a graduate of Holy Cross High School, will graduate from Xavier next May. He has a 3.58 GPA. He competed for Xavier the past three seasons and was All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference twice in cross country (2013 and 2014) and twice in outdoor track and field (2014 and 2015). He was the 2014 GCAC outdoor track champion in the 1,500-meter run.
     
Beginning in 2008-09, seven XU student-athletes have earned a combined 11 berths on CoSIDA Academic All-America teams. Six of those student-athletes have competed in track and field and/or cross country. CoSIDA has sponsored the Academic All-America program since 1952.
     
"I loved to run in high school and knew I wanted to pursue it in college," Kitto said. "It's been challenging to be an athlete and in pharmacy school. Succeeding is all about time management and work ethic."
     
On Monday, Kitto and approximately 140 fourth-year pharmacy classmates — the P4s — began their series of clinical rotations. The P4s will apply their acquired knowledge in seven six-week rotations. They'll practice pharmacy in groups of two or three with a College of Pharmacy faculty member in each group to assist and guide. Kitto's first rotation is at NOELA Community Health Center in New Orleans East. Kitto will have four additional clinical rotations, one rotation at a hospital and another at a retail site.
     
"It's hands-on experience," Kitto said.
     
The rotations follow a three-semester course, Disease State Management. To be ready for P4 rotations, do well in DSM.
     
"The DSM course is the most challenging one in pharmacy school because it's the summation of all the information we have learned up to that point," Kitto said. "The course requires that we combine knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the body, pathophysiology of disease states, and pharmacology of drugs in order to deliver the best possible treatment. It's also the most rewarding course because it allows us to make that connection with everything we have learned."

Xavier's All-Time List of Academic All-Americans (chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America)
Year	Name	Sport	Team
2008-09	Joe Drexler-Dreis	Men's Track and Field/Cross Country	Second Team
2011-12	Matt Pieri	Men's Track and Field/Cross Country	Second Team
2011-12	Javon Mead	Men's Track and Field/Cross Country	Third Team
2012-13	Taylor Reuther	Women's Volleyball	Third Team
2012-13	Matt Pieri	Men's Track and Field/Cross Country	Second Team
2012-13	Javon Mead	Men's Track and Field/Cross Country	Third Team
2012-13	Catherine Fakler	Women's Track and Field/Cross Country	Second Team
2012-13	Devinn Rolland	Women's Track and Field/Cross Country	Second Team
2014-15	Catherine Fakler	Women's Track and Field/Cross Country	First Team
2014-15	Devinn Rolland	Women's Track and Field/Cross Country	First Team
2015-16	Brent Kitto	Men's Track and Field/Cross Country	Second Team

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Xavier again has 37 on GCAC Commissioner's Honor Roll

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NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, led by fourth-time recipients Jodi Hill and Franziska Pirkl, has 37 members on the 2015-16 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
     
It's the second consecutive year that XU produced 37 for this honor. Student-athletes qualified with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher over both semesters.
     
Hill and Pirkl, both of whom graduated from Xavier in May, are among eight from the women's volleyball program to make the GCAC list. Women's track and field/cross country led Xavier with nine honorees.
     
Third-time GCAC honorees from Xavier are Alesha Smith (women's basketball), Terri Cunningham (women's track), Taylor Reuther (women's volleyball), Adam Albrecht (men's tennis), Jarvis Thibodeaux (men's basketball) and Brent Kitto (men's track/cross country). Freshman Brianna Pace (women's track/cross country) maintained a 4.0 GPA for both semesters.
     
"Congratulations to our student-athletes who made the GCAC Commissioner's Honor Roll," said XU Director of Athletics and Recreation Jason Horn. "We are proud of their accomplishments and their continued commitment to excel in the classroom and in their sports."
     
Xavier's list of honorees:

Name	Sport	Year	Hometown (High School)
Jarvis Thibodeaux	Men's Basketball	Senior	Houston, Texas (St. Pius X)
Wesley Pluviose-Philip	Men's Basketball	Junior	Albany, N.Y. (Albany)
Mikayla Bates	Women's Basketball	Freshman	Baton Rouge, La. (University)
Jasmine Bush	Women's Basketball	Sophomore	Meridian, Miss. (Southeast Lauderdale)
Emoni Harvey	Women's Basketball	Senior	Memphis, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian)
Donyeah Mayfield	Women's Basketball	Senior	Vicksburg, Miss. (Vicksburg)
Kelsee Singleton	Women's Basketball	Junior	New Orleans, La. (Karr)
Alesha Smith	Women's Basketball	Senior	Athens, Ga. (Clarke Central)
Adam Albrecht	Men's Tennis	Junior	Ladna, Czech Republic (Gymnasium Breclav)
Manav Chakma	Men's Tennis	Senior	Agartala, India (Kendriya Vidyalaya Maligaon)
Kevin Chaouat	Men's Tennis	Senior	Sarcelles, France (home-schooled)
Tushar Mandlekar	Men's Tennis	Junior	Bhilai, India (Deepak Nagar)
Karan Salwan	Men's Tennis	Junior	New Delhi, India (Modern School)
Sha'Nel Bruins	Women's Tennis	Junior	Colfax, La. (Grant)
Tess Guarino	Women's Tennis	Freshman	Billere, France (home-schooled)
Jana van der Walt	Women's Tennis	Senior	Houston, Texas (de Aar)
Keairez Coleman	Men's Track and Field	Freshman	Harrisville, Miss. (Mendenhall)
Ethan Gipson	Men's Track and Field	Freshman	Memphis, Tenn. (Houston)
Erwin Simmons	Men's Track and Field	Sophomore	St. James, La. (St. James)
Brent Kitto	Men's Track and Field / Cross Country	Senior	Chalmette, La. (Holy Cross)
Zahri Jackson	Women's Cross Country	Senior	Kingwood, Texas (Kingwood Park)
Drew Chatters	Women's Track and Field	Sophomore	Lake Charles, La. (St. Louis Catholic)
Terri Cunningham	Women's Track and Field	Junior	Nashville, Tenn. (Martin Luther King Magnet)
Dorian Hill	Women's Track and Field	Freshman	Jackson, Miss. (Murrah)
Janelle Jones	Women's Track and Field	Freshman	Baton Rouge, La. (Episcopal)
Katelyn McMorris	Women's Track and Field	Junior	Baton Rouge, La. (Christian Life Academy)
Maliya Vaughan	Women's Track and Field	Freshman	Elk Grove, Calif. (West Campus)
Clarke Allen	Women's Track and Field / Cross Country	Sophomore	Mendenhall, Miss. (Mendenhall)
Brianna Pace	Women's Track and Field / Cross Country	Freshman	Junction City, Kan. (Junction City)
Claudia Haywood	Women's Volleyball	Senior	Memphis, Tenn. (Cordova)
Jodi Hill	Women's Volleyball	Senior	Prairieville, La. (Dutchtown)
Kayla Jones	Women's Volleyball	Sophomore	Kansas City, Kan. (Piper)
Franziska Pirkl	Women's Volleyball	Senior	Munich, Germany (Theodolinden Gymnasium)
Taylor Reuther	Women's Volleyball	Senior	Metairie, La. (Dominican)
Kaelan Temple	Women's Volleyball	Sophomore	Houston, Texas (Lamar)
CeCe Williams	Women's Volleyball	Senior	Houma, La. (Vandebilt Catholic)
Aliyah Wilson	Women's Volleyball	Sophomore	Florissant, Mo. (Crossroads College Prep)

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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MEAC, SWAC football schedules feature several matches on ESPN networks

Games will highlight traditional and emerging rivalries

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) have released their 2016 TV schedules for football season.

The MEAC schedule features eight regular-season matchups set to be on ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN Classic and ESPN3. The schedule begins with the 12th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge, featuring Bethune-Cookman University vs. Alcorn State University on Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN.

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge will be played in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is also known as the Battle of the Beach. The Sept. 4 game will kick off a new era in the SWAC for Alcorn State football coach Fred McNair, who was hired in February. That same day at 5 p.m. CST on ESPNU, Texas Southern University will help conference rival Prairie View A&M University break in its new football stadium with the Labor Day Classic. The 2016 SWAC schedule includes 14 contests across six networks. Eight of the 10 member institutions will either be featured on ABC, ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN3, the SEC Network or NBC Sports Network.

“We are excited about the 2016 football television schedule that offers our fans many ways to stay tuned into their favorite MEAC football team,” said MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas. “Our partnership with ESPN continues to showcase our talented student-athletes, coaches and institutions through multiple ESPN platforms and further illustrates this tremendous partnership we have built over the years with the worldwide leader in sports.”

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Meet The Coach: Quadrian BankIs

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – For Quadrian Banks, good thing football is a fall sport.

Or else that would interfere with Banks’ Sunday night plans this time of year.

Banks, a performance and conditioning analyst for the Colts, came to Indy after three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Get to know new Performance and Conditioning Analyst Quadrian Banks:

Describe your journey to Indianapolis

“I was at the University of Texas as a student assistant in the weight room, kind of an intern/graduate assistant type of deal as a student. I went to grad school at Prairie View A&M, which is a SWAC school in Houston, Texas. From Prairie View I went to Velocity Sports Performance in Florida. That’s where I got a lot of the speed and agility/movement techniques that we kind of use here. From Velocity, my first collegiate full-time position was Hampton University. I was an assistant performance coach there. That’s where I coached Kendall Langford. I was there for the offseason program. Then I went to the University of Richmond, which was not too far away. I trained those guys for a year and a half. From Richmond, I went to Ole Miss University, worked for Houston Nutt. That was a great stop down in the SEC. Then from Ole Miss, I did a little personal training. Then I went to Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. From Gardner-Webb, I went to the Philadelphia Eagles for the last three seasons.”

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Kentucky State Thorobred football unveils its 2016 schedule

Kentucky State University 2016 Football Schedule

September 3 Charleston Southern University Charleston, SC
10 Morehouse College Atlanta, GA
17 Virginia State University Frankfort, KY
24 Central State University Indianapolis, IN
Circle City Classic

October 1 Valdosta State University Waycross, GA
8 Ft. Valley State University Ft. Valley, GA
15 Miles College Frankfort, KY
Homecoming
22 Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL
29 Lane College Frankfort, KY

November 5 Benedict College Frankfort, KY

Season Ticket Prices
Reserved Seating $75 / General Admission -- $65
To purchase season tickets or for more ticket information: Contact Athletics at (502) 597-6011
Or Kim.Harriford@kysu.edu




COURTESY KEN TUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

KSU mourns the loss of Thorobred football player Josh Williams

JOSHUA WILLIAMS

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- Kentucky State University mourns the loss of Thorobred football player Josh Williams, who died Tuesday during a shooting in Inglewood, Califorinia.  He was 24.

The Inglewood resident was known for his hard-hitting style and played at KSU in 2014-2015. KSU's Athletics Department and the University are deeply saddened by this news and send heartfelt condolences to his family.

"KSU Athletics is deeply saddened by the loss of one of its own," said Director of Athletics William Head. "Another senseless act of violence silences a potential voice of leadership. In All ThinCOgs Excellence. Thorobred down."

The Athletics Department will provide more information as soon as possible.

COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

MSU's Ed Davis Named Interim Coach For Women’s Basketball

Ed Davis Jr.

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State University (MSU) Athletic Director Floyd Kerr today announced the appointment of Edward Davis Jr. as interim head coach of MSU's women's basketball team.

"It has always been about our student-athletes and the program at Morgan State," said Kerr, "and that is why I made this selection. I have the utmost confidence in Coach Davis because of what he has been able to accomplish with his past teams."

Davis has for two years been the assistant coach at Morgan and served as the former head women's basketball coach at Delaware State University for 12 seasons. While at Delaware State, he led the team to its most successful run in the history of the program. He concluded his career there as the program's winningest coach with an overall record of 178-182 (.494), including a 121-85 (.587) Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) record. He also coached for eight years at Bowie State University.

Davis succeeds Coach Donald Beasley, who had been head coach of the Lady Bears basketball team since 2005. In his 11 seasons at MSU, Beasley became the coach with the most wins in the history of the women's program.

"We are extremely grateful to Coach Beasley for what he has been able to achieve with our program. He is our most successful women's basketball coach and he leaves with our gratitude and best wishes," added Kerr.

Beasley leaves the program effective July 1, 2016 to take another assignment at the University.

For more information about today's announcement, contact Floyd Kerr, director of Athletics at Morgan State University, at 443-885-3575. For more information on MSU Athletics, please visit www.morganstatebears.com.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

‘Love somebody’ is message at funeral for FAMU grad

MELBOURNE, Florida -- Love served as the theme during the celebration of a life lost in an act of hatred.

Friends, family, co-workers and clergy challenged about 1,000 mourners filling the sanctuary of New Shiloh Christian Center in Melbourne to emulate Antonio Davon Brown and show love for one another.

“My brother was a genuine person,” said James Hickey, older brother of the 30-year-old Brown, who was among 49 people killed June 12 when a gunman opened fire in an Orlando nightclub. “He had a kind heart, and a loving soul, and he never met a stranger.”

Like others who spoke at the service, Hickey described Brown, who grew up in Port St. John, as having a bold sense of humor and a joy for living.



“It’s always sad to say goodbye,” he said, “but his legacy will live forever.”

Then he proffered a challenge: “To honor my brother, love somebody. Because that’s what he did.”

Before the service, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, accompanied by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, met privately with Brown’s mother, Rosetta Evans, and other members of Brown’s immediate family.

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