FAMU's Mangum calls for review of tennis, golf suspensions

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- A recent decision by athletic director Kellen Winslow to suspend the men's tennis and golf programs at FAMU will be reviewed, president Elmira Mangum said Monday.

While praising Winslow's "bold and necessary leadership," Mangum said that the review will include focus groups to consider alternative ways to fund the program.

Winslow announced suspension of the programs almost two weeks ago, saying it was part of his effort to reduce the operating cost of the athletic department. The athletic department has a $7 million deficit.

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Liberty opponent scouting report: Norfolk State

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LYNCHBURG, Virginia  -- For the first time in 11 years, Liberty will open the season with two road games. The Flames hope to find better results than in 2003, when they began the year with a 48-6 loss at James Madison followed by a 49-3 defeat at Toledo. Game 2 of the opening swing is at MEAC foe and state rival Norfolk State.

LOOK BACK

The Spartans played one of the tougher non-conference schedules in the FCS last season, opening with a loss to Maine at home before falling at Rutgers and losing at home Charleston Southern. Both Maine and CSU won 10 games and though Rutgers is a mediocre FBS outfit, it’s an FBS team nonetheless.
 

After scoring just 18 points total in those three losses, the Spartans seemed to find ...

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TSU's Larry Inman to be Inducted into the MTSU Hall of Fame

Coach Inman is is the all-time winningest coach in OVC women’s basketball history
Photo Courtesy: Tennessee State University Athletic

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Tennessee State University head women’s basketball coach Larry Inman has been selected to the 2014 Middle Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee class.

Inman, who has served as the head coach for the TSU women’s basketball program for the past two seasons, coached at Middle Tennessee, an OVC member until 2000,  from 1978-86.

 

In eight years at the Murfreesboro, Tenn., school, Inman won more than 68 percent of his games, was named OVC Coach of the Year three times, led MTSU to six OVC regular-season championships and won four tournament titles. In his last four seasons on the Blue Raiders’ bench, he led the program to four straight OVC regular season and tournament championships and four straight NCAA tournament appearances.

 

He compiled an overall record of 161-73 at Middle Tennessee. Inman went 73-12 in OVC games, losing only four conference games his final five seasons.

 

Following his stint at MTSU, Inman served as head coach of the Eastern Kentucky women’s basketball team from 1988-2008, compiling a 319-244 record and leading the Lady Colonels to two OVC Tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances (1996-97, 2004-05).

 

In being named OVC Coach of the Year eight times, he also directed EKU to five OVC regular season championships. He also led the Lady Colonels to the 2002 WNIT Sweet Sixteen. He is the all-time winningest coach in Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball history with his record of 505-350.

 

Inman, who was inducted into the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2009, announced his retirement from Eastern Kentucky in April 2008. Prior to his retirement, Inman was the 27th winningest active coach in NCAA Division I.

 

Inman came out of retirement to coach at Lebanon High School before taking the helm of the Tennessee State University women’s basketball program.

 

The members of the 2014 Hall of Fame class are as follows: James Griffin (football), Kerry Hammonds (men's basketball), Larry Joe Inman (women's basketball coach), Jennifer Martinez (softball) and Micah Otis (track & field).

 

The class will be inducted Oct. 4 before the home football game against Southern Miss. The event will be open to the public and take place on the lawn of the Kennon Sports Hall of Fame building.

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The 'dean': SCSU's Buddy Pough enters 13th season looking to get to next level

South Carolina State University head football Buddy Pough
 is entering his 13th season as head coach of the Bulldogs.

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- Well before becoming the “dean” of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference head football coaches, Buddy Pough was treated like one by his colleagues upon arriving in 2002.

“Because (former S.C. State head football coach Willie) Jeffries was chair of the head coaches committee when I came into the league, they just kind of grandfathered me into that position where I had most of the responsibilities,” he said. “And as I stayed longer, they just wouldn’t move me.”

Pough now enters a 13th season at his alma mater as the conference’s longest-serving active football coach. It’s a distinction he “earned” following Morgan State’s dismissal last November of Donald Hill-Eley, who entered the MEAC along with Pough in 2002 and is now the offensive coordinator at Norfolk State.

The Bulldogs’ sideline leader is also the second-longest active coach in the state of South Carolina behind Wofford’s Mike Ayers (26 seasons) and in black college football behind Albany State’s James “Mike” White (14 seasons).

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FAMU's Johnson has a penchant for big hits, picks

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- There is a good chance that no team in the MEAC has any doubt about Terry Johnson's physicality.

Not if they've seen the times he's floored an opposing player in his three seasons as defensive back on the FAMU football team.

The scenario is almost the same every time one of his big hits puts a receiver on the turf. For a split second (before the referee sees him and drops a flag) Johnson would celebrate. Sort of the way Muhammad Ali stood over Sonny Liston in the famous photo of the "phantom punch" knockout.

Being physical isn't something that Johnson, a former three-sport athlete at Rickards High School, developed recently.



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Lions’ Dingle commits to Alabama A&M

AUGUSTA, Georgia  --  Another player who led his team to a state championship made news recently. For this story we shift from golf to basketball. Augusta Christian product Jordan Dingle has made his college decision. Dingle had a special senior campaign for the Lions after transferring in from South Aiken.

The 6-2 point guard led ACS to the SCISA state title and was named The Augusta Chronicle Private School Player of the Year. He also was Co-Player of the Year in Columbia County. Dingle was the steady floor general for the Lions all year and paced the team in scoring at 15 points per game.

He also dished out more than four assists per contest. Dingle’s strong performance afforded him several college opportunities. In the end, he chose to head to Huntsville, Ala., having committed to play at Alabama A&M. Alabama A&M is coming off a 14-16 season, finishing 10-8 in the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference). Dingle is part of a strong recruiting class that includes a pair of big JUCO transfers in seven-footer Isaiah Cotton and 6-8 power forward Quinterian McConico. More good news for Dingle is that he should have a chance to play big minutes right away. He is currently the only scholarship point guard on A&M’s roster for 2014-15.

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Tennis column: Push on to reverse FAMU's decision

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- When Florida A&M University made the announcement in late June that it would suspend the men's tennis program to deal with fiscal restraints and to meet Title IX requirements, tennis advocates swung into action.

This week, David Benjamin, Executive Director of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), sent an email to rally tennis advocates to show support for intercollegiate tennis.

Benjamin penned personal letters to FAMU's President Elvira Mangum, Athletic Director Kellen Winslow and Chair of the Board of Trustees Dr. Solomon Badger expressing their concern with the move and requesting the key university administrators overturn the decision.

Benjamin noted that varsity tennis has become a "prime target for cost-cutting measures" as collegiate administrators face difficult budget decisions.

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Georgia Division II teams could form strong conference

Just start with the football-playing programs: Albany State, Clark Atlanta, Fort Valley State, Morehouse, Paine, Shorter, West Georgia and Valdosta State ...

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2014/07/04/3182501/division-ii-teams-could-form-strong.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1#storylink=cpy

MACON, Georgia  --  On Tuesday, we saw an addition to the ACC the same day the conference lost one of its founding members. And we saw the Southern Conference lose four programs and replace them with three.

Louisville joined the ACC officially Tuesday to replace Maryland, which jumped to the Big Ten. While it hurts to lose a founding member, that’s a win for the ACC considering Maryland hasn’t been relevant in anything for some time, while Louisville in recent years has won a basketball national title and a BCS bowl game while also reaching the College World Series.

The Southern Conference lost Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Elon and Davidson, while Mercer, East Tennessee State and VMI moved into the conference. Some question Georgia Southern’s move up to the FBS and the Sun Belt, but as long as Eagles fans adjust their goals, that’s a solid step up for the program. Mercer’s move is also an overall positive, although the Bears left a terrific mid-major conference in the A-Sun.

It was yet another day of the process of realignment, which has ruled over college athletics for the past few years. Hopefully, that is about to come to an end, although it would be nice to see a little more realignment -- right here in our state on a smaller level.

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Alcorn State Athletics Reflects on the Life of Steve "Air II" McNair

LORMAN, Mississippi  --  Five years ago on this day (July 4), we lost one of the greatest football players to ever play the game at Alcorn State and in the NFL.  Steve McNair lost his life but left behind a legacy that no one will ever forget.

The four years Steve spent at Alcorn was absolutely the most best years of Alcorn football anyone has ever seen.  He shattered evey passing record in the SWAC and NCAA record books throughout his college career.  His style of play as a scambling quarterback kept the Alcorn faithful as well as others at the edge of their seats each game.

Steve is the all-time career passing leader in Alcorn football history passing for a total of 14,496 and threw 119 touchdowns.  Because of Steve's performance he earned All-American honors and finish third in the Heisman Trophy Voting polls.

He was selected as the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft to the Houston Oilers and had an outstanding career with Oilers, Tennessee Titans, and Baltimore Ravens.

His leagacy will forever be remembered and cherished at Alcorn State.  Go Steve!!!  

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Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Morgan State Bears: A Way Too Early Non-Conference Preview

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Morgan State Bears at Eastern Michigan Eagles

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Sat. Aug. 30, 2014

6:00 p.m. ET, ESPNU & WatchESPN

YPSILANTI, Michigan -- The first game to be played at "The Factory" will be between Chris Creighton's Eagles and the Morgan State Bears.  It's the most highly-anticipated game that we're all waiting for: the first game played on the infamous gray turf at Rynearson Stadium. 

The Morgan State Bears will make the trip from Baltimore to play against the Eagles, led by first-year head coach Chris Creighton.

Morgan State Bears 2013 Rewind:

The Bears got off to a terrible 0-5 start last year, but ended the season with a 5-7 overall record. All five wins came against in-conference opponents, and were only 2-6 when playing on the road.

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FAMU Marching 100 Greatest Hits!

Byron Dobson: Dr. Julian White seeks diversity in Goodwill’s band

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  In his 50-year career as a music educator, first on the public-school level and later as director of Florida A&M University’s Marching 100, Julian White has had his share of experiences with students needing access to instruments and lessons to expand their musical talents.

Like a dedicated sports coach who also grooms the playing field and pays out of pocket for unexpected expenses, band directors on the grassroots level search for the right acoustic setting for practices, seek patron partnerships and learn how to strike deals on purchasing musical instruments.

That’s why White, 73, gets excited when he talks about his new environment as director of musical outreach for Goodwill Industries of the Big Bend. It may sound like an odd partnership, but Goodwill is including music classes and the formation of a community band among its many offerings, now that its Prosperity Center is open at its West Pensacola Street campus.

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Former SAU's Brittany Parker Joins MSU Women's Basketball Coaching Staff

MOREHEAD, Kentucky  -- Brittany Parker, a Waterbury, Conn, native, has been named an assistant coach for the Morehead State Women's Basketball program.

Parker spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Niagara (N.Y.), where she was also video coordinator and community service coordinator. 

"Brittany will be a great addition to our staff," MSU Head Coach Greg Todd said. "She has three full seasons as an assistant at the Division I level. She will be an excellent coach on the floor as well as an outstanding role model for our young ladies. Brittany's work ethic and experience will be a great asset to our program."

Prior to her stint with the Purple Eagles, Parker served two years as an assistant at Division II Fayetteville State (N.C.).  While at FSU, Parker was responsible for post player development, scouting, travel, and community service.  She helped the Broncos reach a 20-10 record, as well as claiming the 2010 CIAA Tournament championship. 

Parker coached Deja Middleton, a center who was selected First Team All-CIAA and was named 2009-10 CIAA Defensive Player of the Year.  She also coached Tiffany Haywood, a center who was named the 2010 CIAA Tournament MVP.  She coached Victoria Rampado, the 2013-14 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, at Niagara. 

"We are right in the middle of a great recruiting area here at MSU," Parker said. "I am really excited to be on this staff and at such a great school. Coach Todd and I have some mutual friends in the coaching world here in Kentucky, so through my relationships with them, I was able to have this opportunity here."

Along with graduating in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in accounting from St. Augustine (N.C.), Parker was also a four-year member of the basketball team.    

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Bahamas HBCUX Classic 2014 Press Conference

NASSAU, Bahamas  -- HBCUX Founder/CEO Curtis Symonds former EVP of BET and former COO of the Washington Mystics makes a formal announcement of the 1st Annual HBCUX Classic in Nassau Bahamas.  The Texas Southern Tigers football team is gearing up for the 2014 HBCUX Classic versus Central State. Travel packages for the event are now on sale and can be viewed by visiting the HBCUX Classic official website located at www.hbcux.com.

Mike DeMilia Named Next Lincoln Baseball Coach

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri  --  Mike DeMilia, who helped lead Truman State to the postseason last spring, is the next head coach of the Lincoln baseball program. Lincoln Athletic Director Betty Kemna announced the hiring on Tuesday (July 1).

"We are very excited to welcome Mike to Lincoln University," Kemna said. "Mike is a high-energy guy who brings tremendous enthusiasm to our program. We believe his passion for the game of baseball, his understanding of the sport and his knowledge of the MIAA will take Lincoln to the next level."

DeMilia spent the past three seasons as the assistant coach at Truman, including helping the Bulldogs transition from the MIAA into the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 2014 season. This past spring, DeMilia helped lead Truman to a program-record 26 wins and a berth in the GLVC postseason tournament, where the Bulldogs won two extra-inning games against higher-ranked teams. One of those wins was a 13-12 come-from-behind victory that eliminated eventual NCAA Midwest Regional-qualifier Indianapolis from the GLVC tourney.

DeMilia becomes the eighth head coach in Lincoln baseball history.



"I've coached for 21 years, the last three at Truman State, and we've played Lincoln 11 times [in that span], and I've always kind of seen it as a program with some promise," DeMilia said. "I see some talent, and a facility that I think can be really good. I believe Lincoln is a place where you can be successful."

Prior to becoming the assistant at Truman, DeMilia was the assistant coach at Millard North High, where he coached two all-state position players and three All-Omaha Metro Area players. That season, DeMilia helped Millard North finish third in the Legion season and fourth at the state tournament. DeMilia was also the head coach at Omaha Bryan High from 2006-2010, winning 184 games overall between the high school and American Legion seasons.

DeMilia has coached baseball on some level since 1994, when he started his professional career as a junior varsity assistant coach with the Nebraska Medical Center Legion team. DeMilia was promoted to head coach of that squad in 1996, and held that position until taking over as head coach of the varsity squad in 2000. In six seasons with the Nebraska Medical Center Legion team, DeMilia won 126 games with players who had been cut from their high school squads.

DeMilia also concurrently coached as an assistant at Millard West High in 1999 and at Omaha Central High from 2004-2005. DeMilia helped both programs set school records for wins in a season.

In addition to his coaching, DeMilia has also organized, coordinated and instructed at a variety of youth baseball camps and clinics. At Truman State, DeMilia was responsible for scouting opponents and coaching defensive positioning as well as all aspects of the Bulldogs' offensive system. In 2014, the Bulldogs set five offensive records, including runs scored (292), total hits (482), RBI (248) and stolen bases (118). DeMilia coached eight position players that earned All-GLVC recognition and one that was named the Midwest Regional Player of the Week.

DeMilia expects to bring an aggressive offensive approach to the Blue Tigers.

"We want to make pitchers uncomfortable, we want to make the defense uncomfortable," DeMilia said. "At some point, I want to bring speed to our team and steal bases, hit-and-run, things like that. The biggest thing is, I want a group of guys that will compete. You're going to see kids fighting hard, playing as a team, playing with enthusiasm."

DeMilia earned his bachelor's degree in Physical and Health Education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1999 and later received a master's degree in Health and Human Performance from Oklahoma State University in 2001. While at Oklahoma State, he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the Cowboy baseball team.

DeMilia and his wife Mendy have three children: Easton, Nolan and Claire.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

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FAMU Rattlers Football Season Tickets On Sale Now

ASU Men's Basketball to Play in the Bahamas

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- The Alabama State University men's basketball team will be one of 14 NCAA programs to play in the "Summer of Thunder 2014" Tournament held in Nassau.  There are 13 international teams from the Dominican Republic, France and Puerto Rico during the foreign tour which is being hosted by the Bahamas Basketball Federation and Complete Sports Management August 2-25.

"We're very excited and it is a great opportunity to go out and get some play in for the summer," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said.  "We want to go out and have some fun and let the kids enjoy themselves, have a good time, play some basketball and it also gives us some time to get some practice in."

"We are looking forward to the trip and want to make it fun, but at the same time we are looking to gel and try to come together as a team."

The foreign tour will run over the course of 23 days with the Hornets scheduled to play their exhibition games during the second week of action.  ASU will leave for the Bahamas Aug. 12 and return Aug. 17.  They are scheduled to open play against the Providence Storm on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 6 p.m.

On Thursday Aug. 14, ASU will play the Pyramid Food Rockets at 8 p.m.  The Hornets final exhibition game will have them facing the Street Legends All-Stars on Friday Aug. 15 at 8 p.m.  All games will be played at the 2,500-seat Sir Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau.

"We are going to get the chance to play some older guys who have played the game and understand the game and play at a high level," Jackson said.  "It is a great opportunity for us because we were so young last year and these guys will have a chance to go out and see how much they have improved over the summer before we get into seasonal play."

NCAA rules allow foreign tours by intercollegiate teams once every four academic years.  The other participating NCAA teams are North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Mississippi, Morehead State, Northern Arizona, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Portland State, Whitman College, Louisiana Tech and Stanford.

"I think this is the first time we at Alabama State have had an opportunity to go over and play (Bahamas)," Jackson said.  "Again, we want to see how much our guys have improved, but we want them to have a good time.  Some of these guys would not have this opportunity if it were not for basketball to go and make this trip.  So we are excited about what it can bring to us."

"We are planning on taking in some sights.  I think we play late games so we want the guys to get out and have a real good experience.  We are going to try and blend in some tour time as well as getting in some time to play basketball.  It is going to be a fun trip for everyone."

The Bahamas trip is part of the Global Sports Invitational the Hornets have been involved in the past several years.  Along with the trip to the Bahamas, this year's participation in the Global Sports Invite has ASU traveling to Utah to play in a multi-team tournament hosted by the Utes.  The other teams in the tournament along with ASU and host Utah are Texas-Pan American and North Dakota.  The tournament will be played Nov. 26-29.

ASU returns every player from last season's 19-13 team which finished tied for second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 12-6 conference record.

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Terminated Grambling coach issues statement

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  --  Former Grambling State University Head Basketball Coach Joseph Price issued a statement in regard to his dismissal from the university on Wednesday morning.

From Joseph Price:

"I feel great about the progress we made with the program over the last two years. When I took the head coach position, Grambling was facing serious NCAA sanctions that required us to focus on the academic eligibility, retention and the team's graduation rate, which in summary is the Academic Progress Rate (APR).

Through strategic recruiting and monitoring the academic progress of our players, my staff and I were able to lead the program out of these sanctions and on a pathway to success in just two years. When you consider the fact that we were working in a limited resource environment, this was equivalent to working a miracle.

The program is now past most of ...

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Former Albany State baseball standouts adjusting to life in independent league

Jacob Campbell, Robby Latner now play in the Pecos League

ROSWELL, New Mexico — Campbell showed up in Roswell, N.M., just over a month ago with a dream.

And even though the first month of his professional baseball career didn’t go exactly as planned, that dream is still very much alive for the former Albany State standout and Westover grad.

Campbell, along with former ASU teammate Robby Latner, signed a professional contract in the independent Pecos League — a non-affiliated pro league that serves as a feeder system for MLB affiliated teams or higher independent leagues — in May and is currently in the middle of his first season with the Roswell Invaders. Latner signed with the Bisbee (Ariz.) Blues and has become one of his team’s most versatile players.

Campbell began the season with a starting job in left field but fell into a slump and is platooning in the outfield as he adjusts to life with a wooden bat, but he is still hopeful for a long-term baseball career.

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Houston Rockets Call Pendarvis Williams To Summer League

HOUSTON, Texas  --  The Houston Rockets have signed Pendarvis Williams to their summer league roster.

The former Norfolk State Spartan, averaged 15.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 2.6 apg last season. The 6’6”, 195 lb guard earned many accolades during his college career, which include: being named the MEAC Player of the Year, was also an honorable mention All-American, a conference Player of the Year and finished the season as HBCU Player of the Year.

Williams is an excellent 3-point shooter. His ability to shoot the three ball is his best asset. He shot over 38% from behind the arc in his four-year career at Norfolk State making him a huge asset to his team.

His college coach, Robert Jones, praises Williams for his leadership and work ethic on and off the court.

Jones also compared Williams to Rookie of the Year winner Michael Carter Williams, for reasons related to his size and ball handling skills. Williams has the ability to play either guard position which fits the mold of most NBA guards today.

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Grambling players caught off guard with Price's firing

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- The shock value of Joseph Price’s firing still resonated strongly Wednesday, a day after Price was surprisingly given the pink slip as Grambling’s men’s basketball coach.

Several team members were left without words when news hit Tuesday that new Grambling interim president Cynthia Warrick had started to clean house with the reassignment of athletic director Aaron James and the firing of Price.

“We haven’t really talked much about it,” said Grambling guard and Richwood product Remond Brown. “Everybody has just been thinking about it and sad and down about it.”

Price tried to meet with as many players as possible Tuesday to deliver the news, but not everyone was available due to conflicting summer schedules.

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Grambling State head coach Joseph Price relieved of duties

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- Considering the fact that the program has put together a record of five wins and 52 losses over the last two years, including an 0-28 mark in 2012-13, it would be an understatement to say that these have been tough times for the Grambling State basketball program. Add in the issues the program faced academically when head coach Joseph Price was hired, resulting in their being ineligible for postseason play last year, and it’s clear that a lot needed to change.

Tuesday it was reported by Sean Isabella of The News-Star that recently hired interim school president Cynthia Warrick has begun making changes, with Price and athletic director Aaron James being relieved of their respective duties as part of the shakeup.

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Athletic director, basketball coach out at Grambling

GRAMBLING, Louisiana --New Grambling interim president Cynthia Warrick didn't take long to leave her mark on the university.

"In her first official day as Grambling's leader, Warrick made significant changes across the board, relieving athletic director Aaron James and men's basketball coach Joseph Price of their duties.

Warrick took over Tuesday, a day after former president Frank Pogue wrapped up his tenure.

"I didn't foresee it coming, but I do understand when you change president's — I've been in the system long enough — a lot of times the president's have the people they want to bring into different positions, and I do understand that," James told The News-Star on Tuesday.

James, who was the athletic director for the past three years, said he received a letter from the president's office Tuesday morning indicating he had been reassigned. James previously served as a kinesiology professor.

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Saint Augustine's University Names Johnson Head Men's Basketball Coach

COACH MARQUS JOHNSON

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  The Saint Augustine's University athletic department officially named MarQus Johnson as its head men's basketball coach on Tuesday, July 1, 2014.

Johnson was elevated to head coach after two seasons as assistant men's basketball coach at Saint Augustine's University from 2012 to 2014. Prior to returning to SAU, Johnson was head coach of the Cary Invasion, a semi-professional basketball team based in Cary, N.C. Under his guidance, the Invasion was 22-5 in two seasons and won the Continental Basketball League (CBL) regular season and tournament championship. The Invasion was also runner-up in the Tobacco Road Basketball League (TRBL). He was previously an assistant coach at Saint Augustine's University from 2008 to 2010 before heading to the Cary Invasion.

"He has been a faithful assistant under Coach [Lonnie] Blow twice and Coach [Tony] Sheals once," said SAU Athletic Director and legendary Track & Field Head Coach George Williams. "I think it's time to give him his due and see where he can take the program. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead."

Johnson is well-known in the Triangle area. A Knightdale, N.C., native, he was an assistant coach at North Carolina Central University and Shaw University in addition to Saint Augustine's University. Johnson has a stellar reputation for developing positive relationships with the student-athletes.

"I am honored and humbled while also being appreciative of the opportunity that Saint Augustine's University [Interim] President Dr. [Everett B.] Ward and Coach Williams have given me," said Johnson. "I will work diligently and with great passion to take this program to new heights. Our goal will be to recruit young men who not only value the opportunity to play collegiate basketball but also have a sense of urgency in every aspect of winning. When I say winning, I mean on the court, in the community and, most importantly, in the classroom."

Johnson was an assistant coach on the SAU men's basketball team which captured its second CIAA championship in school history during the 2009-2010 season. That squad advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament and earned a national top 25 ranking.

Before coming to SAU the first time, Johnson was an assistant coach at North Carolina Central and Shaw. At NCCU, seven of Johnson's recruits earned All-CIAA honors including David Young, who was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2004 NBA Draft. At Shaw, Johnson coached one All-CIAA player.

Johnson was a standout basketball player at NCCU from 1996 to 2000 where he held the title of team captain for three consecutive years. He helped lead the Eagles to three CIAA division titles where he was a prolific three-point shooter. Johnson graduated from NCCU with a B.S. degree in recreational administration in 2000.

As a prep player, Johnson starred at East Wake High School in Wendell, N.C., where he was an all-state basketball performer. He is the school's all-time scoring leader with 1,577 points.

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WSSU’s Ross signs to play in Dublin, Ireland

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Preston Ross III, who played one season of basketball at WSSU, has signed to play for UCD Marion Dublin, a pro team in Dublin, Ireland.

Ross, who transferred to WSSU after three seasons at Western Carolina, helped the Rams reach the CIAA championship game last season. At 6-5 and 220 pounds, Ross powered his way to 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds a game.

UCD Marion Dublin plays in the top division of the Premier League in Ireland.

Ross, who is from Fayetteville and a graduate of 71st High School, will leave next month to begin training camp. The season will run from October through March.

Ross is the latest former WSSU player to sign to play ...

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