Saturday, April 23, 2016

SCSU Men's Tennis Claims 2016 MEAC Title

NORFOLK, Virginia --  The South Carolina State Bulldogs made it a clean sweep on Saturday as the men's tennis team captured the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men's Championship with a 4-0 victory over Florida A&M University at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University.

Earlier in the day South Carolina State's women's team won the championship also with a 4-0 sweep of Florida A&M.

"We've battled so many injuries this year," South Carolina State Head Coach Hardeep Judge said. "Everybody stepped up all year long. We played FAMU and it was a tough match in Tallahasse earlier in the year. We worked on a lot of things we needed to work on and I think that was the difference."

In doubles, the Bulldogs took victories at the top two lines to take the team point.   At number one, Jakub Vitek and Martin Figura defeated C. Agustin Waitman and Walner Espinoza 7-6 (7-5).  The number two line saw Vladyslav Yanchenko and Salih Gilmutdinovtook a 6-3 win over Courage Okungbowa and Illya Skoromnyy.  

South Carolina State scored wins at numbers one, two and five singles to finish off the sweep.  Yanchenko defeated Karlyn Small 6-3, 6-0 at number two and Aleksander Stuparknocked off Jalen Evans 6-4, 6-2 at number five.  Figura scored a 6-2, 6-1 win over Okungbowa at the top line for the clinching point.

The championship for the Bulldogs was the eighth in a row, 11th in the last 12 completed tournaments and 14thoverall.

With the win, South Carolina State (12-8) earned the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships.  The NCAA selection show will air on May 3 at 5:30 p.m. online at www.ncaa.com.

For more information about men's tennis, please visit www.meacsports.com.


Men's All-Tournament
Outstanding Performer: Jakub Vitek, South Carolina State
Outstanding Coach: Hardeep Judge, South Carolina State

Doubles
#3Alvaro Barrera/Pablo LopezBethune-Cookman
#2Salih Gilmutdinov/Vladyslav YanchenkoSouth Carolina State
#1Martin Figura/Jakub VitekSouth Carolina State

Singles
#6Illya SkoromnyyFlorida A&M
#5Alexander StuparSouth Carolina State
#4Evan WardMorgan State
#3Jakub VitekSouth Carolina State
#2Vladyslav YanchenkoSouth Carolina State
#1Courage OkungbowaFlorida A&M


COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

SC State Captures 2016 MEAC Women's Tennis Title


NORFOLK, Virginia  --  The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs clinched the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship on Saturday morning with a 4-0 win over Florida A&M  at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University.

South Carolina State Head Coach Hardeep Judge, the tournament's outstanding coach, was extremely proud of the championship effort put on by his squad.

"We knew we had to play hard," Judge said. "The last time we played them, it was a tough match, a 4-3 contest so we knew we had to jump on top them early. This championship was very special. I didn't coach the team last year and this year we started out 1-9. I kept telling the girls that I believe in you. They responded this weekend."

In doubles, South Carolina State won at number one and number three slots to earn the team point.  Intissar Rassif and Dakota Brown defeated Shantel Blackwood and Arrice Robinson 6-2 at the number one slot, while Andjela Vasic and Marketa Marcanikova won at number three over Elizabeth Clayton and Alexis Dean 6-4 for the team point.

The singles matches were highlighted by Rassif, who was named the Outstanding Performer of the tournament, winning at number one over Alexis Dean 6-0, 6-2.  Vasic defeated Olivia Rolle 6-3, 6-1 at number three singles to get the Lady Bulldogs to within a point of the championship.   Carla Petreanu won the tournament-clinching match defeating Clayton at number six singles 6-0, 6-4.

The tournament title was the first for South Carolina State since 2014 and they have now won 11 of the last 12 MEAC Championships and 12th overall.

With the win, South Carolina State (8-10) earned the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships.  The NCAA selection show will air on May 3 at 5 p.m. online at www.ncaa.com.

For more information about women's tennis, please visit www.meacsports.com.

Women's All-Tournament Team
Outstanding Coach: Hardeep Judge                      South Carolina State
Outstanding Performer: Intissar Rassif                   South Carolina State

Doubles
#3Marketa Marcanikova/Andjela VasicSouth Carolina State
#2Dominique Henry/Olivia RolleFlorida A&M
#1Dakota Brown/Intissar RassifSouth Carolina State
Singles
#6Elizabeth ClaytonFlorida A&M
#5Dakota BrownSouth Carolina State
#4Dominique HenryFlorida A&M
#3Andjela VasicSouth Carolina State
#2Matea RokiBethune-Cookman
#1Intissar RassifSouth Carolina State

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Alabama State clinches East Division

ITTA BENA, Mississippi – The Alabama State Hornets captured the program’s third-straight SWAC East title on Saturday, with a 10-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State at Magnolia Field.

The Hornets improve to 17-0 in SWAC East action and 25-14 on the year while the Delta Devils fall to 6-29 for the season and 4-16 in conference play.

Hornet starter Tyler Howe (7-3) threw a complete game one hitter and only allowed two other Delta Devils to reach base, (one walk and hit batter), while matching a season-high 10 strike outs in the win.

The Alabama State offense exploded for 14 hits, as Yamil Pagan and Carlos Ocasio both collected three hits, including a double each. Pagan also added a triple as Ocasio batted in three runs. Dillon Cooper chipped in two hits and two RBI as well.

MVSU’s Drew Wheeler collected his base hit in the first inning, while Arrington Smith was hit by a pitch in the fourth. Marcus Jones drew a walk in the fifth inning for the Delta Devils.

On the hill, Smith (3-8) gave up eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits, striking out two, walking one and hitting three batters to take the loss.

The final game of the weekend series is Sunday at Magnolia Field, with first pitch set for 1 PM.
SWAC Baseball.


COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

UAPB Releases 2016 Football Schedule



PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  --- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Department of Athletics has announced its 2016 football schedule, an 11-game schedule with five games in the state of Arkansas, including four in Pine Bluff and one game potentially in Little Rock.
 
The month of September will feature two home contests and two road contests for the Golden Lions.
 
UAPB will open its 2016 campaign against Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 3 in the annual Big John Merritt Classic in Nashville, Tenn. at Nissan Stadium, the home the NFL's Tennessee Titans.  The last time the Golden Lions and Tigers squared off against each other was in 2012, UAPB's championship season.
 
The following week, on Saturday, Sept. 10, UAPB will welcome Oklahoma Panhandle State to Golden Lion Stadium in a 6 p.m. kickoff for its home opener.  This will be the first-ever meeting between the Golden Lions and the Aggies on the gridiron.    
 
In its second road trip in the month of September, UAPB will travel to Alcorn State, Miss. to take on Alcorn State at Jack Spinks/Marino Casem Stadium on Sept. 15 in a Thursday night special contest.
 
The Golden Lions will close out the month of September against Jackson State, tentatively at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark. on Saturday, Sept. 24. 
 
For the month of October, UAPB will make trips to Alabama and Louisiana and host its annual homecoming game during the month as well.
 
The Golden Lions will kick off the month with a trip to Montgomery, Ala. for a Saturday, October 1 matchup against Alabama State at New Hornet Stadium.  This is the first time in two seasons that UAPB will not face ASU on a Thursday night.
 
Two weeks later, the Golden Lions will take on Alabama A&M on Saturday, Oct. 15 in its annual homecoming game at Golden Lion Stadium with a 2:30 p.m. start.   
 
UAPB will make back-to-back trips to Louisiana with the Golden Lions facing Southern on Oct. 22 at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge and Grambling State on Oct. 29 at Eddie Robinson Stadium in Grambling.
 
The Golden Lions will close out the 2016 regular-season with three games in the month of November.  UAPB will face Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 5 at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff at 2:30 p.m. before traveling to Houston to take on Texas Southern on Nov. 12 at BBVA Compass Stadium at 2 p.m.  The regular-season ends against Prairie View A&M in the Golden Lions' annual Senior and Church Day game in Pine Bluff at 2:30 p.m.
 

DateOpponentStadiumLocationTime
Sept. 3at Tennessee StateNissanNashville, Tenn.6 p.m.
Sept. 10Oklahoma Panhandle StateGolden Lion Pine Bluff, Ark.6 p.m.
Sept. 15at Alcorn State*Jack Spinks/Marino Casem Alcorn State, Miss.TBA
Sept. 24vs. Jackson State*War Memorial+ Little Rock, Ark.+4 p.m.
Oct. 1at Alabama State*New Hornet Montgomery, Ala.2 p.m.
Oct. 15Alabama A&M* (Homecoming)Golden Lion Pine Bluff, Ark.2:30 p.m.
Oct. 22at Southern*A.W. MumfordBaton Rouge, La.4 p.m.
Oct. 29at Grambling State*Eddie RobinsonGrambling, La.TBA
Nov. 5Miss. Valley State*Golden LionPine Bluff, Ark.2:30 p.m.
Nov. 12at Texas Southern*BBVA CompassHouston, Texas2 p.m.
Nov. 19Prairie View A&M*Golden LionPine Bluff, Ark.2:30 p.m.
 
 *Denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games
+Tentative Site for this game
All home games at Golden Lion Stadium are in bold 
All times and dates are subject to change
HC-Homecoming


COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS 
 

Augusta Wins MEAC Championship, Robin Petersson Wins Back-to-Back Title


SAVANNAH, Georgia  --  The No. 30 Augusta Jaguars claimed the top five spots individually to win their second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship with a commanding 30-under par performance on Saturday at Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah, Ga. With the win, Augusta earns an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament and awaits the regional selection show.

On the par-72, 6,748-yard course, the Jaguars slowly built their lead across each round and finished 30-under par to claim the title. Bethune-Cookman took second (+3), Florida A&M third (+42), Savannah State fourth (+60), North Carolina Central fifth (+63), Maryland Eastern Shore sixth (+95), and Hampton seventh (+137).

The Jaguars combined for 29 birdies in round three and improved by 10 shots from one round two to round three with a 270 (-18). For the second straight year, Jags senior Robin Petersson was named the Most Outstanding Player for winning the MEAC Championship in back-to-back years.

Petersson shot his second 69 (-3) of the event to finish 11-under par.

Sophomore Broc Everett tied the low round school record for Augusta University since 1993-94 with a 64 (-8) in round three. Everett had nine birdies in round two and took second overall seven below par.

Junior Jake Marriott finished sixth under to take third in the 32-man field with a round-three 71 (-1) and senior Maverick Antcliff came on strong in the final round and dropped six strokes for a 66 (-6) to card fourth.

Rounding out the Jags and taking a tie for fifth was junior Emmanuel Kountakis who posted a 71 for his low round across the event to end up even par for 54 holes.

MEAC (Final Scores – JAGUARS)

COURTESY AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

With MEAC football needing to improve its APR numbers, HU is the perfect role model

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
HAMPTON, Virginia -- The latest Academic Progress Rate study by the NCAA contained alarming news for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football. Although its overall numbers continue to rise, four of the conference's 11 programs were declared ineligible for the postseason.

Dennis Thomas, the MEAC's commissioner, called that "an aberration" in that the league had never been hit that hard in one sport. But it will be the sixth consecutive year that at least one football team has been banned from the playoffs.

"We're disappointed, but we're not discouraged," Thomas said Friday. "I have no question it will get better because I've seen it get better. I'm not just saying it just because I want it to get better."

Thomas has seen it. And his former employer is the model.

In the summer of 2012, Hampton University's football team was barred from postseason play because of an APR of 881 — 49 points below the NCAA-set minimum for eligibility. University President William Harvey didn't complain about the process. He simply vowed the numbers would improve.

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Gold Nuggets take aim at 4th consecutive GCAC title


NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will seek a fourth consecutive team title Saturday in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium.
     
The Gold Nuggets return champions in four events and, based on this season's times and distances, are seeded first in six events.
     
The one-day, five-school meet will begin with field events at 8:45 a.m. The final event, the 1,600-meter relay, will begin at 4:45 p.m. Team awards will be presented at 5:15 p.m. Admission is free.
     
Competing with Xavier for team and individual honors will be the women and men of Dillard, Edward Waters, SUNO and Talladega.
     
"I like our chances of repeating," XU coach Joseph Moses said, "if we take care of the events where we have depth and our high seeds maintain their spots Saturday. We could score a lot of points. But we expect another competitive meet that may not get decided until late in the day."
     
Returning champions for the XU women are Terri Cunningham in the 400-meter hurdles and high jump, Drew Chatters in the javelin and Tylor Row in the 100 hurdles. The Gold Nuggets' top seeds are Chatters, Cunningham (high jump), Maliya Vaughan in the 1,500, Dionysia Love in the 5,000 and 3,000 steeplechase and the 3,200 relay team of Love, Chinyere JonesBrianna Pace and Vaughn.
     
In six previous GCAC meets (2004, 2011-15), the Gold Nuggets won the team title five times, missing only in 2012. Xavier surpassed 200 points each of the past two seasons and won by 44 points over runner-up Edward Waters a year ago.
     
For the Xavier men, Christopher August is a defending champion in the 5,000. The Gold Rush's lone top seed is Brent Kitto in the 1,500. Kitto won that event in 2014.
     
Edward Waters is the defending men's team champion and won that title three of the past four years. The Tigers scored 156 points in 2015, 35 more than runner-up Dillard.
     
Other student-athletes to watch include:
     •  SUNO's Shantae Green, the NAIA's third-ranked woman in the 400 hurdles.
     •  SUNO's Leonie Robinson, No. 4 in the NAIA in the women's 200 and the GCAC defending champion.
     •  Dillard's Danielle Glover, two-time defending champion in the women's hammer.
     •  SUNO's Jahnoy Thompson, the No. 3 NAIA male in the 400 and No. 5 in the 200.
     •  Edward Waters' Mikevion Hall, No. 3 in the NAIA in the men's long jump.
     •  SUNO's Chad Thomas, a two-time defending GCAC champion in the men's 400 hurdles and No. 4 in the NAIA.
     The meet schedule:

Field Events
8:45 a.m.Men's Hammer (women to follow) — outside stadium
9:30 a.m.Men's High Jump (women to follow)
9:30 a.m.Women's Long Jump (men to follow)
11 a.m.Men's Javelin (women to follow) — outside stadium
11 a.m.Women's Shot Put (men to follow)
1:45 p.m.Men's Discus (women to follow) — outside stadium
1:45 p.m.Women's Triple Jump (men to follow)
1:45 p.m.Men's Pole Vault (women to follow) — warm up at 1 p.m.

Track Events (in meters)
9:30 a.m.3,000 Steeplechase Women/Men
10:55 a.m.National Anthem
11 a.m.400 Relay Women/Men
11:20 a.m.1,500 Run Women/Men
11:50 a.m.100 Hurdles Women
Noon110 Hurdles Men
12:15 p.m.400 meters Women/Men
12:45 p.m.3,200 Relay Women/Men
1 p.m.Break
2 p.m.100 Women/Men
2:20 p.m.400 Hurdles Women/Men
2:45 p.m.800 Women/Men
3:15 p.m.200 Dash Women/Men
3:30 p.m.5,000 Run Women/Men
4:45 p.m.1,600 Relay Women/Men
5:15 p.m.Awards and Presentations

GCAC Championships Team Scoring
Men
YearChampionPoints      Runner-upPoints
2004Xavier92      SUNO24
2011Dillard161 1/2      Edward Waters136
2012Edward Waters217      Dillard192
2013Edward Waters212      Dillard188
2014Dillard178      Edward Waters153
2015Edward Waters156      Dillard121
Women
YearChampionPoints      Runner-upPoints
2004Xavier82      SUNO10
2011Xavier138 1/2      Dillard133
2012Dillard218      (tie) Edward Waters, SUNO142
2013Xavier184      Edward Waters175
2014Xavier213      Dillard168
2015Xavier202      Edward Waters158


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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NAIA Approves Stillman College for Membership

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Council of Presidents is pleased to announce the approval of four institutions for membership in the NAIA, effective July 1, 2016. The announcement occurred at the 75th Annual National Convention on Tuesday (April 19). The current NAIA membership total now stands at 252 total institutions.

The four new members are Crowley’s Ridge College (Ark.), Silver Lake College of the Holy Family (Wis.), Stillman College (Ala.) and University of the Virgin Islands. Two other institutions – University of Antelope Valley (Calif.) and Benedictine University at Mesa (Ariz.) – were both approved into the active membership category for the 2016-17 academic year. Both of these universities will now be allowed to participate in postseason competition, be included in the national awards programs and vote in the Association business.

“We are very excited to welcome these four new institutions into the NAIA and pledge to be a part of their growth,” Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO said. “Our association offers a different approach that places student-athletes at the center of all decision-making and focuses on character at the core of sports. These institutions recognize the value NAIA brings and desire to be a part of this great organization.”

Crowley’s Ridge was affiliated with the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), Silver Lake College was affiliated with the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), Stillman was an athletic member of NCAA Division II and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and Virgin Islands was associated with Liga Atletica Interuniversitaria (LAI), which is comprised of 21 universities that each offer a minimum of six women’s sports and six men’s sports. Virgin Islands is the only public institution of the group.

Silver Lake is the oldest of the group, as the 2016-17 academic year will serve as the school’s 36th year of intercollegiate athletics. Stillman will enter its 17th season, Virgin Islands will enter its 11th and Crowley’s Ridge will enter its eighth as a four-year school.

The NAIA Membership Committee reviewed each institution’s application and determined which institutions would move to the next stage of the process. Those institutions then participated in a campus visit by a Membership Evaluation Team. The recommendations of each campus visit were supported by the Membership Committee, which then were presented to the Council of Presidents for final approval.

The NAIA is in the fifth year of the current membership process, where institutions are only able to apply for NAIA membership on an annual basis. Membership applications must be received in the NAIA office by Oct.1 each year to receive consideration for the following year. Institutions applying to the NAIA must meet membership criteria that include financial stability, sports sponsorship, accreditation and a commitment to character-driven athletics. The Membership Committee also reviews enrollment numbers, graduation percentages, retention rates and overall athletics budgets.

COURTESY NAIA MEDIA RELATIONS

LeMoyne-Owen's Anthony Smith shines on golf course, fights for life off it

ATLANTA, Georgia – Anthony Smith, a member of the LeMoyne-Owen men's golf team isn't your typical student-athlete. Although he has a warm and welcoming spirit, Smith is a competitor who shines on the golf course despite fighting for his life off of it.

On the outside, Smith appears to be as healthy as any other young man in his 20s. He's tall with chiseled shoulders and a smile that can light up an entire room. But beneath that lies a sickle cell gene, which one in 12 African-Americans carry.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious, inherited condition affecting the blood and various organs in the body. It affects the red blood cells, causing episodes of sickling, which produce episodes of pain and other symptoms. In between episodes of sickling, people with SCD are normally well. Long-term complications can occur. Certain conditions can trigger sickling, such as cold, infection, lack of fluid in the body or low oxygen.

Smith's diagnosis began to take a toll on him in high school when his doctor told him that it wasn't a good idea to continue playing basketball because of his disease.

"It was draining my body a lot," Smith explained. "I like being an athlete so I had to find something else to do. At that time, I was like why not golf? Golf looks like an easy sport. Anybody can play golf. I talked to the golf coach at Stephenson High School and he showed me the game."

Smith quickly learned that golf wasn't as easy as he pictured. He was awful and hated everything about it.

"I told my coach I wasn't coming back out there," said Smith. "But as I sat at home doing nothing, I realized that I couldn't just give up. So I got back out there and started practicing on my own. I called the golf coach a month later to tell him that I wanted to learn the sport."

Patience and persistence gradually began to pay off for Smith. He played for two seasons at Stephenson before moving to Mississippi. Unfortunately for Smith there weren't any golf teams in the area but he continued to play when he could until he graduated.

A sport that he initially despised awarded him a scholarship to Alcorn State University. However, life threw another curve ball at Smith. After two years on the ASU men's golf team, Smith's head coach Tom Matthews passed away in 2012. Alcorn State dropped the golf program the following year and Smith's future seemed unclear until he got a phone call that would direct his course back onto golf course.

After taking a year off from school, Smith received a call from LeMoyne-Owen head coach Don Holmes, asking Smith to tryout for the team. Smith impressed and became a member of the team.

It looked as if things were getting better for Smith. He was back in school and enjoying playing golf. In his first season at LeMoyne-Owen, he played in every tournament and saw his self improving.

"I was loving it," stated Smith. "Then I got sick. My blood count dropped tremendously. I could barely move my legs. The pain was so excruciating that after they admitted me into the hospital I had to get blood transfusions. It was three days before the 2015 SIAC championship. I wasn't supposed to be out of the hospital but I had a talk with my doctor and told him that I wasn't the type of person to sit in the hospital. I felt decent enough to go play. The doctor checked everything and cleared me.

I enjoyed the tournament and being around people that love golf. I played ok and got a chance to talk with other student-athletes around the conference. It's all love between us. Because golf is our common ground, it gives us an opportunity to talk about other things."

Smith's determination and competitiveness are just a few attributes that make him a special individual. No matter what life brings his way, he stands tall and faces the battles head on.

After starting the 2015-16 season off strong and lowering his scores on a consistent basis, the winter season kicked in and his sickle cell became more intense. For most people diagnosed with sickle cell, the winter months can pose a major health challenge. In Smith's case, if the weather gets too cold or too hot it's hard for his body to move. He begins to lose oxygen which causes the sickle cell "crisis" or pain. His immune system weakens and he has to monitor his activities. He can't just go outside freely and has to remain indoors to take care of his body.

"It got really bad," Smith explained. "I couldn't practice for three months. The first time I touched the golf course was at our next tournament in the spring. I wasn't going to give up. I went back to practicing after that tournament. A lot of people don't understand what sickle cell is. It's a blood disease so when it acts up there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to let it take its course and endure the pain. I don't find it as an issue anymore because I know what I'm capable of. I believe I can accomplish whatever it is that I want to accomplish if I put my mind to it."

After Smith graduates in December with a degree in information technology he plans on pursuing a career at an animal reserve. Smith also wants to start an organization to help mentor young kids.

"I love animals but I can't be around animals yet," said Smith. "My doctor and I are working on getting my immune system high enough so that I can go work with animals. I love studying animals and history. I like learning new things. I enjoy encouraging and talking to people. If I can do it, you can do it. Your body is way better than mine. I try to build up other people's morale so that they can better than themselves; especially in the black community where there is a lot of negativity and not enough encouragement."

At the age of 23, Smith has gained wisdom beyond his years. His advice to anyone dealing with the struggles of life or just simply having a bad day remains the same.

"Never give up," Smith said. "You have to take care of business. If you know you need to take care of your body, that's taking care of business. If you know you need to study more to get a better grade, that's taking care of business. If you need to workout, that's taking care of business. Find something that will make you happy or something that will better yourself."

COURTESY SAIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Fayetteville State Names Serena King-Coleman as Head Women's Basketball Coach

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Fayetteville State University has announced Serena King-Coleman as the 13th head women’s basketball coach in program history. Women’s basketball was officially recognized as a sport at FSU in 1940. The program has claimed three CIAA Championships (1979, 2001, and 2010) and made seven NCAA DII postseason appearances.

King-Coleman comes to FSU after completing seven seasons as head women’s basketball coach at Kentucky State University. She complied an overall record of 99-67 at KSU. Last season (2015-16), King-Coleman reached a career single season best record of 24-5. She led the Thorobrettes to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tournament championship game and an appearance in the NCAA DII South Regionals this past season.

Kentucky State had back-to-back 20-plus win seasons under King-Coleman. The team had a record of 46-11 the last two seasons (2014-16).

"We are delighted to welcome Serena King-Coleman to the FSU family. She is a winner and a respected mentor of young women," said director of athletics Anthony Bennett. "Beyond her impressive competitive success, her vision for Fayetteville State women's basketball, knowledge of the game, and infectious energy left us confident Serena will lead Lady Bronco women's basketball into a perennial contender."

King-Coleman has experience and roots coaching in the CIAA. She served as head women’s basketball coach at St. Paul’s College (SPC) for six seasons (2004-10). In 2008, King-Coleman coached the first ever CIAA Women’s Player of the Year in SPC history. The Lady Tigers also received the CIAA Sportsmanship Award during the 2007-08 season under her tutelage.

King-Coleman also held the titles of senior woman administrator (SWA) and assistant athletics director her last three seasons at St. Paul’s (2007-10).

“I’m extremely grateful and excited to join the Fayetteville State family and lead the women’s basketball program,” stated King-Coleman. “This is a great opportunity for me and my family. I’m thrilled to be coaching again in the CIAA. This is a huge blessing and I’m ready to do the best job possible.” \

Her head coaching career began at Gardner-Webb University. She served as the interim head women’s basketball coach during the 2003-04 season. King-Coleman held the position of associate head women’s basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at GWU before being promoted to interim head coach.

King-Coleman maintains professional involvement at both the conference and regional levels. She served as the acting WBCA Division II Conference Captain for the SIAC as well as a member of the NCAA DII Regional Ranking Committee while at Kentucky State.

She is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). King-Coleman was inducted into the Kentucky 10th Region Hall of Fame for her contributions to girl’s high school basketball. She is a 2009 National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) and the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Institute graduate. She also received the Marian Hanna Satcher Student Retention Award in 2009.

She played intercollegiate women’s basketball as a student-athlete at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) from 1993-97. King-Coleman earned Big South All-Rookie honors as a Spartan. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1998.

King-Coleman and her husband Meade have three children; Symphonie, Madison, and Aria.

WR Golson latest Delaware State Hornet set to transfer

DOVER, Delaware -- Another player is leaving the Delaware State University football team for his final season.

Wide receiver Malik Golson, a Smyrna High product, is transferring to Murray State. Golson is set to receive his undergraduate degree from DSU this spring and will be eligible to play immediately for the Racers via the graduate transfer rule.



Golson is the second Hornet to elect to finish his collegiate career elsewhere in the last few months. Gabe Sherrod, DSU’s leader in sacks and tackles for loss from a year ago, transferred to Syracuse and will also use the graduate transfer rule.

Golson played three seasons for the Hornets and finished second on the team in receiving each year. He racked up 517 yards as a freshman in 2013, but last season averaged a career high 14.0 yards per catch, to go along with three touchdowns. In his career at DelState, Golson caught 100 passes for 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns.

He was also DSU’s No. 1 punt returner every year of his career with 154 yards on 20 punts for an average of 7.7 yards per return. Golson was also utilized as a kick returner during his time as a Hornet, reeling off 281 yards on 20 returns for an average of 14.1 yards per return.

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