Hampton Pirates hoops coaches earn contract extensions

Hampton University men's basketball coach Ed "Buck" Joyner and women's basketball coach David Six, who each led their teams to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament titles and NCAA appearances in their second seasons, received three-year contract extensions on Wednesday.

Joyner's Pirates went 24-9, won their first MEAC tournament since 2006 and posted their first 20-win season since the 2001-02 season. "I'm just happy with the fact that they think I'm capable of leading the program into the near future, and hopefully further than that," Joyner said.

The Lady Pirates went 25-7, won the MEAC regular-season title with their second straight 20-win season and fell to Kentucky in overtime in the first round of the NCAA.  "I think the best is yet to come," Six said. "We were a stone's throw away this year, and I really believe eventually we're going to knock that door down."


Videographer: inclusiveva; 2010 Daily Press Citizen of the Year: Dr. William R. Harvey, President, Hampton University. Presented at Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities 2011 Peninsula Humanitarian Awards Dinner  

JOYNER AND SIX GET NEW CONTRACTS AT HAMPTON

HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University men’s basketball coach Edward Joyner Jr. and women’s basketball coach David Six have both received new three-year contracts after guiding their respective teams to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championships and the resulting automatic berths to the NCAA tournament.

In announcing the new contracts, athletics director Lonza Hardy Jr. praised his second-year head coaches for their “inspiring leadership and skillful coaching.”

“Coaches Joyner and Six have certainly lived up to my expectations,” stated Hardy. “Their leadership and high quality of coaching have inspired our student-athletes to excel on the basketball court as well as in the classroom. I’m proud of what they have accomplished as our head coaches and I eagerly await the outstanding things that are in store for our men’s and women’s basketball programs. With Coach Joyner and Coach Six at the helm, the sky is the limit for the heights that our programs can reach.”

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Videographer: SPEARSthruHEARTS; The seniors at Hampton University celebrate 100 days left until their graduation.

Tony Harvey Stays At TSU

HOUSTON - Texas Southern University basketball coach Tony Harvey told FOX 26 Sports Wednesday he has decided not to pursue the vacant head coaching job at Eastern Michigan. Eagles officials contacted TSU athletics director Charles McClelland Monday to let him know of their interest in Harvey.

Harvey was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after leading TSU to the SWAC regular season championship this past season and a spot in the NIT.

"After carefully evaluating the situation, which I believe is a wonderful opportunity, I have decided to continue with my plans at TSU," Harvey said "

TSU hoops coach a hot commodity after recent success ‎

Texas Southern men's basketball coach Tony Harvey said Wednesday that Eastern Michigan has contacted him about its vacant head coaching position.

Harvey, who grew up in Benton Harbor, Mich., and served as an assistant at Eastern Michigan from 1996-99, led TSU to a 19-13 record in 2010-11 and the program's first Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season championship since 1998. The Tigers, who went 16-2 in conference regular-season play, failed to reach the NCAA Tournament after being upset in the semifinals of the SWAC tournament but received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament, where they lost to Colorado in the first round.

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Gray returns to Florida A&M to coach QBs

Tallahassee, FL - Assistant coach Steven Jerry stood a few feet from the Florida A&M quarterback unit. He didn't say much to them. Quinn Gray did most of the talking and the three quarterbacks were obviously zoned in. That was about three weeks ago, before Gray officially became quarterbacks coach for the Rattlers.

On Monday, Gray became the second former Rattlers player on coach Joe Taylor's staff with a fulltime job, joining defensive coordinator Earl Holmes. Like Holmes, Gray played in the NFL after leaving FAMU.

Gray returns as part of Taylor's staff restructures following the departure of Tim Edwards, who worked with Holmes as defensive coordinator, and tight end coach Edwin Pata. As part of the change, Taylor took the load of quarterbacks and receivers coaching off Jerry, leaving him as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.


Videographer: FAMUTube1887; A Day in the Life of A Radio Personality

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Xavier Gold Rush close regular season with 7-0 loss at Tulane

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana closed its regular season Wednesday with a 7-0 loss at Tulane in the first-ever men's tennis dual match between the schools.

It was the fourth consecutive loss for the XU men (11-9) and their seventh in 10 duals since a 6-3 victory March 4 at Vanguard which propelled them into the NAIA's top 10. It also was the regular-season finale for Tulane (11-10), which has won three straight and five of its last six.

Rodrigo Rappaccioli clinched the doubles point for Tulane when he and Shaye Wali defeated Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson 8-4 at No. 2. Rappaccioli clinched the dual with his 6-1, 6-1 victory over Amir Rahbar at No. 4 singles.

Giles-Osborn was the only Gold Rush player to win a set, but he lost 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-3) to Joe Young at No. 2 singles. Zach Taylor, playing No. 3 singles, forced a second-set tiebreaker before losing 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) to Radu Ionescu.

The loss was Xavier's fifth in seven duals this season against NCAA Division I opponents.

The Gold Rush, ranked eighth in the NAIA, will compete next in an NAIA National Championship qualifying tournament April 29-30 at Chattanooga, Tenn. Xavier's women still have two regular-season duals remaining.



By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Bethune-Cookman Wins MEAC Golf Showcase

Bethune-Cookman's men's golf team and B-CU women's player Kimberly Wong both won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Showcase hosted by Savannah State University in Savannah, Ga.

The B-CU men edged Savannah State by one stroke, 909-910, to win the five-team event. B-CU's Emmanuel Petrich finished third with a three-round total 225, followed by Matthew McKnight (fourth, 228); Jamichael Jones (fifth, 231); Rafael Abda (seventh, 232) and Alex Clapp (10th, 235).

Wong posted six birdies in 36 holes as she posted a four-stroke victory over teammate Vanessa Adame, 153-157. Marie Bergelin was eighth (178), Maxine Gardner ninth (182) and Miranda Rose 10th (190) for the WildCats, whom finished nine shots behind Hampton's 661 for the team runner-up spot.

SSU men finish 2nd in MEAC Showcase golf tournament

Savannah State University’s men’s golf team finished second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Showcase on Tuesday, shooting a 58-over-par 910 in the three-round event at Henderson Golf Course. Bethune-Cookman shot a 57-over-par 909 to win the event.

SSU’s Ryan Lassiter shot 218 after rounds of 72-76-70 to finish first. The Tigers’ Andrew Atkins shot 223 after rounds of 72-77-74 to finish second. Bethune-Cookman’s Emanuel Petrich shot 225 after round of 77-75-73 to finish third.

Florida A&M was third at 950, North Carolina Central was fourth at 994 and Hampton was fifth at 1,022.

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Texas Southern coach Tony Harvey a candidate for EMU job

Houston, TX - Texas Southern coach Tony Harvey, who has roots in Michigan, is a candidate to become the next men's basketball coach at Eastern Michigan. EMU athletic director Derrick Gragg contacted Texas Southern athletic director Charles McClelland as a courtesy Tuesday and expressed his interest in Harvey.

"Eastern Michigan's athletic director left me a message as a courtesy, saying he was interested in Tony Harvey," McClelland said Tuesday evening. "He never mentioned an interview, but I didn't call him back either."

Harvey, a 1983 graduate of Benton Harbor High School, was an assistant coach under Milton Barnes at EMU when the Eagles finished 23-10 in 1997 and then won the MAC tournament in 1998. He was also an assistant coach at Missouri when the Tigers reached the Elite Eight in 2002.

Harvey recently finished his third season as head coach at...

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG
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Delaware State Hornets football: There's a new boss in town at spring practice

DOVER, DE -- It has only taken a week and a half for new Delaware State University football coach  Kermit Blount to raise the energy level among the Hornets players with new assistant coaches, a revamped playbook and an optimistic eye on the future.

For Blount, this has been a spring football camp full of learning players' names, evaluating talent and bringing in fresh ideas. The Hornets' two-week camp will culminate with the annual Red/White scrimmage at Alumni Stadium on Saturday night at 6.

"I'll tell you what, I'm really, really pleased with how the kids are responding to what we're asking them to do on the field as well as off the field," said Blount, who coached at Winston-Salem State for 16 seasons before accepting the DSU post. The players are obviously responding to the new energy.

HORNETS ADJUST TO CHANGE THIS SPRING

Dover, Del. -- The Delaware State University football team has passed the halfway point of its first spring camp under new head coach Kermit Blount. The two-week camp has been highlighted by the installation of new offensive and defensive systems.

"I'm really pleased with how well the guys have adapted to the changes we've made," said Blount, who was introduced as head coach of the Hornets on Feb. 4. "We've given them a lot to digest in a short time, but the energy level has remained high throughout camp. There's still a lot of work to do, but the transition has been relatively smooth so far."

The Hornets expect to return more than 40 letter winners, including 15 starters from their 2010 team, which won two of the last three games to post a 3-8 overall record and 2-6 mark in the MEAC. There are about 75 players participating in spring camp, including up to 12 newcomers.

"We (the coaching staff) have conducted camp as if everyone is fighting for starting jobs," Blount said. "Of course, guys will step up throughout the spring, but everything will be up for grabs come summer camp. I've been particularly pleased with our athleticism, while our biggest concern is developing depth on both sides of the ball, especially along the lines."

Delaware State will wrap up spring drills with the annual Red/White scrimmage on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.

The Hornets will kick off the 2011 season at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) on Sep. 3. The home opener is Sep. 10 against Shaw University.

By DSU Athletic Media Relations

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