Former Delaware State Player and Coach Jackie DeVane named Head Women's Basketball Coach at West Virginia Wesleyan

Coach Jackie DeVane

Buckhannon, WV - West Virginia Wesleyan College Director of Athletics Ken Tyler announced today the hiring of Jackie DeVane as Head Women’s Basketball Coach. DeVane was selected from a pool of almost 100 applicants.

Tyler stated, "We are very pleased to welcome Coach DeVane to West Virginia Wesleyan. She brings a wealth of successful experience, as well as strong enthusiasm for teaching and coaching. Jackie will be a real asset to Wesleyan."

DeVane has spent 15 years as a collegiate head coach, including 10 on the Division I level. She began her career at Division II Cheyney University, where she led the Lady Wolves to their first 20-win season in 10 years. From Cheyney, DeVane was hired as the head coach at Division I Delaware State University, where she earned MEAC Coach of the Year honors. In addition, she coached the men’s basketball team for the final three games of their season and the conference tournament.

In 2000, DeVane accepted the head coaching position at Division I Monmouth University where she compiled an overall record of 75-57, made an appearance in the NEC finals, won the most games (18) since Monmouth joined the NEC, and set a school record with four consecutive winning seasons.

After so many years on the road, DeVane left coaching in 2005 to raise her daughter Kiki in a more stable environment. Kiki will be a freshman student-athlete at Bethune-Cookman University this fall. From her new base in Houston, Texas, DeVane stayed active in the game by coaching AAU and helping young athletes move on to college. During her 15-year head-coaching career, DeVane served on the Board of Directors of both the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association and the Black Coaches’ Association.

DeVane earned a bachelor’s degree from Delaware State, a master’s from Penn State, and has completed doctoral work at Temple University. DeVane was a four-year letter winner and captain at Delaware State and led the team in rebounding three years. She pulled down a school-record 28 rebounds in one game her freshman year, and was inducted into the DSU Hall of Fame in 1997.

DeVane summed up her hiring by stating, "I am excited to be a part of the West Virginia Wesleyan family. I think Ken Tyler is doing a wonderful job with the athletic department and I love that President Balch is so supportive of athletics! It’s an awesome feeling to be back in the saddle, and I’m looking forward to working with the student-athletes in the program."

What they’re saying about Jackie DeVane:

"She is a hard worker who pays close attention to dotting her I’s and crossing her T’s. Jackie is very diligent, is a great communicator, and is very smart when it comes to achieving educational goals."
-Hall of Fame Coach John Chaney, formerly of Temple University

"Wesleyan has hired a quality individual who also happens to be one of my favorite people. She is intelligent and relates extremely well to young people. She knows the game and is a great basketball coach who has always had a great love for the game. I think you guys got someone who the community will love. She is a very, very good recruiter and you’ll be very proud of the job she does with the young women that make up your basketball program. Congratulations on hiring such a beautiful person."
-Former Syracuse University Head Coach Marianne Freeman (DeVane’s coach at Delaware State)

By West Virginia Wesleyan College Sports Information

Colonial Heights' Phillingane will play softball at VSU next year

Colonial Heights, VA - For four years there has been one constant on the Colonial Heights softball team - senior pitcher Savannah Phillingane. Over her career, Phillingane has grown into one of the most competitive pitchers in the Central District with her delivery and hard-nosed attitude on the mound.

Next season, the Colonials pitcher will take those talents to Virginia State where she signed on the dotted line of a National Letter of Intent Tuesday to play college softball.

"This makes two players [Caitlin Underhill] in two years that we've seen gone on to play Division II softball, it is really exciting," said Colonial Heights coach Toni Martin. "I think it will be a good fit for her. She can do anything but I think that they might want her as a closer, but she really wants to catch."



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SWAC issues postseason bans for low APR

Presidents Adopt Postseason Ban Policy; SWAC adheres to NCAA ban, effective immediately

Birmingham, Ala. - The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted Thursday to adopt a league policy to prohibit any member institution subject to NCAA postseason bans to include SWAC championships and tournaments. The policy is effective immediately.

Currently, the policy prohibits Southern University and A&M College and Jackson State University from being eligible to participate in the 2011 Farmers Insurance SWAC Football Championship, and it prohibits the Southern University and A&M College and Grambling State University men’s basketball teams from participation in the 2012 Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament.

The NCAA already hit both schools with a postseason ban because of low APR scores, which were released last month. But the SWAC football championship did not apply because the NCAA considers the game an extension of the regular season. The league does not receive an automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

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Former MEAC offensive coach lands at Georgetown

Former DSU and FAMU Running Backs
Coach Renato Diaz lands at 
Georgetown, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Georgetown University Head Football Coach Kevin Kelly has announced that Renato Diaz has joined the offensive coaching staff as the wide receivers coach and Tony Lucas has joined the staff as the running backs coach under the team's offensive coordinator David Patenaude.

"Renato and Tony both have a great passion for the game and are great teachers," Kelly said. "On the recruiting trail both will be excellent ambassadors for the Georgetown football program."

Diaz, a Miami, Fla. native, comes to the Hilltop with 15 years of coaching experience, having served the last three seasons as the running backs coach and kickoff and punt returners coach at Delaware State, where he helped Larrone Moore rank first in the nation in kick return average at 34.8 yards per return. Prior to his time with the Hornets, Diaz spent three seasons as the running backs coach with Florida A&M where he guided the Rattlers rushing attack rank 17th in the nation and first in the MEAC in all-purpose rushing in 2005 and 2007.

Diaz, who graduated from University of South Florida with a Bachelors of Science in Geology in 1983 got his start in coaching with the Bulls, where he rose from offensive assistant in 1996 to tight ends coach and special teams coordinator prior to moving to Columbia University in 2000.

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GAME OF NOTE:  10/15/2011-- Geogetown Hoyas at Howard Bison, Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C. 1:00 p.m.,  ET

Countdown to Football: 86 Days -- Alabama State off probation

This season, Alabama State will finally be free from the NCAA sanctions placed on the program in 2008.

The probation included a ban on postseason play in 2009 and a reduction in recruiting activities and scholarships in addition to the elimination of victories in the 2000 and 2001 seasons, including the 2001 SWAC championship.

"You can tell the student-athletes we're free and can get on with the business at hand," said fifth-year ASU coach Reggie Barlow.

Photo Galleries:
The Week in Pictures at ASU
May 15-21, 2011

The Week in Pictures at ASU
May 22-28, 2011

The Week in Pictures at ASU
May 29-June 4, 2011



Watkins Steps Down as Baseball Coach; Hornets Make Coaching Changes

Longtime Head Baseball Coach Larry Watkins has stepped down to take an administrative position within the Athletic Department, Athletic Director Stacy Danley announced Tuesday.

In other coaching moves, Head Volleyball Coach Sonia Price and Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach Bernard Sewell were relieved of their duties.

Assistant Coach Anthony Macon has been named Interim Head Baseball Coach, and Assistant Coach Frederick Whitt has been named Interim Head Volleyball Coach.

Watkins served as head baseball coach for 30 seasons and was just the third baseball coach in the school's history. A 1974 ASU graduate who played centerfield, Watkins became assistant coach upon graduation and was named head coach in 1982. This past season, the Hornets went 14-29 overall, 6-18 in conference play and were eliminated in the first round of Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament.

"To be associated with a program for more than 40 years takes a special individual," Danley said. "Coach Watkins is truly that person, one who has been tremendously dedicated to ASU and the baseball program. In this day and time, serving as head coach for 30 consecutive years at one school speaks of Coach Watkins' devotion and is a milestone that will be difficult to match. I am looking forward to working with him in this new capacity."



Price had served as head volleyball coach for 16 seasons (1995-2010), while Sewell led the tennis programs for 14 seasons (1997-2011).

“After careful evaluation of the past history of each program, we are not receiving the needed results and will go in a different direction,” Danley said. “We will conduct a national search for whom we believe is the best candidate to lead these respective programs to a championship level.”

Last season, ASU Volleyball posted a 12-21 overall record and 3-5 in conference play as the Lady Hornets were eliminated in the second round of the SWAC Tournament. Price came to Alabama State in 1992 as an assistant coach in volleyball and women's basketball. She was named interim head volleyball coach in 1995 and became the permanent head coach one year later after relinquishing her role with women's basketball. Price also was Interim Athletic Director from August 2003-April 2004.

Sewell led the Lady Hornets to the 1999 SWAC Tennis Championship. This past season, the men's team was eliminated in the first round of the SWAC Tournament, while the women's team failed to qualify for postseason play.

By Alabama State University Sports Information

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Florida A&M Rattlers inks four hoopsters

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida A&M University men's basketball announces their 2011 signing class. The mixture of athletes concentrated on increasing the size of the Rattlers' front line. Four athletes have signed, with three coming from within the state of Florida and one from Georgia.

First year head coach Clemon Johnson, charged assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Tony Sheals, to get some size to bulk up the inside play and toughen the defense. The result is the signing of Eddie D'Haiti, Markee Teal, Nathaniel Drayton and D'Andre Bullard.  



D'Haiti, is from Orlando, Fla., and is a junior college transfer from Santa Fe College. He is 6'8" tall and weighs 235 lbs. He should help the Rattlers in the post position. He was an All-Mid Florida Conference player. He attended Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, where he led the team to a 43-13 record while playing there. He was shown interest by West Virginia, Valdosta St. and FAU.

Teal, is from State College of Florida (formerly Manatee Community College). He is from Ocala, Fla., where he attended Westport High School. He was also a first team Suncoast All-Conference selection as a post player. Teal stands 6'7" and weighs 220 lbs. He was shown interest by B-CU and St. Peters College.

Drayton, who goes by the name "Nate," is originally from Savannah, Ga. He is a junior college transfer from Salkehatchie Community College, where he was an All-Conference performer. Drayton plays the post and is 6'7" and 245 lbs. He was shown interest by Towson State, Coastal Carolina, and S.C. State.

Bullard, is a true freshman from Apopka, Fla. He attended Wekiva High School and was an All-County and All-Region player. He has good height for a point guard, standing 6'4" and 175 lbs. He was shown interest by Northeastern and Stetson University.

By Florida A&M Sports Information

Grambling State Eldred Barnett taken in MLB Baseball Draft

Grambling, LA---Grambling State Tigers junior outfielder Eldred Barnett was taken in the 29th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft by the World Champions San Francisco Giants.

The Benton, Louisiana native becomes the second consecutive Tiger outfielder taken in the MLB draft under head coach James Cooper who himself was taken in the 33rd round as an outfielder by the Houston Astros in 2004.

Barnett (6-2, 200), who was named to the All-Conference first team was also tabbed the Southwestern Athletic Conference newcomer of the year and selected to the 2011 SWAC Tournament All-Tournament team. Barnett led the team in hitting with a .355 batting average on 59 hits. He tallied 11 doubles on the season along with 41 runs scored and 44 RBI's.

“By far he was the best hitter on the team this past year, a guy you could just pencil in in the three hole for us, led the team in average and RBI and one of our top base stealers,” said Cooper.

“I'm proud of him. He started off here and had to transfer to another school because he wasn't a qualifier coming out of high school. The difference between him as a freshman here and after the JUCO did him some justice. He was able to come in and produce right away. It's going to be a tough road for him to make it to the big league but if he works hard and continues to get better day by day he will be able to make it.”

By GSU Sports Information