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Successful high school coach returns to alma mater
Maurice Flowers greatest coaching challenge will come from his college alma mater. Flowers, Johnson C. Smith’s new offensive coordinator, will be responsible over a unit that averaged 18.7 points and 279.5 yards per game in 2009. Both ranked near the bottom of the CIAA in a 3-7 campaign. “I’m excited about it,” said Flowers, 40, a 1991 JCSU graduate who resigned from Chester (S.C.) High in May. “I want to get my feet wet. I’m looking forward to it. It’s short notice, but that’s no excuse.”
Flowers developed a reputation as one of the top offensive coaches in the Charlotte region, earning playoff berths at Olympic, West Charlotte and Chester. In two seasons at Chester, the Cyclones went 21-6 and advanced to the 2008 S.C. 3A championship game. Flowers' 2007 West Charlotte team went 13-2 and advanced to the N.C. 4A semifinals and his 2006 Olympic squad tied a school record with 10 wins.
“He was a potential candidate (for the position) last year, but it didn’t work out,” second-year Golden Bulls head coach Steve Aycock said. “He’s here now, and I’m looking forward to his contribution. It’s a situation where he’s confident in what he does and I can’t wait to see what he does in the college ranks.”
Joe Gilliam, Sr., followed the legendary John Merritt to Tennessee State University, where, as defensive coordinator, he helped the Tigers to four undefeated seasons and seven Black College National Titles in a 20-year span. He served as TSU head coach from 1989 to 1992, earning Ohio Valley Conference Coach Of The Year honors in 1990.
He is the father of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joe Gilliam, Jr., (deceased) and the grandfather of R&B singer/record producer, Joi Gilliam. "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam, Jr., was a two-time All-American at TSU and 11th round draft pick of the Steelers in 1972. Coach Gilliam was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall Of Fame in 2007.
ALBANY, GA — Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference predictions? What predictions? As far as Albany State head football coach Mike White is concerned, the SIAC’s predicted order of finish for the 2010 season Wednesday didn’t happen. “I have no reaction (to the SIAC predictions),” White said. “I understand what it is, but (I think) everything is solved by going on the field and taking care of business on Saturdays.”
That may be true, but that fact is, the SIAC coaches picked nine players from Albany State for the Preseason All-Conference team — the most in the conference — but didn’t pick the Rams to win it all, choosing Tuskegee University instead. “Tuskegee’s been the champ the past few years,” White said. “They’re well-deserved to be picked first.”
While ASU had the most official All-Conference team members, in reality, they were tied with Tuskegee, Fort Valley State and Kentucky State with eight selections. White confirmed Thursday that defensive linesman Joshua Ingram (Sr.) — a first-teamer — will not be returning next season. “I believe some of (those All-Conference teams are) misleading,” White said. “(For instance), Ingram is no longer with the team, so he won’t be back next year. ... It just boils down to trying to stay healthy and finish some football games.”
NATCHEZ, MS — Alcorn State head football coach Earnest Collins had one message for Braves fans Thursday night. It’s time to win. Collins and Alcorn offensive coordinator Michael Armour and defensive coordinator Zach Shay addressed Braves fans at the annual Alcorn State Powwow on the ASU Natchez campus. “We’re not going to be satisfied just beating Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State every year,” Collins said. “We want to win SWAC championships. You didn’t hear me say that last year. But what I’m saying now is that we expect to win.”
Collins said his team has built off last season’s 14-7 victory over Jackson State in the season-ending Capital City Classic, and has ridden that momentum into this season. “The phenomenal thing about that game was we played as a team on both sides of the ball,” Collins said. “The offense scored two quick touchdowns and that was all we needed. We held Jackson State to minus-12 yards rushing, and anytime you can do that, you’re going to win the football game. “I told the guys after the game that we were on our way if they just continued to do what they were doing.”
NEW ORLEANS, LA - University of New Orleans interim athletic director Amy Champion announced the hiring of Kim Young as the school's new head volleyball coach on Wednesday afternoon.
Young comes to UNO after spending the last six years in a similar role at Grambling State University, where she compiled a 128-79 overall record and an impressive 45-2 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play.
In five of the last six years, Young's season has come to a conclusion in the league tournament's championship game with all six campaigns highlighted by a SWAC West Division championship.
"Kim has a very successful track record as a coach and recruiter here in the state of Louisiana," said Champion. "When she came in for her interview, the energy and enthusiasm that she had for becoming our next volleyball coach was recognized quickly by our staff."
"We are excited to have Kim as part of our staff and feel that the experience she provides, both as a head coach and a former student-athlete and will give her the tools to build on the recent success of our volleyball program."
An accomplished player during her time at Grambling, Young was a three-time SWAC Player of the Year for head coach Fredrick Payne from 1996-1998, leading the Tigers to league titles in 1996 and 1997.
Her success as a collegiate player led to a stint at the next level with the United States Professional Volleyball League. The East St. Louis, Illinois native had the opportunity to play for the nearby St. Louis Quest while also participating in professional competition in Japan and the Dominican Republic.
Coach Young was a 2009 inductee into the Grambling State University Alumni Hall of Fame Gallery of Distinction.
Young returned to Grambling as an assistant coach in 2003 and earned her Masters' degree in Sports Administration in 2004 before rising to the position of head coach later that year.
"I've had a vision of coaching outside the SWAC," said Young. "UNO has available what I need to complete that vision from great facilities to a great education."
"I believe competing in Division III at UNO will afford me the opportunity to compete for national championships. The school has the heritage, recent success and location that will assist in getting quality student-athletes."
This year, UNO will compete as a Division I Independent in all sports as part of a multi-year transition to Division III status.
Young has already began working to finalize a roster that currently includes returning starters Cassidy Asebroek and Edina Dobi at setter and outside hitter, respectively.
The 2009 Privateer volleyball team posted a 20-13 overall mark while winning the Sun Belt Conference West Division title under then-head coach Jozsef Forman.
The new head coach will make her UNO debut against a familiar foe from her days in the SWAC as the Privateers open the 2010 campaign at Jackson State on Aug. 27.
By: Jason Plotkin Director of Athletic Media Relations University of New Orleans Office: (504) 280-6284 www.UNOPrivateers.com On Twitter @UNOPrivateers
Justin Jackson was all set to stay in Baltimore for college until a Division II program in Ohio extended a late scholarship offer earlier this month. Digital Harbor’s (formerly known as Southern-Baltimore), star point guard planned on visiting the Urbana University campus before deciding between the Blue Knights and a preferred walk-on opportunity at Morgan State. But ultimately, Jackson never took the trip to Ohio.
“I was just talking to my family and they said that Morgan looks like a good choice because they’ve got the [financial aid] situation straight, so it’s good,” Jackson said. “… [The Morgan coaches] basically thought I was going there from Jump Street, so they were just happy to have me on the board. I talked to my assistant coach and I’ll be playing there my first year.”
Jackson’s been a well-known name throughout the city basketball scene for the past several years, culminating with the 2008-09 high school season when he and older brother George Jackson guided the Rams to the Class 1A state championship. Jackson looked the part of a Division I prospect, but things didn’t go quite as planned after the initial buzz about his game.
Digital Harbor's Justin Jackson is #15 (dark blue) in this video clip.
The Monroe-Ouachita Chapter of the Grambling State University National Alumni Association will host its eighth annual Evening with the GSU Athletic Department tonight at the Monroe Civic Center. Athletics Director Lin Dawson and head football coach Rod Broadway are expected to be on hand to discuss the upcoming season, and a selection of local alumni will be honored for their contributions to GSU: James "Shack" Harris, Delles Howell, Lee Fobbs.
The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Fort Miro Room, with a silent auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $10. Door prizes will be given away, including Bayou Classic tickets and GSU football season tickets. Ezzard Burton, a former president of the Monroe-Ouachita Chapter, said the event drew a crowd of about 180 last year and raised about $4,000 for GSU athletics. He hopes for a turnout of over 200 this year.
Successful high school coach returns to alma mater
