Howard women's basketball set to face Baylor in Preseason WNIT

Pairings Set for 2011 Preseason WNIT

The pairings for the 2011 Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament were announced today, and Howard women's basketball is set to face Baylor in the opening round.

Top 10 teams Baylor, Notre Dame, and UCLA headline the field that features nine teams that played in the postseason last year. The Preseason WNIT field includes Akron, Chattanooga,Detroit, Drexel, ETSU, Hartford, Howard, Indiana State, Long Island, Manhattan, McNeese State, Tennessee Tech, and UAB. Here is the first-round schedule. Please see below for team notes.

First-round Preseason WNIT games

All 2010-2011 team records in parentheses

Friday, Nov. 11, 2011

McNeese State (26-7) at UCLA (28-5), 5 p.m. ET

UAB (20-15) at Chattanooga (17-14), 7 p.m. ET

Tennessee Tech (23-8) at ETSU (19-12), 7 p.m. ET

Akron (14-16) at Notre Dame (31-8), 7 p.m. ET

Long Island (19-11) at Drexel (19-13), 7 p.m. ET

Howard (16-18) at Baylor (34-3), 7:30 p.m. ET

Detroit (13-18) at Indiana State (16-16), 8 p.m. ET

Manhattan (24-10) at Hartford (17-16), 8 p.m. ET

The Preseason WNIT features a three-game guarantee format. The event opens Nov. 11 with first-round games. Second-round games will be played Nov. 13-14 and sites will be announced following the first round results; semifinals will be Nov. 16-17; and the championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 20. Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on the second weekend, Nov. 18-19. All games are hosted by participating schools.

In last year's Preseason WNIT, Purdue defeated DePaul 67-58.

- Akron loses just one senior from its 14-16 team, and with the return of four starters, the Zips expect to get back to their form of 09-10 when they posted their best season in school history at 18-14.

- Baylor is a favorite to win next season's national title after advancing deep into the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Bears have U.S. Basketball Writers Association coach of the year Kim Mulkey to lead freshman of the year Odyssey Sims, All-American Brittney Griner, and the vast majority of the Bears that went 34-3 last season and captured the Big 12 Conference regular-season and tournament titles.

- Chattanooga won 11 straight Southern Conference titles until last season's youth-laden team lost in overtime in the semifinals of the tournament. This year's team is a year older and will build on a 17-14 mark with everyone on the roster back for another season under coach Wes Moore.

- Detroit is a program on the rise, as the Titans return all five starters from their 13-18 team that defeated Michigan on the road for the first time since 1983.

- Drexel earned its third straight trip to the postseason and finished 19-13 despite suffering some key injuries. The Dragons welcome all but one player back for next fall.

- ETSU has won three of the past four Atlantic Sun Tournament titles. The Lady Buccaneers return three starters from their 19-12 team, including Destiny Mitchell, who earned all-conference freshman team honors after suffering a season-ending knee injury in February.

- Hartford finished last season on a high note by winning the America East tournament and earning its sixth trip to the NCAAs after a slow start with an inexperienced team. The Hawks, who were 27-5 a year ago, will again be a favorite this fall in the America East.

- Howard finished runner-up at the MEAC championships and returns conference Player of the Year Saadia Doyle for her junior season. The 16-18 Bison return all five of their starters for their first appearance in the Preseason WNIT.

- Indiana State head coach Teri Moren set a school record for most wins in a rookie season as the Sycamores were 16-16. They get all but one player back from a team that advanced to the Missouri Valley tournament's semifinal round.

- Long Island returns its top players from a 19-11 team in the Northeast Conference, including senior Ashley Palmer, a two-time NEC first-team all-conference honoree.

- Manhattan is coming off its winningest season in school history, as it finished 24-10 and played in the postseason. The Jaspers welcome back four starters.

- McNeese State posted a record-setting season and tied the best turnaround in NCAA history with a 26-7 record after winning seven games the year before. The Cowgirls captured both the Southland Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and played in their first NCAA Tournament in school history. Their top players return to the team this fall.

- Notre Dame made it all the way to the NCAA championship game before falling to TexasA&M, and the Fighting Irish (31-8) will be back in force this fall for another strong run. They are led by point guard Skylar Diggins, who is among a record three Irish players who recently made the 14-player cut for the U.S. World University Games.

- Tennessee Tech won the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title and played in the Postseason WNIT. The Golden Eagles posted a nine-game turnaround from the season before, finishing with a 23-8 overall record. They get all five starters back this fall.

- UAB rolled to its first 20-win season in a decade, going 20-15 and winning the WBI postseason event. The Blazers return four of their five starters and all but one player on their roster.

- UCLA earned more regular-season wins (26) than ever before, and matched its highest seed in history in the NCAA Tournament at No. 3. The Bruins (28-5) will have a new coaching staff led by Cori Close after Nikki Caldwell took the LSU job, but should again be picked to finish around the No. 2 spot in the Pac-12 Conference this fall.

For more information about the WNIT visit the website at www.womensnit.com.

Provided by Howard University Sports Information
Jamilah Corbett, Assistant Director of Sports Information
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Boys In The Hall: John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil

John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil (1911–2006) loved baseball, and immersed himself in the game from age 12 to 94. A standout Negro League player and two-time batting champion, O'Neil went on to become the first black manager of a major league team.

Kansas City, Mo. - If anybody in baseball ever had every reason to be surly and sullen during his life, Buck O'Neil is that man. Instead, nobody ever saw O'Neil when his face didn't look like a template for the yellow smiley face.

The first time I saw him was when the Cincinnati Reds played an interleague series against the Kansas City Royals. I visited the Negro League Baseball Museum and he was there, a broad smile splashed across his pleasant face.

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Video: Buck O'Neil: 'It's who you are'

When I told him how sorry I was that he was never afforded the opportunity to display his talents in the major leagues because of his skin color, the smile broadened and he said, "You'll never hear me complain about anything because I've had a wonderful life and I'm still living a wonderful life."

At the time, he was in his 80s and as sharp as ever. And he remained that was into his 90s, a man whose memories of life in the Negro Leagues were lucid, vivid and highly entertaining.



After chatting, he handed me a Kansas City Monarchs cap, like the one he wore as a first baseman for the Negro American League team and I cherish it to this day.

Few people, even knowledgeable baseball people, ever heard of O'Neil until he was 84 years old and Ken Burns used him as the spokesman/historian for his documentary, "Baseball." And a legend was born.

Video
Video2

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Note: Buck O'Neil of born in Carrabelle, Florida (Franklin County) and earned his high school diploma and two years of college credits from Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Florida. O'Neil was initially denied the opportunity to attend high school in Sarasota, Florida (Sarasota High School) due to racial segregation. He later moved in with relatives in Jacksonville to finish his education in one of the four schools for blacks in Florida during that period.  His father built the building and his mother and grandmother opened a restaurant in Sarasota in 1934. On May 13, 2006, O'Neil received an honorary doctorate in education from Missouri Western State University where he also gave the commencement speech.

SSU getting closer to finishing major stadium renovations

Savannah, GA - It may be the summer time, but there is a lot of action going on at Savannah State to get ready for their upcoming football season and it's not the football team. If you've driven by Savannah State's campus recently, you've seen a lot happening to T.A. Wright Stadium which has been under construction for almost a year.

Part of a $17 million project that also includes a new student center, the football stadium is getting a much needed facelift; new turf is being laid, a new track put down, expanding the seating on both sides to hold 8,000, new locker rooms for home and away teams, an expanded press box and two new buildings for restrooms and concessions.

Leading the way on the project from construction company RW Allen is a former SSU football player, so a lot of pride is going into the project from all involved.



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Alcorn State's Luther Riley to host celebrity basketball camp

LORMAN, MS — New Alcorn State University men’s basketball coach Luther Riley has a message for local parents: Don’t miss out. Riley, who was named the Braves’ new hoops coach in April, is planning to bring his celebrity basketball camp to Alcorn State. And he’s trying to get many local children involved.

“Parents, if I were you, I wouldn’t miss out on this grand opportunity,” Riley said. “We have scholarships available for campers.”



The Luther Riley 2011 Celebrity Basketball Camp is open to boys ages 5 to 17 and takes place June 26-30. The camp will cost $135 for campers that will commute every day, and $200 for campers who plan to stay overnight. Overnight campers will stay in the school’s dorms on campus.

“I want every kid from ages 5 to 17 in Natchez that’s a young man to be at my camp,” Riley said. “But that’s only if you’re serious about basketball.”

The camp will feature L.A. Clippers guard Mo Williams and Sacramento Kings forward Demarcus Cousins, as well as other celebrities, Riley said. Riley himself is a certified Nike instructor.

“Anytime kids might be at the edge, where they didn’t make their high school or AAU teams, I can provide them that edge,” Riley said.

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Five-a-Side: Texas Southern's Kevin Ramsey

TSU Head Football Coach Kevin Ramsey

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Conference champions aren't supposed to have the type of offseason that Texas Southern has had since it won the Southwestern Athletic Conference football title in December - its first in 42 years.

This spring, head coach Johnnie Cole was shown the door because of the program's poor academic performances and then NCAA sanctions were levied against the Tigers, including the loss of 14.78 of their 63 scholarships and four hours of practice time each week.

The university promoted defensive coordinator Kevin Ramsey to interim head coach and he has tried to settle the program, maintaining the "storm" will pass as the Tigers strengthen their academic requirements stardards.

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Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Marching Band

Basketball & Golfing high school stars sign with Prairie View A&M

Golfer Josh Mitchell with parents
Jeff and Stephanie Anderson

Tomball's Josh Mitchell lands on Prairie View A&M fairway

Houston, TX - Prairie View A&M University sent Tomball senior Josh Mitchell a timely birthday present and graduation gift in the mail. A few days before turning 18 and little more than two weeks prior to accepting his diploma, Mitchell received a scholarship offer to play golf for the Panthers. Sealing his college future only enhanced a time of celebration.

“I’ve been talking to the coach for about two months,” said Mitchell, adding the scholarship will cover tuition. “We’d been talking about getting a letter of intent together. I finally got it last week and decided to sign it on my birthday (May 23). I’m very proud of my accomplishment. A lot of people didn’t think I could do it in such a short time.”

Mitchell said he got a late start on the recruiting process and did not join the Cougars until January after recovering from a broken hand. Injuries continued to provide setbacks as the senior played the District 13-5A tournament with foot trouble. “I played the district tournament with a broken toe,” Mitchell said. “I couldn’t finish my swing. It wasn’t a very good day.”

Sierra Vista High School's Jackson Joins Prairie View A&M University 

Basketball Point Guard Jeanette Jackson
Sierra Vista High School
Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, NV - After four years of being on girls’ varsity basketball, senior Jeanette Jackson accomplished her dream. Jackson signed a contract to attend Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University in Texas for the 2011-2012 year over her other offers from Northern Arizona University and Texas-Pan American University.

"They love my personality and the way I play basketball," said Jackson. "Plus, they are in need of a new point guard."

Her contract includes a full ride scholarship that covers: room and board, meals, books, instates intuition, and all her basketball finances. "I feel like there was a lot of weight lifted off my chest, because all my hard work paid off," stated Jackson. Jackson will be majoring in business management and wishes to reach her potential in basketball.

"I want to become the best of what I strive to do, hopefully I will reach my goals at PVAMU," said Jackson. Not only is Jackson proud of herself but so is her family and her coaches Lindsey Whalen and Jennifer Brown. Right now Jackson feels everything is working out just fine.

"Now I am stress-free and can enjoy the days I have left in town," said Jackson.




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Ex-ASU coach L.C. Cole accepts Jeff Davis coaching offer

L.C. Cole 

Cole said his brother Johnnie would serve as Jeff Davis’s offensive coordinator.

Montgomery, AL - L.C. Cole, the former Alabama State head football coach, said Wednesday he has accepted an offer to become the head football coach at Jeff Davis High School. However, Montgomery Public Schools senior communication officer Tom Salter said in an email that Cole is not an employee of the Montgomery Board of Education pending board approval.

Salter said in an email in order for a person to be hired the superintendent must to make a recommendation to the board of education during a board meeting. The majority of the board must vote on a personnel report to affirm the superintendent’s recommendation.

When asked what the next step would be, Salter said Thursday that the next board meeting is scheduled for June 28. “However, it is possible that there could be a called meeting earlier than that date,” Salter said, “not specifically for this hire, but for a number of personnel items.”

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Carroll excited about coaching opportunity with SCSU Bulldogs

Orangeburg, S.C. - Trumain Carroll called it the "longest drive" he has ever embarked upon. The Houston native had just completed a grueling road trek through seven states, 1,035 miles and 17 hours from Kansas City, Kan., to Orangeburg in a loaded U-Haul truck which hauled his car on a trailer. Helping Carroll pass the time cruising through the southern states was his father, Kenneth, a former offensive lineman for Texas Southern.

The breathtaking view along Interstate 40 through the Great Smoky Mountains provided a scenic moment along the long ride for the former Oklahoma State linebacker and defensive end. "That was about the most beautiful sites that I had ever seen at least on a drive before in my life," Carroll said. "I was like ‘Wow! The beauty of the East Coast!'"

Upon reaching the final destination Tuesday, Carroll eagerly headed to South Carolina State University to meet with head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough.

SCSU adds new men's hoops assistant

As a men's basketball assistant coach for Winston-Salem State, Murray Garvin experienced his share of wins and losses against South Carolina State. This season, Garvin will try to help head coach Tim Carter and the Bulldogs regain their winning ways as he told the Winston-Salem Journal he plans to head to Orangeburg.

"We did some good things at Winston-Salem State and I wish (Rams' head coach) Bobby (Collins) and the school nothing but the best," Garvin told the Journal.

In three seasons at Winston-Salem State, Garvin worked with the post players and was responsible for coordinating the Rams' travel and academics. He also spent four years as the head men's basketball coach and athletics director at Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill.

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Howard University alumnus Mike Jones introduced as Radford University Head Men's Basketball Coach

Radford, VA - Mike Jones was officially introduced as the men’s basketball head coach at Radford University in a 45-minute long press conference Wednesday, June 15, inside the Dedmon Center.

Jones, 46, has spent the last two seasons at VCU, which included a magical run to the 2011 Final Four with wins over USC, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State and Kansas. While on Shaka Smart’s staff, the Rams posted 55 wins over the past two seasons, the highest total over any two-year span in program history.

Along with playing a major role in the Rams’ success on the court, Jones helped land one of the top mid-major recruiting classes in the country a year ago.

“We are extremely excited to have Mike, his wife and two sons join the Radford University family,” commented Director of Athletics Robert Lineburg. “During the course of his career, Mike has demonstrated the necessary qualities and character to lead our student-athletes in the classroom, in the community and on the basketball court. His reputation as a proven mentor, coach and recruiter makes him the perfect fit for Radford University.”


MBB: Mike Jones Raw Press Conference from Radford Highlanders on Vimeo.

Note: Mike Jones was offered the men's head coaching position at Florida A&M in late May 2011, but turned the Rattlers down before the position was offered to University of Alaska-Fairbanks head coach, and former Rattlers/NBA alumnus Clemon Johnson, who accepted a $150,000 yearly salary and holdover assistant coach Tony Sheals from fired coach Eugene Harris unsuccessful era, as part of the deal. Jones is a top drawer recruiter and his RU teams should be highly competitive in the Big South Conference in a 2-3 years.

Prior to his second coaching stop in Virginia, Jones served a six-year stint on Dennis Felton’s bench at the University of Georgia from 2003-09. In 2008, Georgia advanced to the NCAA Tournament when the sixth-seeded Bulldogs won four games in three days to complete the most improbable SEC Championship run in conference history.

Although the challenges at Georgia were many, Jones managed to make a name for himself as Rivals.com selected him as one of the nation’s Top-25 recruiters in 2005.

In addition to Georgia, Jones had previously worked under John Beilein at Richmond from 2000-02 and during the early stages of Beilein’s rebuilding project at West Virginia in 2002-03.

Jones’ father, Jimmy, was a star guard in the ABA from 1967-74. In 1974, Jimmy Jones signed with the Washington Bullets in the NBA, where he remained until 1977.

The Silver Spring, Maryland native stayed close to home and attended Howard University, where he played basketball and majored in zoology. Jones, a four-year standout for the Bison, forged a connection with fellow Howard alum Felton (’85), who he calls the biggest influence on his coaching career.

Once Jones graduated in 1990, he began his coaching career as a high school coach at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.

In 1994, Jones took his first collegiate job – at his alma mater. In addition, he also married his college sweetheart, Sharon, that year. Jones and his wife have two sons: Nate (14) and Miles (10).

He later moved on to Furman, where he stayed from 1997-2000. He joined Beilein’s staff at Richmond in 2000 and helped the Spiders to a pair of 20-win seasons and three straight NIT berths.

What They’re Saying About Radford Head Coach Mike Jones…

“Radford just hired a tremendous basketball coach and more importantly an unbelievable person. Over the past two seasons, I’ve had the great fortune of working with Mike and I can say with no hesitation that there isn’t an aspect of coaching where he doesn’t excel. Mike and his staff will do great things at Radford.”
Shaka Smart, VCU Head Men’s Basketball Coach

“Mike has been preparing for this moment his entire professional life and the Radford community is going to love him. He has a keen basketball mind with a rich background of experience and he is a teacher at heart. His players will benefit from his passion to succeed and his genuine sense of caring for their best interests and futures. Mikes' tireless and enthusiastic approach will rally everyone around that program to build something really special that you can all be proud of.”
Dennis Felton, San Antonio Spurs, Director of Player Personnel

“Mike Jones is an extremely talented basketball coach, but more importantly, he is a first class individual with great character and values. Radford University and the community will love the leadership and success Mike will bring to its basketball program.”
John Beilein, University of Michigan, Head Men’s Basketball Coach

“We are extremely excited to have Mike, his wife and two sons join the Radford University family. During the course of his career, Mike has demonstrated the necessary qualities and character to lead our student-athletes in the classroom, in the community and on the basketball court. His reputation as a proven mentor, coach and recruiter makes him the perfect fit for Radford University.”
Robert Lineburg, Radford University, Director of Athletics

VIEW MIKE JONES PHOTO GALLERY FROM PRESS CONFERENCE.
From: Radford University Press Release

Edmonton Eskimos trade for former N.Carolina A&T O-lineman

Edmonton, AB Canada - The Edmonton Eskimos have acquired import offensive lineman Junius Coston from the Calgary Stampeders in exchange for future considerations.

Coston (6-4, 325 lbs) was a fifth round selection by Green Bay in the 2005 NFL Draft. The North Carolina A&T State University Aggies product played 16 games for the Packers from 2005 – 2007. He also had stints with Detroit and Oakland. He most recently played with Omaha in the UFL in 2010.


#72 WR Patrick Brown, first year free agent player from Bethune-Cookman catches first TD of 2011 pre-season for Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The versatile Coston played guard, centre and tackle during his collegiate career and was invited to play in the 2005 Senior Bowl. He signed as a free agent with Calgary on May 18, 2011.

Junius Coston
OL
North Carolina A&T
(Import)
Height 6.04 Weight 325 lbs
Born: November 5, 1983, Framingham, MA
Yrs Esks: 1st
Yrs CFL: 1st

By ESKS.com Staff

Art Shell UMES Celebrity Golf Classic: Congress-Shell-nal

UMES is one of 20 colleges in the nation with the PGA-sanctioned golf management major, and the only one at a historically black institution.

WESTOVER, MD -- A little more than 100 yards away from the pin on the 16th hole at Great Hope Golf Course, team Delmarva Auto Glass had a decision to make. The group of five golfers, competing in the Art Shell UMES Celebrity Golf Classic, had to decide which of their drives they were going to play during the scramble-format tournament.

"Do you want to play this one up here or the one in the fairway?" asked one member of the team as he stood over his shot, which had landed in the light rough on top of a small hill. "It doesn't matter to me," said Jim Dent, the celebrity of the group, who captured 12 Senior PGA Tour titles between 1989 and 1998. "I can hit it anywhere."

After conferring, the group decide to play the drive that found the fairway and would go on to land a shot 5 yards from the target before sinking a birdie putt on the par-4 hole.


Art Shell, a pro football Hall of Famer and University of Maryland Eastern Shore alumnus, again hosted the tournament, which features its traditional roster of former athletes who enjoy a round of fund-raising golf. The stars were: Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, who like Shell, is a former Oakland Raider; gridiron greats Otis Sistrunk, Reggie Branch, Ed Simmons, UMES alumni Curtis Gentry, Earl Christy and Emerson Boozer; PGA golfer Jim Dent, James Black, who at age 21 became the first black golfer to card a first-round 67 in his PGA Tour debut in 1964 and Renee Powell, who joined the LPGA Tour in 1967 as the first female African-American golfer.

Similar conversations could be heard throughout the golf outing that benefits University of Maryland Eastern Shore student scholarships and the university's PGA golf management program. But most participants, such as Homer King of team Delmarva Auto Glass, cared less for the strategy and more for the company.

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Earl Monroe helps extend legacy of WSSU's 'Big House' Gaines

ADVANCE, N.C. -- Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, as busy now as ever because of his career in the film and entertainment business, always finds time to honor the late Big House Gaines.

Monroe was at Oak Valley Golf Club on Friday, swinging his clubs in the Big House Gaines Scholarship Fund Tournament. And he had three former teammates from Winston-Salem State's 1967 Division II championship basketball team with him.

"Quite frankly, we can't do enough to honor coach Gaines," said Monroe, 66. "I always make time to come back for this because it's something Big House always stressed to us and that was getting your education."

Three others from the national-title team — Eugene Smiley, Ernest Brown and Johnny Latham — also attended the fundraiser organized by the Reynolda Rotary Club.

The tournament, in its sixth year, raised more than $10,000 on Friday, proceeds that will go toward a college scholarship for a student from Cook Elementary School. The first scholarship recipient selected six years ago, as a fifth-grader at Cook, will enroll at Winston-Salem State in 2012.


Sorry I missed this ya'll, but Earl still looks great for his age--66.

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FAMU athletes spending summer fine-tuning future

Brandon Hepburn #53
Linebacker, 6'4/235, Redshirt Junior
Pomona, New York
Major: Biochemistry

Excerpt:

Tallahassee, FL - Brandon Hepburn, a linebacker with the Rattlers, isn't banking on making it to the NFL. He is majoring in biochemistry. This summer he is at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, where he is participating in a program funded by the National Science Foundation.

"The opportunity is great because it allows us to step out of the classroom and apply what we've been learning," Hepburn said. "It's great to be able to put it into work in the actual environment in which you plan to get a career in one day.

"I think one of the big things with Corporate America is, 'Can you do what we want you to do how we want you to do it?'"

That's part of what FAMU's Career Center does under director Delores Dean. Students aren't just settling for the odd jobs but focusing more on what will benefit their careers, Dean said, adding the tough job market has also brought a change of attitude about limiting the areas they might want to work.

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JSU Tiger Nation learning to live with SWAC title ban

Jackson, MS - It's become a tradition for Charles Bishop. As soon as Jackson State releases its football schedule each year, he picks up the phone, dials a Birmingham hotel and books his room for the weekend of the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship football game.

Nine times out of the last dozen years, JSU didn't qualify for the title game, and Bishop had to call back six or so months later to cancel. This year, he didn't have to wait nearly that long. "I had to call the other day," Bishop said earlier this week.

Jackson State's banishment from this season's league championship game has been a powerful punch in the gut to diehard fans like Bishop. It's been a disappointing shock wave to players who signed with the school in February. They're all feeling the sting of the SWAC's ruling last week to make the Tigers ineligible for the 2011 title game - a decision that conformed with the NCAA's postseason ban, placed on JSU for low academic performance.

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2011-2012 JACKSON STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Date Opponent / Event Location Time

09/03/11 Concordia (Selma, AL) *MVMS 1:30 p.m. CT
09/10/11 vs. Tennessee State Memphis, TN 6:00 p.m. CT
09/17/11 at Southern Baton Rouge, LA TBA
09/24/11 vs. Alabama State *MVMS 4:00 p.m. CT
10/01/11 vs. Texas Southern *MVMS 4:00 p.m. CT
10/08/11 vs. Arkansas - Pine Bluff *MVMS 4:00 p.m. CT
10/15/11 at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, MS 2:00 p.m. CT
10/29/11 at Prairie View A&M Shreveport, LA 4:00 p.m. CT
11/05/11 vs. Grambling State *MVMS 2:00 p.m. CT
11/12/11 at Alabama A&M Huntsville, AL 1:00 p.m. CT
11/19/11 vs. Alcorn State *MVMS 1:00 p.m. CT

*MVMS (Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium)

Bethune-Cookman free agent signs with Chicago Cubs

Ryan Durrence 

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Bethune-Cookman first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Durrence, who was not selected in the Major League Baseball Draft earlier this month, signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

"I'm really excited for this opportunity," he said. Durrence, a three-year starter at B-CU who leaves as one of the school's league leaders in doubles and home runs, headed to Arizona to check out the Cubs' spring training facility before going to Boise, Idaho.

Durrence will play in Boise with the Rookie League Hawks, who open their season today.

"I'm extremely happy for Ryan," said longtime B-CU coach Mervyl Melendez, who left the school Thursday to take over Alabama State's program. "He definitely deserves to play in the professional ranks. The job that he was able to do for our program was invaluable, and we're happy that he's making the next step. We wish him the best and know that he's going to succeed because he's a hard worker."

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Jim Koerner named NCCU's Eagles head baseball coach

DURHAM, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com) – With more 10 years of collegiate coaching experience at both the NCAA Division I and III levels, Jim Koerner has been named as the new head baseball coach at North Carolina Central University. Koerner is coming to NCCU from the University at Buffalo, where he helped build the Division I Bulls baseball program as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since 2005.

“First of all, I’m very excited to be the new head baseball coach here at NCCU,” said Koerner. “NCCU is the complete package for me and my family. The atmosphere and attitude I’ve experienced from the people I have met is exactly what I was looking for. There is a passion for athletics and in this case the baseball program in particular. There is a solid foundation in place with our current players, we are in a great location for college and high school baseball and we play in a gorgeous facility, the Durham Athletic Park.”

His previous stops include a stint at Marshall University from 2003-05 where he also served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the staff, and his first Division I job came at Monmouth University after a three-year head coaching stint at Medaille College in Buffalo, N.Y., where he took a relatively brand-new baseball program and turned it into a winner in a short time. In his final season at Medaille, he improved the Mavericks win total by 15 games, one of the top turnarounds in Division III, and was named the 2003 North East Conference Coach of the Year.

“I am excited about having Coach Koerner as a part of our NCCU athletics program,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree. “We pride ourselves on hiring qualified individuals who have shown passion and dedication to their careers. Coach Koerner has been able to make an indelible mark at each of the institutions he has been associated with in the past and we know that he will do the same here at NCCU.

“Coach Koerner’s career journey includes coach of the year recognition as an NCAA Division III head coach and success as a top recruiter at three NCAA Division I programs, which will definitely bring unique experiences to help take our baseball program to the next level,” said Wicker-McCree. “Most importantly, our students will benefit from his vast knowledge of the game and his great concern for student success.”

New Eagles Head Baseball Coach Jim Koerner
(Photo courtesy MEAC Media Relations)

Passion and enthusiasm are certainly two character traits that Koerner shares when it comes to the game of baseball.

“I love the game,” said Koerner. “I’ve been involved with this game for a long time. I absolutely have a passion for teaching. Nothing gives me more satisfaction then working with a player from the beginning of August and watching that player mature and get better as the year goes along. To me that’s what it’s all about. If every guy on the team can take those steps to improve and get better and has that desire, the whole team will get better and that’s how you achieve your goals.”

Koerner, who earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from St. John Fisher (N.Y.) and a master’s degree in athletic administration from Marshall, truly believes in emphasizing the student portion of student-athlete.

“I personally believe that there is a direct correlation between academic aptitude and a player’s ability to adjust and improve on the field,” said Koerner. “Excellence needs to be established in all parts of life. It’s not just a baseball thing. I don’t want student-athletes that treat excellence as a light switch. It needs to be a constant process in everything we do. That’s what I am going to stress here.”

Koerner has had 19 players move on to the next level and play professional baseball during his collegiate coaching career, and the 2009 and 2010 Bulls broke 27 all-time and single-season offensive records as he was directly in charge of hitting at the University at Buffalo.

Koerner wants to get this message out to the Eagle nation.

“Get excited about NCCU baseball,” said Koerner. “We’re going to do things the right way on and off the field and we’re going to be a lot of fun to watch. I’m especially looking forward to meeting everybody, so when February rolls around make sure to get out to the ballpark and see us in action.”

During his time at UB, the Bulls had four players earn All-Mid-American Conference, honors including the 2011 MAC Player of the Year in Tom Murphy.

Prior to Buffalo when Koerner held the same position with Marshall University, he coached one of his players to All-Conference USA honors and also helped the Thundering Herd to its first post-season appearance in 10 years. During the 2006 season, Marshall was consistently in the top 5 in most offensive categories and had two players finish in the top 10 in batting.

At Monmouth, where Koerner broke into Division I coaching as an assistant, he helped lead the team to its seventh consecutive conference tournament appearance.

Koerner has also been head coach of several U.S. teams that competed in international tournaments, including the Belgium Open and the Chianti (Italy) Baseball Challenge. Out of college in 1998, he was also signed by the Richmond Roosters of the Independent Frontier League.

A native of Hamburg, N.Y., which is a approximately 14 miles south of Buffalo, Koerner and his wife, Kylie, are the proud parents of a son, Sam, and five-month old daughter, Elizabeth.

By Chris Hooks, Assistant Sports Information Director/ Broadcast Media Coordinator
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Stillman Tigers announces 2011 Football schedule

Tuscaloosa, AL- The Stillman Tigers have announced their 2011 football schedule. The Tigers' open the season at home and will finish the season at home. First year head coach Teddy Keaton will lead the Tigers in an eleven game schedule, six home games and five away. The scheduled season will feature one DI-AA, two CIAA schools, and seven SIAC conference games.

Stillman will open the season at home on Sept. 3rd when the Tigers face CIAA defending champions Shaw University. The Tigers will get on the road for a three-game stretch—making a short trip to Birmingham on Sept. 10th to play DI-AA Samford University. Stillman will then travel north to Frankfort, Ken., on Sept. 17th to face Kentucky State University, and then south for another short trip to Tuskegee, Ala., on Sept 24th to faced Tuskegee University.

The Tigers will return home for three games to face Lane College on Oct. 1st, Benedict College on Oct. 8th and Chowan University on Oct. 15th .The Tigers will then return to the road and travel to Fort Valley, Ga., on Oct. 22nd to play Fort Valley State University. The Tigers will return home for a Thursday night match-up against in-state rival Miles College on Oct. 27th. The following week, the Tigers will make their final regular season road trip to play Clark-Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 5th.

All game are listed with central time zone.

9/3/2011 5:00pm Shaw University H
9/10/2011 6:00pm Samford University A
9/17/2011 6:00pm Kentucky State University# A
9/24/2011 1:00pm Tuskegee University A
10/1/2011 5:00pm Lane College H
10/8/2011 5:00pm Benedict College H
10/15/2011 5:00pm Chowan University H
10/22/2011 1:00pm Fort Valley State University# A
10/27/2011 7:00pm Miles College H
11/5/2011 1:30pm Clark Atlanta University A
11/12/2011 1:30pm Concordia College-Selma H
# School is located in the Eastern Time zone
Games in Bold are home games.

By Steven Lockhart, Stillman Athletics
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