Wes Pifer Named Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach at NAU

WES PIFER, ASSISTANT COACH
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY MEN'S BASKETBALL
(Credit: NAU Athletics)

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona – NAU men's basketball head coach Jack Murphy has announced the addition of Wes Pifer to his coaching staff for the coming year. Pifer, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina Central University, replaces Al La Rocque, who served on Murphy's staff on an interim basis last season.

"I'm thrilled for the opportunity to work with Coach Murphy and his staff," Pifer said. "I came out last week and was blown away by how beautiful the campus was and the fan support here. NAU is truly a special place and Coach Murphy is a proven winner. I look forward to being a part of the new era of Lumberjack basketball."

Pifer will work with the NAU guards after he oversaw the development of three All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) first team selections at NCCU over the last two seasons. The Eagles twice broke the Division-I record for wins in a season during Pifer's tenure while the team totaled a 25-9 mark over the two years in MEAC play.

"Wes is coming to us from another Division-I school and that was a big key," Murphy said. "He's got a great background from junior college, small college, and Division-I and he's coming from a very successful North Carolina Central program. He's done a great job recruiting and coaching on the floor and he's somebody that I've gotten to know over the years and he does a great job. We're excited to have him become part of the Lumberjack family."

Prior to joining the staff at North Carolina Central, Pifer was an assistant coach for two years at St. Andrews University, a Division-II school in Laurinburg, N.C. He was the recruiting coordinator and head coach of the junior varsity team while assuming total team responsibilities, including coaching and developing all players, creating scouting reports, compiling monthly call logs, and communicating with boosters and alumni.

Pifer's first coaching job came at Miami-Dade College during the 2008-09 season where he worked with fellow NAU assistant coach Matt Dunn. The team was ranked No. 7 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) rankings and recorded a school-record 30 wins. As the perimeter coach at Miami-Dade, Pifer helped numerous student-athletes sign with Division I schools, including Trevor Mbakwe (Minnesota), James Beatty (Rutgers), Will Coleman (Memphis), Darnell Dodson (Kentucky), and Dwan McMillan (Hofstra).

Pifer began his collegiate playing career at Methodist University before playing his final two seasons at Penn State University-Altoona from 2002-04 under the tutelage of former NBA player Armon Gilliam. During his time at PSU-Altoona, Pifer averaged 9.1 points, 5.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds a game for the Division III institution. Pifer played in Europe for BBG Herford in the Germany 2 Regionalliga before returning to PSU-Altoona to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in human development and family studies in 2007.

COURTESY NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

ASU's Joyner named Dougherty offensive coordinator

ALBANY, Georgia  --  Corey Joyner's first season with the Dougherty Trojans didn't go as planned.  Now, the head coach is bringing in someone very close to him to help turn the 1-9 Trojans around: his brother, Albany State Offensive Coordinator, Uyl.

Uyl Joyner resigned at ASU, effective Wednesday, and was at the Trojans' first spring practice that afternoon.

"I just saw the opportunity and took the opportunity," he says. "[ASU Head Coach Mike White] gave me his blessings and kind of moved on. All in all, I felt like this was the place for me."

White told WALB News 10 over the phone that Joyner's resignation was something he was aware of as a possibility last month, but was notified it became official this afternoon.

"He's a very good coach that will be greatly missed," White says.

WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

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MVSU 's Kevin Monzon funeral set for Saturday in hometown

Kevin Monzon
(Courtesy MVSU Athletics)

 ITTA BENA, Mississippi -- The funeral for Mississippi Valley State golf and football student-athlete Kevin Monzon has been set for Saturday, May 4 at 1 p.m. in his hometown of Crystal Springs, Mississippi.

The funeral will take place the Crystal Springs High School gymnasium (201 Newton Street, Crystal Springs, MS 39059).

Visitation is set for Friday, May 3 from 5-8 p.m. at Stringer Funeral Home (26141 Highway 27) in Crystal Springs.

The burial site will be at Crystal Springs Cemetery (300 South Jackson Street).

Monzon, the starting placekicker for the Delta Devil football team in 2012, passed away April 25 in a car accident in Leflore County, Mississippi.


COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

GIVEFORWARD (Kevin Monzon arrangements)
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Funeral Services For Former S.C. State Bulldog Standout Set

Otis Matthew Key, Jr.
(Courtesy SCSU Athletics)

JOHNSTON, South Carolina — Funeral services for former SC State defensive lineman Otis Matthew Key, Jr. will be conducted Friday, May 3, at 1 p.m. at the Bethlehem Baptist Church on Highway 23, in Johnston.
      

Key, 25, died April 26.
      

The Johnston, SC native and Strom Thurmond High graduate played from 2006-09 for the Bulldogs at defensive end and nose guard, while playing on two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships team as a junior and senior.
       

A viewing will take place on Thursday at Amos and Son Funeral Home at 412 Railroad Ave., Johnston, S.C. 29832.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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Holmes wants Florida A&M Rattlers more physical

TALLAHASSEE, Florida --  Just a handful of FAMU football players made it to the weight room early Thursday morning. They stretched, lifted weights and did some lighter work.

Among them was Michael Ducree, an inside linebacker who sat out spring practice with a minor ankle injury. His rehab is over and now he has to adhere to head coach Earl Holmes’ mantra: stronger, faster and physical.



“It’s what we needed because there were so many games (last season) that we weren’t able to finish,” Ducree said. “When it came down to the last five minutes of the game, we weren’t physical enough. The game comes down to inches and if you’re more physical you’ll get in there.”

Throughout spring, Holmes made it clear he wanted ...

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Albany State University Golden Rams Sends Three to NFL Camps

(COURTESY ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS)

ALBANY, Georgia  --  Albany State football players Justin Blash, Nathan Hoyte and Ronnie Tubbs have been invited to participate in NFL teams camps as free agents.  Blash will be headed to the New York Giants’ tryouts, while Hoyte and Tubbs will participate with the New Orleans Saints.  A press conference will be held to celebrate the three players’ achievement.  It will be held on Albany State campus at Lovett Hall on May 1^st at 11 a.m.

“I am happy for the guys to have this opportunity to do something they love,” said ASU football coach James “Mike” White.

Blash, a 6’5, 345-pound defensive tackle from Alma, Georgia, served as the Golden Rams defensive anchor in 2012.  He recorded 30 tackles (14 solo, seven for a total of 18 yards lost), 1.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries and three fumble recoveries.  Blash was named to the 2012 SIAC All-Conference First Team.

Hoyte, a 5-10, 195-pound running back, established himself as ASU’s leading rusher this past season.  A Baltimore, Maryland native, Hoyte totaled 927 rushing yards with a 4.9 average.  He also had 10 touchdowns and collected 83 receiving yards.  Because of his stellar season, Hoyte was named to the 2012 SIAC All-Conference Second Team.

Despite a season filled with injuries, Tubbs, a Yazoo City, Mississippi native, was still one of the team’s focal points.  While playing wide receiver, the 6-3, 180-pound Tubbs caught 22 passes for 221 yards and scored a touchdown.

With the trio being invited to participate in the NFL camps, this marks the first time the Golden Rams’ program has had this many players to receive invitations in one season.

“For a school our size, it’s a rarity to have three players selected to work with NFL teams,” said ASU athletics director Dr. Richard Williams.  “We are extremely proud of these young men, and we look forward to their continued success.


COURTESY ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY (Ga.) SPORTS INFORMATION

XU's Jackson will speak Saturday at LABC coaching clinic

Dannton Jackson

 NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Dannton Jackson will be one of the featured speakers Saturday (May 4) at the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches coaching clinic in Baton Rouge.
    
The clinic is from 10 a.m.-2:15 p.m. at the LSU Basketball Practice Facility on North Stadium Drive. Jackson will speak 45-60 minutes on individual development, including individual improvement within the team concept.
    
Jackson served as LABC president during the 2008-09 academic year. As head coach of the Gold Rush for the past 10 seasons, Jackson has compiled a 226-98 record with three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season co-championships and seven appearances in the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. Xavier was 24-8 in 2012-13, sharing the GCAC regular-season championship with Philander Smith and qualifying for nationals for the third consecutive year. The Gold Rush ranked 24th for the second consecutive season in the NAIA Division I Coaches' Top 25 Postseason Poll.
    
Jackson was GCAC Coach of the Year each of the past two seasons.
    
Following the clinic will be the LABC's annual awards banquet at 6 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA