Former Bison Nicholas Askew Hired As Swimming & Diving Coach

PHOTO COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- Howard University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Louis "Skip" Perkins has tabbed former Bison dual-sport star Nicholas Askew ('01) to be the next Head Coach of the school's Swimming & Diving programs.

Askew, a native of Kinston, NC, was a member of the Howard Swimming & Diving and Tennis teams from 1996-2001. He served as a team captain on the swim team, set several records  and was named team Most Valuable Player four times – three in swimming and one in tennis. He graduated from Howard with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology

This will be Askew's third role in his Howard career, having also served as an assistant under current tennis head coach Larry Strickland.

"We are glad to welcome Coach Askew back to Howard and to have him take over our Swimming & Diving program here at Howard," said Perkins. "Nic has a passion for the school, first-hand knowledge of the program and the coaching background necessary to help make our student-athletes successful."

Nic is married to the former Christie Davis and the couple resides in Washington, DC.

Q&A WITH COACH NIC

What made you want to pursue the head coach position here at Howard?
NA: The same reasons I chose to attend Howard as a student-athlete. Howard is among the few HBCUs that have a swimming & diving program, all while providing superior educational opportunities.  As a student-athlete, I recognized that I was a part of a rich legacy and now I have the privilege to coach and mentor a new line of student-athletes to continue the growth of that legacy. I knew I could not pass up that opportunity then or now.

What is your vision for the program and our student-athletes moving forward?
NA: Our program can be a strong competitor in our conference and beyond.  Each student-athlete will have the opportunity to give their best and be a part of the history of those that came before them.  We currently have some excellent swimmers who are proud to represent Howard.  Moving forward we will need to improve our depth, individual, and team performances.

What do you bring to the program that will make it successful?
NA: I've been "in their fins", so to speak.  I know what it's like to train, compete, and be successful. It's not complicated, but it does require hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.  My deep respect not only for the University and the Swimming and Diving program but also for each student-athlete will undoubtedly result in many successes to come.

Any other comments you'd like to share with the Howard community?
NA: I consider it an honor to be back at "The Mecca".  I am eager to work with our student-athletes and help them achieve great heights in and out of the pool.  I am also excited to reengage our alumni in the support of our program. With their additional help, Howard Swimming and Diving can be stronger than ever before.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

CIAA Referee Charles R. Nicholson Sr. (WVSU) remembered for being ‘a model of decorum’

The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 29, 2014, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Scott's Funeral Home, 115 E. Brookland Park Blvd., where the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Omega Service will follow at 5 p.m.

Mr. Nicholson's funeral service will be held on Monday, June 30, 2014, 12 noon at First African Baptist Church, 2700 Hanes Ave., Richmond, VA.

RICHMOND, Virginia  -- High school basketball coach George Lancaster said he knew and admired referee Charles R. Nicholson Sr. for more than 40 years. He remembers during one of his first basketball games as a coach, he confronted Mr. Nicholson about a call he made.

“I probably wanted everything my way,” said Lancaster, who coaches basketball at Highland Springs High School in Henrico County. “I said to him, ‘I can’t believe you called that,’ and he asked me, ‘Do you want me to make any other call?’ ” And Lancaster said that stopped him in his tracks. He realized he wanted the right call, not just the favorable one. “No one wants something to be that it wasn’t,” he said.

Mr. Nicholson, 89, a lifelong Richmond resident and brother in-law of former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, died Monday. He was a physical education teacher in Richmond public schools and later served as an assistant principal and assistant director of finance. He also was a basketball and football referee for the Virginia High School League and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the oldest African-American athletic conference in the nation.

In 2001, he was inducted into the CIAA Officials Hall of Fame.

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XU's Finnegan, with state's best time since '11, is All-Louisiana

Hannah Finnegan

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University's Hannah Finnegan, the 2014 state leader in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, earned a berth on the All-Louisiana track and field team announced late Saturday.

The top three performers in each event, based on times compiled by the NCAA and NAIA, earn All-Louisiana.

Finnegan, a sophomore from Pekin, Ill., and a graduate of Tremont High School, set an XU record of 11 minutes, 9.53 seconds in the steeplechase at the Tulane Team Challenge on March 29. Finnegan's time is the fastest by a woman from a Louisiana university since Nicholls State's Kadi Whisnant (10:47.15) in 2011.

Finnegan is the second from Xavier to be named All-Louisiana in women's or men's track and field. Catherine Fakler was All-Louisiana in 2013 in the women's steeplechase and the 5,000.

The Gold Nuggets in 2014 won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference outdoor championship for the second consecutive season and the third time in four years. They posted their highest-ever finish, 25th, at the NAIA National Championships.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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ASU may have 9 players that are academic casualties

COURTESY ASU ATHLETICS

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Alabama State is finalizing its 2014 football roster for the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference Media Day on July 18 and as many as nine returning players from the 2013 roster will not make the cut because of academics.

Head coach Reggie Barlow wanted to withhold the names until every option was exhausted to extend their eligibility but the tentative list includes several of the seven players who were held out of spring practice for academic reasons.

That would include two potential secondary starters and a receiver which figured prominently in the Hornets' statistics in 2013.

Also included on that list are ...

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Alcorn names LLJuna Weir interim athletic director

LORMAN, Mississippi   --  Alcorn President Alfred Rankins Jr. announced today the appointment of LLJuna Weir, associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator, as the interim director of intercollegiate athletics, effective July 1.

Rankins describes Weir as a leader who understands the day-to-day operations of Alcorn athletics and has established positive working relationships with coaches, staff and students.

I am grateful for another opportunity to serve Alcorn, said Weir as she discussed plans to continually advocate for student-athletes and positively position the athletic program.

“I believe in Alcorn athletics,” said Weir as she highlighted the strength of collaboration. “Working together, we can and will accomplish more. I believe in the power of members of the athletic family—our athletes, coaches, employees, student workers and alumni.”

Weir began her career at Alcorn 16 years ago and currently has oversight for Alcorn’s 17-sport athletic program.

She is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA). Weir earned both her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from Alcorn. She is married to Dante Weir and they have two children, Jonathan and Danyel.

The University is accepting applications for a permanent athletic director online until the position is filled. Candidate screening will begin immediately. For consideration, interested applicants should apply early and online at https://jobopps.alcorn.edu.

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Hampton to Introduce Marshall as Director of Athletics

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HAMPTON,  Virginia – The Hampton University Department of Athletics will hold a press conference on Monday, June 30 at 11 a.m. in the team meeting room at Armstrong Stadium to introduce Eugene Marshall, Jr. as the new Director of Athletics.

Marshall will take over as Director of Athletics on July 1, where he will take over for Novelle Dickenson. Marshall brings well over two decades of athletic administration experience to the Pirates.

Most recently, Marshall was the interim deputy athletic director at Queens College in New York, where he reported to the Assistant Vice President of Athletics and worked in an athletic program that boasted 18 teams.

Prior to that, Marshall spent two years as the Director of Athletics at Iona College, overseeing some of the Gaels' most successful moments – including two NCAA Tournament appearances for men's basketball and the program's first-ever at-large bid.

For more information on Hampton University athletics, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

S.C. State signs six in men’s cross country, track

ORANGEBURG,  South Carolina  -- South Carolina State head men’s cross country and track and field coach Tim Langford announced Friday the signing of six athletes who will compete for the Bulldogs in the 2014-15 seasons.

Roderick Britt, Elijah Case, Demek Kemp, Moses Kennedy, Taylor Simpson and Kameron Wallace will all suit up for S.C. State starting this fall.

* Britt (Throws/Dorchester, S.C./Woodland High School) earned all-state honors in the shot put and discus during the 2013-14 outdoor seasons at Woodland High School and won the 2014 state championship title in the discus. He will team up with his brother Anthony Britt, who had the second-longest shot put in the MEAC (54’ 7½”) during the 2014 outdoor season.

Case (Middle Distance/Laurens, S.C./Laurens High School) qualified for the South Carolina AAAA state championship twice in the 400m and ran a personal record of 48.82 as a senior. He also qualified for the 800m at the 2014 state championship meet. He set another personal best, this time in the ...

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