Grambling players caught off guard with Price's firing

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- The shock value of Joseph Price’s firing still resonated strongly Wednesday, a day after Price was surprisingly given the pink slip as Grambling’s men’s basketball coach.

Several team members were left without words when news hit Tuesday that new Grambling interim president Cynthia Warrick had started to clean house with the reassignment of athletic director Aaron James and the firing of Price.

“We haven’t really talked much about it,” said Grambling guard and Richwood product Remond Brown. “Everybody has just been thinking about it and sad and down about it.”

Price tried to meet with as many players as possible Tuesday to deliver the news, but not everyone was available due to conflicting summer schedules.

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Grambling State head coach Joseph Price relieved of duties

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -- Considering the fact that the program has put together a record of five wins and 52 losses over the last two years, including an 0-28 mark in 2012-13, it would be an understatement to say that these have been tough times for the Grambling State basketball program. Add in the issues the program faced academically when head coach Joseph Price was hired, resulting in their being ineligible for postseason play last year, and it’s clear that a lot needed to change.

Tuesday it was reported by Sean Isabella of The News-Star that recently hired interim school president Cynthia Warrick has begun making changes, with Price and athletic director Aaron James being relieved of their respective duties as part of the shakeup.

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Athletic director, basketball coach out at Grambling

GRAMBLING, Louisiana --New Grambling interim president Cynthia Warrick didn't take long to leave her mark on the university.

"In her first official day as Grambling's leader, Warrick made significant changes across the board, relieving athletic director Aaron James and men's basketball coach Joseph Price of their duties.

Warrick took over Tuesday, a day after former president Frank Pogue wrapped up his tenure.

"I didn't foresee it coming, but I do understand when you change president's — I've been in the system long enough — a lot of times the president's have the people they want to bring into different positions, and I do understand that," James told The News-Star on Tuesday.

James, who was the athletic director for the past three years, said he received a letter from the president's office Tuesday morning indicating he had been reassigned. James previously served as a kinesiology professor.

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Saint Augustine's University Names Johnson Head Men's Basketball Coach

COACH MARQUS JOHNSON

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  The Saint Augustine's University athletic department officially named MarQus Johnson as its head men's basketball coach on Tuesday, July 1, 2014.

Johnson was elevated to head coach after two seasons as assistant men's basketball coach at Saint Augustine's University from 2012 to 2014. Prior to returning to SAU, Johnson was head coach of the Cary Invasion, a semi-professional basketball team based in Cary, N.C. Under his guidance, the Invasion was 22-5 in two seasons and won the Continental Basketball League (CBL) regular season and tournament championship. The Invasion was also runner-up in the Tobacco Road Basketball League (TRBL). He was previously an assistant coach at Saint Augustine's University from 2008 to 2010 before heading to the Cary Invasion.

"He has been a faithful assistant under Coach [Lonnie] Blow twice and Coach [Tony] Sheals once," said SAU Athletic Director and legendary Track & Field Head Coach George Williams. "I think it's time to give him his due and see where he can take the program. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead."

Johnson is well-known in the Triangle area. A Knightdale, N.C., native, he was an assistant coach at North Carolina Central University and Shaw University in addition to Saint Augustine's University. Johnson has a stellar reputation for developing positive relationships with the student-athletes.

"I am honored and humbled while also being appreciative of the opportunity that Saint Augustine's University [Interim] President Dr. [Everett B.] Ward and Coach Williams have given me," said Johnson. "I will work diligently and with great passion to take this program to new heights. Our goal will be to recruit young men who not only value the opportunity to play collegiate basketball but also have a sense of urgency in every aspect of winning. When I say winning, I mean on the court, in the community and, most importantly, in the classroom."

Johnson was an assistant coach on the SAU men's basketball team which captured its second CIAA championship in school history during the 2009-2010 season. That squad advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament and earned a national top 25 ranking.

Before coming to SAU the first time, Johnson was an assistant coach at North Carolina Central and Shaw. At NCCU, seven of Johnson's recruits earned All-CIAA honors including David Young, who was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2004 NBA Draft. At Shaw, Johnson coached one All-CIAA player.

Johnson was a standout basketball player at NCCU from 1996 to 2000 where he held the title of team captain for three consecutive years. He helped lead the Eagles to three CIAA division titles where he was a prolific three-point shooter. Johnson graduated from NCCU with a B.S. degree in recreational administration in 2000.

As a prep player, Johnson starred at East Wake High School in Wendell, N.C., where he was an all-state basketball performer. He is the school's all-time scoring leader with 1,577 points.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU’s Ross signs to play in Dublin, Ireland

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Preston Ross III, who played one season of basketball at WSSU, has signed to play for UCD Marion Dublin, a pro team in Dublin, Ireland.

Ross, who transferred to WSSU after three seasons at Western Carolina, helped the Rams reach the CIAA championship game last season. At 6-5 and 220 pounds, Ross powered his way to 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds a game.

UCD Marion Dublin plays in the top division of the Premier League in Ireland.

Ross, who is from Fayetteville and a graduate of 71st High School, will leave next month to begin training camp. The season will run from October through March.

Ross is the latest former WSSU player to sign to play ...

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Bulldog team begins summer drills with eye on two rings and a positive image for SCSU

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- For redshirt freshman quarterback Adrian Kollack, voluntary summer workouts at South Carolina State are not just about strength and conditioning.

They are an opportunity for the Spartanburg native and potential new Bulldog starter to develop camaraderie with the offense he hopes to lead to another Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and beyond.

“(The motivation is) getting something more than a MEAC ring,” Kollack said. “Doing more than getting a MEAC ring ... winning a game in the (Football Championship Subdivision) playoffs and possibly making a run to the FCS title. We want to get two rings instead of one.”

As one of the de facto “coaches,” Kollack also gets to conduct the on-field workouts, which will take place Tuesday and Thursday the next four weeks at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium with more than 60 players in attendance. Other “coaches” are senior defensive lineman Andrew Carter and senior linebacker Justin Hughes.

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FAMU's Varnadore steps up to lead in senior year

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Right after a group of FAMU football players completed a conditioning drill of running steps inside Bragg Stadium, they gathered in a circle.

 Kicker Chase Varnadore pushed his way close to the center.

The former Florida High standout praised the effort of his teammates under the blazing sun, igniting what resembled the kind of celebration that follows a win.

"I always tell them it's not supposed to be easy," Varnadore said. "If it were easy, everybody would do it."

"During the season when we are down by seven points or 14 points in the third quarter, that's not easy. It's going to be hard to fight your way back into the game, so I feel like this is just preparing us for the season."

While that is the primary intent of the offseason workouts, it certainly is unusual to see a kicker taking charge and establishing himself as a leader.

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