NASSAU, Bahamas -- HBCUX Founder/CEO Curtis Symonds former EVP of BET and former COO of the Washington Mystics makes a formal announcement of the 1st Annual HBCUX Classic in Nassau Bahamas. The Texas Southern Tigers football team is gearing up for the 2014 HBCUX Classic versus Central State. Travel packages for the event are now on sale and can be viewed by visiting the HBCUX Classic official website located at www.hbcux.com.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Mike DeMilia Named Next Lincoln Baseball Coach
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- Mike DeMilia, who helped lead Truman State to the postseason last spring, is the next head coach of the Lincoln baseball program. Lincoln Athletic Director Betty Kemna announced the hiring on Tuesday (July 1).
"We are very excited to welcome Mike to Lincoln University," Kemna said. "Mike is a high-energy guy who brings tremendous enthusiasm to our program. We believe his passion for the game of baseball, his understanding of the sport and his knowledge of the MIAA will take Lincoln to the next level."
DeMilia spent the past three seasons as the assistant coach at Truman, including helping the Bulldogs transition from the MIAA into the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 2014 season. This past spring, DeMilia helped lead Truman to a program-record 26 wins and a berth in the GLVC postseason tournament, where the Bulldogs won two extra-inning games against higher-ranked teams. One of those wins was a 13-12 come-from-behind victory that eliminated eventual NCAA Midwest Regional-qualifier Indianapolis from the GLVC tourney.
DeMilia becomes the eighth head coach in Lincoln baseball history.
"I've coached for 21 years, the last three at Truman State, and we've played Lincoln 11 times [in that span], and I've always kind of seen it as a program with some promise," DeMilia said. "I see some talent, and a facility that I think can be really good. I believe Lincoln is a place where you can be successful."
Prior to becoming the assistant at Truman, DeMilia was the assistant coach at Millard North High, where he coached two all-state position players and three All-Omaha Metro Area players. That season, DeMilia helped Millard North finish third in the Legion season and fourth at the state tournament. DeMilia was also the head coach at Omaha Bryan High from 2006-2010, winning 184 games overall between the high school and American Legion seasons.
DeMilia has coached baseball on some level since 1994, when he started his professional career as a junior varsity assistant coach with the Nebraska Medical Center Legion team. DeMilia was promoted to head coach of that squad in 1996, and held that position until taking over as head coach of the varsity squad in 2000. In six seasons with the Nebraska Medical Center Legion team, DeMilia won 126 games with players who had been cut from their high school squads.
DeMilia also concurrently coached as an assistant at Millard West High in 1999 and at Omaha Central High from 2004-2005. DeMilia helped both programs set school records for wins in a season.
In addition to his coaching, DeMilia has also organized, coordinated and instructed at a variety of youth baseball camps and clinics. At Truman State, DeMilia was responsible for scouting opponents and coaching defensive positioning as well as all aspects of the Bulldogs' offensive system. In 2014, the Bulldogs set five offensive records, including runs scored (292), total hits (482), RBI (248) and stolen bases (118). DeMilia coached eight position players that earned All-GLVC recognition and one that was named the Midwest Regional Player of the Week.
DeMilia expects to bring an aggressive offensive approach to the Blue Tigers.
"We want to make pitchers uncomfortable, we want to make the defense uncomfortable," DeMilia said. "At some point, I want to bring speed to our team and steal bases, hit-and-run, things like that. The biggest thing is, I want a group of guys that will compete. You're going to see kids fighting hard, playing as a team, playing with enthusiasm."
DeMilia earned his bachelor's degree in Physical and Health Education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1999 and later received a master's degree in Health and Human Performance from Oklahoma State University in 2001. While at Oklahoma State, he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the Cowboy baseball team.
DeMilia and his wife Mendy have three children: Easton, Nolan and Claire.
"We are very excited to welcome Mike to Lincoln University," Kemna said. "Mike is a high-energy guy who brings tremendous enthusiasm to our program. We believe his passion for the game of baseball, his understanding of the sport and his knowledge of the MIAA will take Lincoln to the next level."
DeMilia spent the past three seasons as the assistant coach at Truman, including helping the Bulldogs transition from the MIAA into the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 2014 season. This past spring, DeMilia helped lead Truman to a program-record 26 wins and a berth in the GLVC postseason tournament, where the Bulldogs won two extra-inning games against higher-ranked teams. One of those wins was a 13-12 come-from-behind victory that eliminated eventual NCAA Midwest Regional-qualifier Indianapolis from the GLVC tourney.
DeMilia becomes the eighth head coach in Lincoln baseball history.
"I've coached for 21 years, the last three at Truman State, and we've played Lincoln 11 times [in that span], and I've always kind of seen it as a program with some promise," DeMilia said. "I see some talent, and a facility that I think can be really good. I believe Lincoln is a place where you can be successful."
Prior to becoming the assistant at Truman, DeMilia was the assistant coach at Millard North High, where he coached two all-state position players and three All-Omaha Metro Area players. That season, DeMilia helped Millard North finish third in the Legion season and fourth at the state tournament. DeMilia was also the head coach at Omaha Bryan High from 2006-2010, winning 184 games overall between the high school and American Legion seasons.
DeMilia has coached baseball on some level since 1994, when he started his professional career as a junior varsity assistant coach with the Nebraska Medical Center Legion team. DeMilia was promoted to head coach of that squad in 1996, and held that position until taking over as head coach of the varsity squad in 2000. In six seasons with the Nebraska Medical Center Legion team, DeMilia won 126 games with players who had been cut from their high school squads.
DeMilia also concurrently coached as an assistant at Millard West High in 1999 and at Omaha Central High from 2004-2005. DeMilia helped both programs set school records for wins in a season.
In addition to his coaching, DeMilia has also organized, coordinated and instructed at a variety of youth baseball camps and clinics. At Truman State, DeMilia was responsible for scouting opponents and coaching defensive positioning as well as all aspects of the Bulldogs' offensive system. In 2014, the Bulldogs set five offensive records, including runs scored (292), total hits (482), RBI (248) and stolen bases (118). DeMilia coached eight position players that earned All-GLVC recognition and one that was named the Midwest Regional Player of the Week.
DeMilia expects to bring an aggressive offensive approach to the Blue Tigers.
"We want to make pitchers uncomfortable, we want to make the defense uncomfortable," DeMilia said. "At some point, I want to bring speed to our team and steal bases, hit-and-run, things like that. The biggest thing is, I want a group of guys that will compete. You're going to see kids fighting hard, playing as a team, playing with enthusiasm."
DeMilia earned his bachelor's degree in Physical and Health Education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1999 and later received a master's degree in Health and Human Performance from Oklahoma State University in 2001. While at Oklahoma State, he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the Cowboy baseball team.
DeMilia and his wife Mendy have three children: Easton, Nolan and Claire.
Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
ASU Men's Basketball to Play in the Bahamas
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State University men's basketball team will be one of 14 NCAA programs to play in the "Summer of Thunder 2014" Tournament held in Nassau. There are 13 international teams from the Dominican Republic, France and Puerto Rico during the foreign tour which is being hosted by the Bahamas Basketball Federation and Complete Sports Management August 2-25.
"We're very excited and it is a great opportunity to go out and get some play in for the summer," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said. "We want to go out and have some fun and let the kids enjoy themselves, have a good time, play some basketball and it also gives us some time to get some practice in."
"We are looking forward to the trip and want to make it fun, but at the same time we are looking to gel and try to come together as a team."
The foreign tour will run over the course of 23 days with the Hornets scheduled to play their exhibition games during the second week of action. ASU will leave for the Bahamas Aug. 12 and return Aug. 17. They are scheduled to open play against the Providence Storm on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 6 p.m.
On Thursday Aug. 14, ASU will play the Pyramid Food Rockets at 8 p.m. The Hornets final exhibition game will have them facing the Street Legends All-Stars on Friday Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. All games will be played at the 2,500-seat Sir Kendal Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau.
"We are going to get the chance to play some older guys who have played the game and understand the game and play at a high level," Jackson said. "It is a great opportunity for us because we were so young last year and these guys will have a chance to go out and see how much they have improved over the summer before we get into seasonal play."
NCAA rules allow foreign tours by intercollegiate teams once every four academic years. The other participating NCAA teams are North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Mississippi, Morehead State, Northern Arizona, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Portland State, Whitman College, Louisiana Tech and Stanford.
"I think this is the first time we at Alabama State have had an opportunity to go over and play (Bahamas)," Jackson said. "Again, we want to see how much our guys have improved, but we want them to have a good time. Some of these guys would not have this opportunity if it were not for basketball to go and make this trip. So we are excited about what it can bring to us."
"We are planning on taking in some sights. I think we play late games so we want the guys to get out and have a real good experience. We are going to try and blend in some tour time as well as getting in some time to play basketball. It is going to be a fun trip for everyone."
The Bahamas trip is part of the Global Sports Invitational the Hornets have been involved in the past several years. Along with the trip to the Bahamas, this year's participation in the Global Sports Invite has ASU traveling to Utah to play in a multi-team tournament hosted by the Utes. The other teams in the tournament along with ASU and host Utah are Texas-Pan American and North Dakota. The tournament will be played Nov. 26-29.
ASU returns every player from last season's 19-13 team which finished tied for second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 12-6 conference record.
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Terminated Grambling coach issues statement
GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Former Grambling State University Head Basketball Coach Joseph Price issued a statement in regard to his dismissal from the university on Wednesday morning.
From Joseph Price:
"I feel great about the progress we made with the program over the last two years. When I took the head coach position, Grambling was facing serious NCAA sanctions that required us to focus on the academic eligibility, retention and the team's graduation rate, which in summary is the Academic Progress Rate (APR).
"I feel great about the progress we made with the program over the last two years. When I took the head coach position, Grambling was facing serious NCAA sanctions that required us to focus on the academic eligibility, retention and the team's graduation rate, which in summary is the Academic Progress Rate (APR).
Through strategic recruiting and monitoring the academic progress of our players, my staff and I were able to lead the program out of these sanctions and on a pathway to success in just two years. When you consider the fact that we were working in a limited resource environment, this was equivalent to working a miracle.
The program is now past most of ...
Former Albany State baseball standouts adjusting to life in independent league
Jacob Campbell, Robby Latner now play in the Pecos League
ROSWELL, New Mexico — Campbell showed up in Roswell, N.M., just over a month ago with a dream.
And even though the first month of his professional baseball career didn’t go exactly as planned, that dream is still very much alive for the former Albany State standout and Westover grad.
Campbell, along with former ASU teammate Robby Latner, signed a professional contract in the independent Pecos League — a non-affiliated pro league that serves as a feeder system for MLB affiliated teams or higher independent leagues — in May and is currently in the middle of his first season with the Roswell Invaders. Latner signed with the Bisbee (Ariz.) Blues and has become one of his team’s most versatile players.
Campbell began the season with a starting job in left field but fell into a slump and is platooning in the outfield as he adjusts to life with a wooden bat, but he is still hopeful for a long-term baseball career.
Houston Rockets Call Pendarvis Williams To Summer League
HOUSTON, Texas -- The Houston Rockets have signed Pendarvis Williams to their summer league roster.The former Norfolk State Spartan, averaged 15.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 2.6 apg last season. The 6’6”, 195 lb guard earned many accolades during his college career, which include: being named the MEAC Player of the Year, was also an honorable mention All-American, a conference Player of the Year and finished the season as HBCU Player of the Year.
Williams is an excellent 3-point shooter. His ability to shoot the three ball is his best asset. He shot over 38% from behind the arc in his four-year career at Norfolk State making him a huge asset to his team.
His college coach, Robert Jones, praises Williams for his leadership and work ethic on and off the court.
Jones also compared Williams to Rookie of the Year winner Michael Carter Williams, for reasons related to his size and ball handling skills. Williams has the ability to play either guard position which fits the mold of most NBA guards today.
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