Donte' Jackson Announced as Grambling State's Men''s Basketball Coach

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State University Director of Athletics Paul Bryant officially announced the hiring of, and signed, Donte' Jackson as the next GSU head men's basketball coach during a Wednesday morning news conference.

Jackson officially signed his contract in front of a small crowd of media members, athletics staff and his family in the office of GSU President Rick Gallot.

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"We're excited today to sign this contract," Gallot said. "The future of Grambling and Grambling basketball is bright. And of course, whenever Willis Reed says that you have a great coach, then you have to be a great coach."

Bryant welcomed Jackson to the department by giving him an official Grambling State pin and baseball cap. He said, "This is a great day for our athletics department and our men's basketball program. We have a leader who will be an example for our young men in the classroom as well as on the playing surfaces and in the community."

"I'm elated," said Jackson when he addressed the crowd. "This is an opportunity I've always dreamed of…and I will give my all. I want to thank [President Gallot] for the opportunity to lead the program and for you entrusting the program into my hands. And I want to thank [Mr. Bryant] for just giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Grambling family."

Prior to GSU, Jackson spent three seasons as the head men's basketball coach at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. During his time there, he went 66-21 overall and won the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tournament and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, where they defeated West Georgia in the first round.

At the end of the 2015-16 season, he was named the SIAC Coach of the Year, as well as BOXTOROW National Coach of the Year. In his last year at Stillman, he also served as Stillman's interim director of athletics, in addition to maintaining his role as head men's basketball coach.

Prior to Stillman, Jackson led the men's basketball program at Central State University (CSU) in Wilberforce, Ohio, for four seasons. He took over the program in 2010 after serving as an assistant coach at CSU for seven seasons.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native graduated from CSU in 2003 with a bachelor's of science in education, and in 2008, he earned a master's of science in educational leadership. He was a three-year letter winner on the Marauder basketball team and earned all-conference and all-region honors during the 2001-02 season.

He led the Marauders to the NAIA Division I National Tournament and a Sweet Sixteen appearance with a 24-8 record during 1999-2000 season. Jackson capped his stellar career by being selected as the recipient of the John W. Garland President's Award, presented annually to a student-athlete who embodies the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship through academic and athletic achievements.

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU Deputy AD Elliott Charles leaves for Clemson

ELLIOTT CHARLES
COURTESY: FAMU ATHLETICS

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M Deputy Athletic Director
Elliot Charles is now on Clemson's staff, FAMU's athletic department confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

Charles' last day was Friday. He was hired at FAMU in January of 2016.

Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. is now looking for a new second-in-command. He met with the department Tuesday to discuss Elliott's departure, and no progress has been made on the search yet.

Overton praised Charles' work while at FAMU. He said he hopes to have a new deputy in place before September.

"This is a great opportunity for him," Overton said. "I’ve been working with that guy for a long time. He’s known as an expert in compliance. It’s one of those great opportunities and his family. He’s got a young family, he's trying to grow his family and they offered him a lot more money.

"There are some people who believe if you come to an HBCU, you can’t advance any further. I want anyone who comes to FAMU to know that we’re going to do great things and you’re going to have great opportunities."

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Alcorn's Horne leading candidate in ULM AD search

DEREK HORNE
COURTESY: FAMU ATHLETICS

MONROE, Louisiana -- Alcorn State athletic director Derek Horne is the leading candidate for the same position at ULM.

ULM has scheduled a Wednesday interview with Horne, who arrived in Monroe on Tuesday.

ULM President Nick Bruno, special assistant to the president Ron Hogan and former ULM and Southern Miss athletic director Richard Giannini are running the search along with an appointed search committee.

Alcorn has won two SWAC football championships, three football division titles and a tennis championship. The school also had 10 student-athletes earn first-team All-SWAC recognition since Horne was hired in 2014.

Men’s basketball coach Montez Robinson, a Horne hire, has guided the Braves from a six-win team to 33 wins in two seasons.

Alcorn signed Horne to a three-year extension in 2016.

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MEAC Announces 2017 Weeknight Football Television Schedule

NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) today announced its weeknight television schedule for the 2017 football season. This year's ledger features a pair of Thursday night games and one Friday night contest live on ESPNU.

The defending MEAC Champion North Carolina Central University Eagles will host the first Thursday night contest of the season as they'll welcome South Carolina State University to Durham, N.C. on Sept. 21. The contest marks the conference opener for both teams and its first matchup on the gridiron since 2014.

Florida A&M returns to the Thursday night lineup for the first time since 2015 as they'll host North Carolina Central in Tallahassee, Fla. on Sept. 28. Last season's fourth quarter rally by NCCU marked the first time in series history that NCCU has won consecutive contests against the Rattlers.

MEAC football will be featured under the Friday night lights for the first time since 2015 as Morgan State heads to Orangeburg, S.C. to square off against the South Carolina State Bulldogs on Friday, Oct. 6. Both teams last met in 2014 with Morgan State claiming a 24-21 win during the final minute in Baltimore. Morgan State will make its first appearance in Orangeburg and Oliver C. Dawson Stadium since 2013.

The entire 2017 MEAC Football TV schedule will be announced at a later date.


2017 MEAC ESPNU Weeknight Football Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 21 South Carolina State at North Carolina Central 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 28 North Carolina Central at Florida A&M 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 6 Morgan State at South Carolina State 7:30 p.m.

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU's game against NCCU rescheduled, now on ESPNU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M's second home game of the season has been rescheduled and is now part of the MEAC's ESPNU lineup.

The Rattlers will play North Carolina Central at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28, a Thursday, instead of Sept. 30. The game is now part of the MEAC's ESPNU Weeknight Football Schedule.

This is the latest revision to FAMU's football schedule. The Rattlers' game against Arkansas was moved up and is now scheduled for August 31 -- another Thursday.

This is the first time since 2015 FAMU has been a part o the MEAC's Weeknight Football lineup.

Several of FAMU's games will be broadcast on ESPN networks this season. The season opener against Texas Southern, the Arkansas game and the Florida Classic against Bethune-Cookman will all be on television.

RATTLERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 2017-18

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XULA wins Thomas Howell Cup for 6th time in 7 years

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has won the 2016-17 Thomas Howell Cup, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference's all-sports award, said the GCAC in a Friday announcement.
     
It's the sixth time that XULA won the award, all in the last seven years.
     
\The Thomas Howell Cup, named for the GCAC's longtime commissioner, is awarded annually to the school with the most points based on order of finish in various sports. XULA was boosted by GCAC championships in men's cross country, women's cross country, women's volleyball (regular season and tournament), and women's outdoor track and field.
     
"Xavier is proud to take control of the Thomas Howell Cup once again," said XULA Director of Athletics & Recreation Jason Horn. "Not only did our student-athletes and coaches have another outstanding year, we produced our largest group of graduates in the last 12 years. The athletics department strives daily to live up to our motto: 'Win. Grow. Graduate.' "
     
The conference did not announce point totals or standings for the Howell Cup, but unofficial scoring by XULA Assistant Athletics Director for Communications Ed Cassierehad XULA with 37 1/2 points. In the seven GCAC championship sports — men's and women's cross country, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's outdoor track and field — XULA scored 33 1/2 of a possible 41 points.
     
Although XULA won GCAC volleyball regular-season and tournament championships for the sixth consecutive year, the university was credited with all-sports points only for its regular-season standing. The GCAC also applied that method in men's and women's basketball.
     
Dillard, the 2015-16 Howell Cup winner, and Edward Waters tied for second place in Cassiere's unofficial scoring with 30 points apiece. Talladega was fourth with 24 1/2 points, followed by SUNO with 17, Tougaloo with 13 and Philander Smith with 11.
     
"This honor is another testament to Xavier's commitment to excellence, dedication and hard work not only in the classroom, but in everything we do," said XULA Vice President for Student Services Joseph Byrd, "and athletics is no exception. It is because of the vision of our president, Dr. Reynold Verret, our athletic director, Mr. Jason Horn, our coaches and especially our students that we are again recognized for greatness. We are pleased to be honored."
     
In addition to the conference titles, XULA highlights for the past year included:

     •  7-of-9 teams represented at NAIA National Championship appearances — volleyball, men's cross country, women's cross country, men;'s tennis, women's tennis, men's track and field (individual athlete) and women's track and field (individual athletes).

     •  Nine student-athletes earned NAIA All-America: Catalin Fifea, Moses Micheal, Antoine Richard and Karan Salwan in men's tennis, Charlene Goreau in women's tennis and Clarke Allen, Ry-Anne Riley, Tramaine Shannon and Ariane Williams in women's track and field.

     •  Two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans: Salwan and Drew Chatters (women's track and field).

     •  Department GPA increased from 2015-16 to 2016-17.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Nuggets sign 2; recruiting class increases to 6

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Thursday the signing of Vivica Price-Spraggins of Chicago and Whitney Young Magnet High School and Kayla Black of Magnolia, Texas, and Houston's St. Pius X High School to athletic scholarships for volleyball.
     
The Gold Nuggets have signed six for the 2017 season, which will begin in August. XULA won the last six Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and earned six consecutive automatic bids during that time to the NAIA National Championship.
     
Price-Spraggins is a 5-foot-11 middle blocker/right-side hitter. She helped Whitney Young's Dolphins in 2016 go 24-12, win a regional playoff and advance to sectionals. Price-Spraggins hit .402 as a senior with 105 kills, 47 blocks, 22 aces and 53 digs.
     
Price-Spraggins played five years of club ball — first with Club Kace, then with Chicago Elite. She was a starter for a bronze-medal-winning team at 2016 nationals.
     
Black, a 5-9 outside hitter, helped St. Pius in 2016 reach the Class 6A quarterfinals of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools playoffs. She was second-team all-state as a senior and junior. Black was her team's MVP in 2016.
     
Black has nine years of club experience, most recently with Willowbrook but also with Waves and Revolution. She was a starter for a Waves team that placed eighth in nationals in 15s.
     
Black's paternal grandfather is former NFL player and executive James "Shack" Harris, a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the first African-American quarterback to start and win an NFL playoff game (1974: Los Angeles 19, Washington 10).
     
Price-Spraggins will major in early elementary education, and Black will be a biology/pre-medical major with plans to pursue a career in pediatric cardiology.

2017-18 XULA Volleyball Signees
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Yr.*	Hometown	High School
Ariel Bell #	OH	5-7	Fr.	White Castle, La.	White Castle
Kayla Black	OH	5-9	Fr.	Magnolia, Texas	St. Pius X
Jaida Dowd	OH	5-8	Fr.	Aurora, Ill.	Metea Valley
Eva Le Guillou	S	5-9	Fr.	Velizy-Villacoublay, France	Emmanuel Mounier
Vivica Price-Spraggins	MB/RS	5-11	Fr.	Chicago, Ill.	Whitney Young Magnet
Lauryn Taylor	RS/OH	5-9	Fr.	Sairburn, Ga.	Booker T. Washington
* XULA athletic classification in 2017-18 # also will compete in track and field Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA  twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold