Mississippi SWAC schools among smallest athletic budgets in Division 1

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mississippi’s SWAC schools have three of the 10 smallest athletic budgets in Division 1, according to a study released Thursday by USA Today.

The study found that among the 347 colleges and universities that compete in the NCAA’s top division, Jackson State ranked 337, Alcorn ranked 341 and Mississippi Valley State spent less than any other school in the country.

More troubling is the revelation that all three schools rank at or near the bottom in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in terms of both spending and revenue.

Records show Jackson State had the seventh-largest budget in the 10-team conference with a total operating budget of $7.6 million.

That’s nearly $1 million more than Alcorn State ($6.75 million), which ranked ninth in the league, and $3.3 million more than Mississippi Valley State ($4.29 million), which was last.

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Southern hopes to hire Roger Cador's replacement by early July; no interviews conducted yet

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern athletic director Roman Banks said he would like to have a new baseball coach hired by early July — and, more specifically, "in the next two to three weeks," he said.

For now, no interviews have been held in the search for Roger Cador's replacement, but Banks said he expects to begin the process sometime next week. Banks previously said he was following no timeline to hire a coach but that he'd prefer to have it done relatively quickly.

Whoever gets the job will be charged with replacing one of college baseball's most influential figures. Cador coached the Jaguars for 33 years.

Cador agreed to stay with the athletic department as the school's director of athletics advancement, a new position that aims to take advantage of his extensive connections and fundraising skills while his replacement gets settled in.

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New Mexico State fills massive hole, signs Texas Southern graduate transfer guard Zach Lofton

ZACH LOFTON
COJRTESY: TEXAS SOUTHERN ATHLETICS

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico – Chris Jans’ finally got a backcourt boost.

New Mexico State’s first year coach stepped into the job already needing to replace the reigning WAC Player of the Year in point guard Ian Baker. He then got a gut punch when breakout junior wing Braxton Huggins (13.7 PPG, 42.0 3P%) transferred to Fresno State.

And that wasn’t all.

Three other guards — Jermaine Haley, Matt Taylor and Jalyn Pennie — also left the program with eligibility left. Taylor and Pennie started at various times in their respective careers in Las Cruces, but Haley may have been the biggest loss, as the redshirt freshman oozed potential.

But the script flipped Monday as Texas Southern graduate transfer guard Zach Lofton committed to New Mexico State. He fills a massive need in terms of both scoring and experience.

n his lone year in Houston, Lofton averaged 16.8 points per game and won the SWAC Player of the Year award. This included a 35-point debut against UT Arlington in November, and a 19-point effort against Arizona later that month.

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Clark Atlanta University Selects First Female Band Director

TOMISHA BROCK

DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY BANDS
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has named Tomisha Brock as Director of University Bands and Assistant Professor of Music. This historic announcement makes Brock the first woman to serve as band director and the first female director in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

“I am truly honored and excited to make history at CAU,” says Brock. “In a male dominated profession, it is a privilege for female directors to show that we are just as qualified, we can compete and produce on a large scale, as with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs),” she adds. According to the HBCU National Band Directors Consortium, there are only five female band directors serving HBCUs across the nation serving as head director or as assistant/associate director.

Brock recently served as associate director of bands and assistant professor at Mississippi Valley State. Previously she served as director of university bands at Elizabeth City State University. “My goal is to provide holistic education through music, as well as excitement, creativity, and revitalization to the CAU band program,” says the 35-year-old. “Our students will understand the importance of music in their lives and the contributions music education has in creating the ‘total person.’ When students leave my program, they will possess valuable skills that will help market them in their careers wherever they go.”

Brock, who began singing in the church choir at six-years-old and playing the clarinet by age 10, has immersed herself in music her entire life. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Virginia State University and a Master of Music Education degree from Norfolk State University. She is pursuing her PhD in music education at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In 2016 Brock was named Spectacular Magazine’s 'Woman of the Year’, in the education category.

“Students who are involved in music and the marching band develop solid social skills. It provides them an avenue to express themselves, free from judgment,’ says the Virginia native. “It teaches and enhances the concepts of self-discipline, accountability, and team work.”

To schedule an interview with Tomisha Brock contact TBell@CAU.edu

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS

Edward Waters Baseball Adds Seven for 2018

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- Head Coach Reginald Johnson, II announced the signing of seven student-athletes for his baseball program for the 2018 season. C/OF Juan Loyo, C Karl Morales, C/IF Parker Rook, RHP Hunter Morris, INF/RHP Cody Melton, IF Arnie Ruiz, & IF Latek McNeil will be expected to contribute immediately to a team that had its second consecutive 30+ win season in 2017. 

"I'm very pleased with this year's signing class." said Coach Johnson. "The seven guys we've added are not only quality baseball players, but quality young men that will add to what we have coming back next season."

C/OF Juan Loyo/Caracas, Venezuela/CSA Becas Academy:

Coach Johnson on Loyo: "Juan has great tools and leadership qualities behind the dish. He's also very athletic in the outfield and swings the bat well to all parts of the field."

C Karl Morales/Dundee, FL/Spoon River College (IL):

Coach Johnson on Morales: "He's coming in with college experience behind the dish which is a plus for us. He controls the defense and pitching staff extremely well and we're looking for him to come in and immediately compete and take over the everyday role behind the plate."

C/IF Parker Rook/Orlando, FL/Timber Creek HS:

Superlatives: Rook played a huge role both on the mound and at the plate for the Wolves in 2017 en route to the 2017 FHSAA Class 9A State Baseball Championship. During his senior season, he drove in 20 RBIs and was an All-Metro Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2017. 

Coach Johnson on Rook: "I'm looking for Parker to come in with the winning mentality that he already has and carry it over to the collegiate level."     

RHP Hunter Morris/Orange Park, FL/Ridgeview HS:

Superlatives: Morris had a perfect 5-0 record in his final season for Head Coach John Sgromolo in 2017. He also had a 1.24 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched for the Panthers and had 27 strikeouts. 

Coach Johnson on Morris: "Hunter has three pitches that he commands very well and can be thrown on any count. He does a great job in keeping good hitting teams off balance and I'm looking for him to come in and compete in the rotation as a mid-week starter."

IF/RHP Cody Melton/Jacksonville, FL/University Christian School:

Superlatives: During 2017, Melton had a .440 batting average in 118 plate appearances with just six strikeouts. He helped lead the Fighting Christians the 2017 FHSAA Class 3A State Championship Game, where UC finished as the runner-up. Melton was also named to the 2017 All-First Coast Baseball Team and finished third in the 2017 Mr. Baseball voting for the state of Florida.

Coach Johnson on Melton: "Cody is another guy that we have coming in that just flat out knows how to win. I defintely expect for him to compete for a starting position and he'll also have some innings on the mound. He'll bring great diversity in the lineup being able to hit to all parts of the field and doesn't strikeout much."  

IF Arnie Ruiz/Orlando, FL/Timber Creek HS:

Superlatives: Ruiz joins his fellow State Champion teammate Parker Rook as the newest Tigers on the squad. During his senior season, he had a .330 batting average in 103 plate appearances with 33 runs scored and one homerun. Ruiz was named the Most Valuable Player for the Wolves in 2017, Third-Team All-Area, & an All-Metro Conference Honorable Mention selection. 

Coach Johnson on Ruiz: "He's another great player that we've brought in who knows how to compete. He' is a great defender and a very scrappy hitter that finds a way to get on base."

IF Latek McNeil/Hampton, GA/Dutchtown HS:

Coach Johnson on McNeil: "Latek will come in and immediately compete for the starting spot at second and third base. He has great hands and even greater instincts for the game. I am really excited to see the development of him as a ballplayer. Out of all of the players we have coming in, Latek has the highest ceiling."

EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS  

Ed Cassiere is NAIA recipient of 2016-17 AVCA media award

ED CASSIERE
ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNICATIONS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Ed Cassiere is the recipient of a Grant Burger Media Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association for his coverage of the Gold Nuggets in 2016-17.

The AVCA cited Cassiere, XULA's assistant athletic director for communications, as the NAIA recipient and one of 10 finalists for the overall award won by Vinnie Lopes, creator of the website Off the Block, which covers the men's game in NCAA Division I and II.

Other college publicists who were overall finalists were Michelle Traversie of Minnesota, Doug Self of Southwestern Oklahoma, Ira Thor of New Jersey City University and Roy Allen of Seward County (Kan.) Community College.

"In the short amount of time I have been the head coach at Xavier University of Louisiana, I have found Ed to be tireless when it comes to getting out news about XULA Athletics," Pat Kendrick said. "No story is too small. When we recently signed our first 2017 recruits, Ed personally contacted them to get their individual stories."

Cassiere has publicized XULA volleyball since its restart in 2010. From 2011-16 he covered teams that won six consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and earned six straight automatic bids to the NAIA National Championship.

The AVCA Grant Burger Media Award recognizes members of the media who advance the sport of volleyball through consistent coverage in all mediums. It is named in honor of former AVCA Director of Sports Information and Associate Director Grant Burger, whose hard work, innovative mind, knowledge and enthusiasm from 1988-92 took the areas of media relations and publications at the AVCA to a higher level and increased awareness of the sport nationwide.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Tuskegee University appoints Slater as athletics director

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Tuskegee University has appointed Willie Slater as the institution’s athletics director, effective July 1. Slater, who has nearly 40 years athletics and coaching experience, will remain the university’s head football coach.

“Coach Slater has demonstrated his leadership skills on the field, and I look forward to him bringing that same level of success and excellence to the duties of Tuskegee University’s athletics director,” said Dr. Charlotte Morris, the university’s interim president.

COACH WILLIE SLATER
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY

As athletics director, Slater will advance the university's NCAA Division II athletic program by overseeing budgeting, compliance, operations, student-athlete recruitment, and professional staffing and development. He also will report to the Office of the President.

“I am excited to lead the athletics programs of one of the nation’s most historic institutions in the country, and I am extremely grateful to Dr. Morris and the Board of Trustees for this opportunity,” Slater said. “I am quite familiar with Tuskegee athletics, so I understand the expectation of excellence this position demands and I look forward to working with our coaches, students and administrators so that we can do something great here.”

This fall, Slater begins his 12th season as Tuskegee’s head football coach — his 39th season coaching. His coaching record at Tuskegee is 101-27, which ranks him second all-time in wins at the university. He is known widely for being the first head coach in school history to earn a bid in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, which occurred following the 2013 season. One season later, in 2014, the Golden Tigers made a historical run that reached the quarterfinals (the Super 2 Region championship game) against West Georgia. The team finished with a 10-3 record overall and second in the SIAC West Division. Under Slater’s guidance, the team has made a total of four playoff appearances.

His coaching accolades include being named the 2012 SIAC Coach of the Year by The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., and the 2007 National Coach of the Year by the Sheridan Broadcasting Network — a year in which he led Tuskegee to a perfect 12-0 record and the HBCU title. Additionally, Slater has been tabbed as the SIAC Coach of the Year five times (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014).

Slater’s career includes 33 years of coaching at the collegiate level, and 18 years as an offensive coordinator at multiple levels. He joined the Tuskegee staff as the head coach in 2006 after serving as the offensive coordinator at Temple University in 2005 under Bobby Wallace. His first stop as a full-time collegiate coach came Troy University (1983-90), where he served as the running backs coach under Chan Gailey (1983-84). In total, he spent eight seasons with the Trojans, also working as the quarterbacks and running backs coach. After leaving Troy University and before coaching at Temple, Slater had in-state coaching stints at the University of West Alabama, University of North Alabama and Jacksonville State University.

Tuskegee University will host a news conference on Friday, July 7 to introduce Coach Willie Slater as its new athletics director. The news conference will begin at 10 a.m. in Logan Hall. Only media representatives with proper credentials will be permitted.

TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS