UAPB
Terminates Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches
July 15, 2002
Pine Bluff, AR - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will
not reappoint Harold Blevins as men’s head basketball coach
and Kenneth Conley as women’s head basketball coache for
the 2002-2003 academic year, according to Chancellor Lawrence
A. Davis, Jr.
‘We appreciate the services and sacrifices made by both
Coach Conley and Coach Blevins,” said Davis. “The
transition from NAIA to NCAA Division I competition has been difficult.
However, as we anticipate the appointment of an athletic director
and other current challenges, it is imperative that we make changes.”
Blevins had served as the men’s coach for the past seven
years and compiled a 36-147 overall record, including a 14-74
mark in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Conley, who became the women’s coach 11 years ago, compiled
an 86-183 overall record and 17-69 SWAC ledger. He had only three
winning seasons during his tenure - 16-9 in 1991-92; 13-10 in
1994-95 and 15-9 in 1995-96.
A former Golden Lion basketball standout, Blevins was the first
UAPB player drafted into the National Basketball Association when
the New York Knicks selected him in the second round after a stellar
senior season in 1965. His coaching tenure was highlighted by
UAPB’s 66-64 upset victory over the University of Houston
in 1996.
Before taking over as head women’s coach in June, 1991,
Conley was an assistant coach for the men’s team for five
years. A native of Pine Bluff, Conley was a four-year starter
for the Golden Lions and earned NAIA All-District recognition
for three years from 1979 to 1981.
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