PRINCESS ANNE, MD- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has named three
new head coaches within the Department of Athletics.
During a press conference today the Hawks welcomed Lawrence Lessett Jr., Fred M. Batchelor II, and Alex I.
Temkin as Head Men's Basketball Coach, Head Women's Basketball Coach, and Head Women's Volleyball Coach
respectively. Each brings with them a wealth of experience to the department.
Lawrence Lessett Jr., will begin duties as the new coach of the Fighting Hawks. He brings with him almost thirty
years of coaching experience beginning at the High School level and continuing through the professional ranks.
Lessett has most recently worked as a global scout for Magic Johnson International Basketball. Previously he has
served as head coach of the Magic City Snowbears of the International Basketball Association in Minot, North
Dakota. There he coached the team to a franchise record in wins, a playoff appearance and had the league's top
scorer.
Lessett is also no stranger to the college ranks, most recently leading the Tigers of Hiwassee College as Head Men's
Basketball Coach and Athletic Director. Previous to his post with the Tigers he was the Head Assistant Coach at
Mercer University, leading the Bears for two seasons, 1995-1997. Lessett has also held posts at De Anza College,
Georgia Southwestern College, Georgia College, Santa Barbara City College, Western New Mexico University,
Loyola Marymount University, and Cal State University Northridge.
He has a career head coaching record of 182-95, led the Los Angeles area AAU 1983 National Championship Team,
and has coached ten NBA players including Magic Johnson. Coach Lessett has reached the play-offs at every
institution he has coached, including three NAIA District 25 Championships at Georgia College.
Stepping in to take the reigns of the Lady Hawks Basketball Team is Coach Fred M. Batchelor II. Coach Batchelor
leaves his post as Head Women's Basketball Coach of Elizabeth City State University where he has coached for the
last two seasons, taking his team to a third place finish in the CIAA. Previously, Batchelor was at the State
University of New York (SUNY) school, Buffalo State College, where he was regular season champions of the
SUNY Athletic Conference in 2001-2002. That year he led his team to an NCAA Tournament Appearance and was
named SUNYAC Coach of the Year. The previous season he led the Bengals to a fourth place conference finish.
He has a career head coaching record of 62-45 over four seasons.
Batchelor has also served as a Women's Assistant Coach at Buffalo State, a Men's Assistant Coach at the University
of Buffalo and Valley Forge Christian College, and Men's Head Coach and Athletic Director at Villa Maria Junior
College.
Leaving one successful volleyball program and taking over another is Alex I. Temkin. Temkin leaves a program at
American International College where in the last two years he accumulated a 35-25 record and made two trips to the
Northeast-10 Conference Tournament. Prior to that post he served as an Assistant Coach at the University of
Massachusetts Amherst.
Temkin has coached at the high school and club volleyball levels, compiling a 68-18 record in high school coaching
and work with the Western Massachusets Juniors and Husky Volleyball Club in Connecticut.
As a player, Temkin has played in eight USA Open National Championships, two USA A Level National
Championships, and made four trips to the NCAA Collegiate Club National Championships with the University of
Massachusetts.
