WSSU's
Stitt gets contract extension
February 14, 2005
Winston-Salem, NC – In
a Monday morning press conference, Winston-Salem State University
Director of Athletics, Dr. Chico Caldwell announced that
Head Men’s Basketball Coach Philip Stitt has been given
a three-year contract extension that will take him through
the 2007-08 basketball season.
WSSU Photo  |
Philip Stitt |
Stitt is currently in his
seventh season with the Ram basketball program since coming
to WSSU prior to the 1998-99 season to serve as an assistant
coach to then-Head Coach Rick Duckett. During his tenure
as an assistant coach with the Rams, Stitt was a part of
two CIAA Championship teams, and three consecutive trips
to the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Stitt was named Interim
Head Coach prior to the 2001-02 season when Duckett left
WSSU to become an assistant coach at the University of South
Carolina. As Interim Head Coach, Stitt led the Rams
to a 22-7 overall record and their fourth straight berth
in the NCAA Division II Playoffs and was summarily
rewarded with a three-year contract.
Stitt led the Rams to a
15-14 record during the 2002-03 season, his first year as
WSSU’s head coach since having the interim tag removed. He
then guided the Rams to a 16-12 record in 2003-04 in his
second season as WSSU’s Head Coach, and has had even
greater success this season as he has led WSSU to an 18-5
record thus far.
In three and half seasons
at the head of the WSSU men’s basketball program, Stitt
has an overall record of 71-38 for a winning percentage of
65.1% and has coached three players that were named All-CIAA
performers.
Stitt, a native of Jacksonville,
FL is a 1991 graduate of Brewton-Parker College where he
earned a B.A. in health, physical education and recreation
and was a member of the men’s basketball team . Coach
Stitt's collegiate coaching career began in 1991 as assistant
at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. After
spending three seasons with the Stars, he moved on to Division
I Jacksonville University where he assisted with practice
and game coaching, recruiting, and the organization of basketball
camps.
In 1997 Stitt joined the
coaching staff at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville,
North Carolina. In his only season at Fayetteville State
University, the Broncos finished 17-10, tied for second place
in the CIAA Western Division.
Commenting on the contract
extension, Caldwell
said, “Throughout Coach Stitt’s
time here with WSSU, there has never been an issue with the
student status of his players. He demands academic
success, and demands that his players attend class and fulfill
all the responsibilities of being both a student and an athlete. His
teams have done well in the classroom and on the court. He
uses basketball to teach his players for life. He makes
basketball situations and scenarios relate to life and teaches
his players for success in the ultimate game of life. He
has done an outstanding job recruiting and in game preparation,
as well as in skills development. We at WSSU are looking
forward to the continued success of our program under Coach
Stitt.”
Stitt’s contract
extension will take effect starting April 1st,
2005 and will continue through the completion of the 2007-08
season.
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