UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
STILLMAN NABS DOUGLAS: Stillman College officially announced last week it has hired legendary
Leighton, Alabama native and former NBA
player, Leon Douglas, to lead the school's men's basketball
program. "This is a new day for Stillman and our basketball
program," said Dr. Ernest McNealey, president
of Stillman College. "Coach Douglas understands the
history, uniqueness and excitement of the program and brings
thirty years of experience to this program. You can't top that when
it comes to finding a coach that can motivate and turn
things around." McNealey said. Douglas has had a stellar career.
He is a four-time All-SEC selection from the University
of Alabama, the first Alabama player to achieve that
distinction. He played in the NBA for seven years where he was
a first round NBA draft pick, fourth overall, for the
Detroit Pistons from 1976-80, then later for the Kansas City
Kings. "My emphasis is on student athletes to assist and help
them grow both athletically and academically," said
Douglas. "People can expect our basketball program to be
high-scoring and fast-paced. There is a rich tradition at this
school and I look forward to connecting with the players, staff
and the community," Douglas said. "I made a commitment
to Alabama and I am here to reestablish my roots. I have
been all over the world for thirty years and now I'm back,"
Douglas responded on why he came back to his home state.
Douglas played for the Alabama Crimson Tide where he served
as team captain in 1975-1976. His active career allowed him
to be selected as a member of the Intercontinental Cup
Team and selected SEC Player of the Year in 1975 and 1976.
He also continued expanding his career in the Italian
Basketball League for eight years. Before accepting the head
coaching position at Stillman, Douglas was employed by
Oakland Intermediate School District in Bloomfield, Michigan.
OWENS COMES TO ECSU: The Elizabeth City
State Athletic Department has named Tara
Owens its new head women's basketball coach. Owens
comes to ECSU from Cheyney (PA) University where she served
an assistant coach for two years and the head coach for the
past six seasons. At Cheyney, she also held the title of
Senior Woman Administrator and Project
Administrator/Activity Director for the National
Youth Sports Program (NYSP). A 1993 graduate of
Virginia State, Owens played under former Lady Trojans' Coach
Bertha Cummings from 1988-1991. She received her BS from
VSU in Physical Education/Health and completed her Masters
of Education in Administration and Supervision at Cheyney
in 1998. She will officially assume her new post at ECSU
on August 1. Coach Owens inherits a Lady Viking program
that finished last season with a 13-14 overall record, good
for third place in the CIAA Eastern Division.
GREGORY MOVED: Delaware State has announced that Dr. Hallie Gregory, who had served as director of athletics for the past four years, has accepted a new position at the school. Effective April 30, Gregory will be visiting associate professor in the College of Education and Sport Sciences. Gregory's departure is part of a plan by DSU President Allen Sessoms to expand the efforts of the athletic department. Sessoms told the Delaware State News that he had met with Gregory in February about athletic department activities. "We're looking for someone with a broad vision who will spend more time on organizing, raising funds and working on gender-equity issues," Sessoms said. Sessoms has often said that he wants athletics to be a focal point of the university. Part of that effort includes the desire for the school's football team to jump from NCAA Division I-AA to I-A classification. A few days prior Gregory's departure, university officials appeared before the state legislature requesting a contribution of $40 million to a $92.1 million sports and entertainment complex that will be shared with the City of Dover. Plans include a 14,500-seat football stadium and 7,500-seat civic center.
© 2004 Azeez Communications, Inc.