Shaw University,

JOE GETS HIS GUYS AT FAMU: Florida A&M head football coach Billy Joe has announced the filling of vacancies on his coaching staff for the coming 2005 campaign caused by the exodus of five coaches a little over a month ago. Three of the new appointees are former Rattlers. Joe announced that Bob Cole will be the Rattlers' new offensive coordinator. Cole spent the last five seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Utah State. Charles Huff is the new defensive coordinator and will oversee special teams and safeties. Huff spent the past seven seasons at Central Florida where he worked with defensive ends and special teams. William Orr, who served in a similar capacity with Delaware State last season, will serve as the FAMU defensive line coach. Orr has also coached defense at Morehouse and Elizabeth City State. Former FAMU receiver Charles Allen will be the new receivers coach. Allen played for the Rattlers from 1999-2002 and ranks sixth all-time on the Rattlers' receiving charts. Leading the linebackers will be another former Rattler, Maurice Johnson who played the position for FAMU, graduating in 1999. Former FAMU defensive back Larry Williams will handle the defensive backfield. Williams, a four-year letterman (1994-98), has been on the staff the past three seasons as a graduate assistant.

MILLER GETS AD POST AT NSU: While announcing her intention to step down for health reasons in June, Norfolk State President Dr. Marie V. McDemmond and the NSU Board of Visitors have appointed Marty Miller to the post of permanent athletics director, effective immediately. Miller has served as interim athletics director since Dec. 16, 2004. He stepped down as the Spartans' baseball coach on Feb. 8 after winning 718 games in his 32-plus years in that role. "I'm pleased to announce Mr. Miller's appointment as full-time athletics director," McDemmond said. "I feel his experience in administration, his long period of success as baseball coach, and his deep love and commitment to the university will serve the athletics program very well and take the Spartans to new heights." Miller said, "I decided to accept the offer to become the athletics director because I was told that my school needs me in this capacity at this time. Dr. McDemmond and the Board of Visitors have demonstrated confidence in my ability, and I could not ignore their trust. When my school calls on me, it is difficult to ignore the voice. I have a tremendous challenge confronting me because this is an important period in the history of NSU athletics. Fans, friends and alumni are calling upon me to return us back to the glory days. With everyone's help, we can achieve this goal." Miller, a 1969 graduate of NSU, won 17 CIAA baseball championships as head coach. He is the winningest baseball coach in CIAA history, and is a member of the CIAA's John B. McLendon Hall of Fame and the NSU Athletics Foundation Sports Hall of Fame. Miller was also a star baseball player at NSU from 1965-68, earning NCAA College Division All-American honors after batting .406 as a senior. The Spartans' on-campus baseball field is named in his honor. Miller has also served as assistant vice president for student affairs in his time at the university.

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