UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
DIXONS TO LANE: Former Maryland-Eastern Shore head coach Surina Dixon has been named the
new head coach at Lane College in Jackson,
Tennessee. Dixon, who resigned in 2004 after four seasons at UMES,
replaces LaNise Rosemond, who went 6-19 this past season
leading the Lady Dragons, including a 4-14 mark in
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
play. Dixon was 41-74 in her tenure at UMES including a
25-47 mark in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference.
Dixon, a Tennessee native, also spent time as an assistant with
Arkansas State (1999-2000) and Texas
Southern (1998-99), and with the Memphis Blues of the Women's Basketball
Association (1993-95). ''For some reason I'm attracted to programs
that aren't where they are capable of being because I like
a challenge,'' said Dixon, who played collegiately at
Mississippi Valley State. ''It's so rewarding to start building and
see where you end up. I get a blast out of that.'' Dixon's
husband, Harold, will also serve as her assistant. Harold was hired
as an admissions recruiter by Lane and will serve as his
wife's assistant coach. The two met in Germantown as
middle school coaches - Surina with the girls and Harold with
the boys. ''We met coaching and we have a passion for
coaching. This is something we've looked forward to doing for a
long time,'' Surina said. ''We're getting that opportunity and
we're excited.''
PARRISH TO LEAD LINCOLN: Lincoln (MO)
University has named Lemar Parrish
as head coach of 
the Blue Tiger Football team. The
announce-ment was made by Athletic Director Tim
Abney. Parrish had served as interim head
coach since February 2005. "We are excited and delighted to
have Lemar Parrish as our next football coach at Lincoln
University," said Abney. "Having played for and graduated
from Lincoln, we feel Coach Parrish will bring Blue Tiger pride
back to the football program." Parrish has a long history with the
Blue Tiger football team, both on the field and from the sidelines. He played
for legendary coach Dwight T. Reed from 1966-1969. Parrish returned to
Lincoln University in 1999, when the school revived the
football team after a ten-year absence. Since his return he has
served as coach for defensive backs and special teams and
most recently as defensive coordinator. Parrish's number
was retired in 2001, making him only the second player in
school history to receive such an honor. Parrish played for
thirteen seasons in the National Football League as a defensive
back. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1970 and
was named Rookie of the Year. He is still third on the Bengals'
all-time return yardage list with 354 yards. In 1977, Parrish
went on to play for the Washington Redskins, where he was
named MVP in 1981. He also played for the Buffalo Bills
before retiring in 1983. During his career, Parrish led the NFL
in punt returns in 1970, pass interceptions in 1979 and 1981
and was elected to the Pro Bowl eight times.
CIAA SCHOLAR/ATHLETES: Luqman Jaaber, a member of the Virginia Union national championship men's basketball team and Shaw CIAA women's tennis champion, Ffion Fletcher, have been selected as the conference's Male and Female Scholar/Athletes of the Year. Fletcher is a junior business administration major from Montego Bay, Jamaica who carries a 4.0 GPA. Jaaber, a senior Richmond, Va., native, has a 3.3 GPA and majors in computer science. Both Fletcher and Jaaber will represent the CIAA as nominees for the Division II Conference Commissioners South Atlantic Region Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards. They will also be recognized at the 2005 CIAA Spring Awards Luncheon on May 26 in Raleigh.
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