BCSP Notes . . .

Florida A&M President James H. Ammons announced last week that athletic director Nelson Townsend had submitted his resignation, effective Tuesday morning, and that head football coach Rubin Carter, was given a "notice of non-reappointment and employment separation."

Townsend will be on paid administrative leave until February 12, 2008, his last day of employment. Carter will also be placed on paid administrative leave until April 22, 2008.

"I am appreciative of the tremendous work Mr. Townsend and Coach Carter have done during the period when we were working to address NCAA sanctions," said Ammons. "Now we want to move in a new direction with the athletics program. I'm moving forward with the hiring process."

Ammons went on to say that the positions would be filled by the end of the year.

Townsend was appointed athletic director in December of 2005, beginning his second tour as AD in January 2006. He had over 30 years experience in athletic and education administration, including a previous stint at FAMU from 1986 through 1987. He also served two tours at Maryland-Eastern Shore, as well as stints at Delaware State and the University of Buffalo.

Carter came on board as head football coach in July of 2005, compiling a 16-17 record in three seasons. He posted back-to-back winning seasons in 2005 (6-5) and 2006 (7-4), before this year's 3-8 campaign. An All-American defensive lineman at the University of Miami, Carter played 12 seasons in the National Football League with Denver, before starting a 21-year coaching career that covered both the professional and collegiate ranks.

He also met with the athletic staff and coaches Tuesday morning, announcing that Allen Bogan, longtime faculty member and one-time assistant football coach, would serve as interim athletic director until a permanent director is hired. Bogan began his association with FAMU in 1974, when he joined the athletic and health and physical education staff. A 1967 graduate of Ohio University, Bogan was an assistant football coach under Rudy Hubbard (1974-85), Ken Riley (1986-93) and Billy Joe (1994-2004).

Forte out, Coleman in at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Former Washington Redskins linebacker Monte Coleman was introduced as the new football coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff last Monday, the same day Mo Forte was fired.

Coleman played for the Redskins from 1979-94, winning three Super Bowls. The Pine Bluff native, who played college football at Central Arkansas, had been the Golden Lions' defensive coordinator under Forte the last two seasons. "This ranks among the Super Bowls," the 50-year-old Coleman said after his hiring was announced. "Some of the games that I've played, the Super Bowls that we were able to play in with the Redskins, this has to rank among those."

Athletic director Skip Perkins said the school and Coleman were working out the details of a five-year contract. "Continuity was important to me, and we could have gone outside and looked for this person or that person, but why look that far if you've got somebody in your back yard?" said Perkins, who took over as UAPB's athletic director this year. "He was right here."

Forte was 21-22 in four seasons at UAPB, and the Golden Lions beat Texas Southern 20-10 Saturday to finish 4-7. Pine Bluff, which plays in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), finished the year with three straight wins. Forte led the Golden Lions to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game in 2006. He coached a good part of that season from the press box because of a heart ailment.

Coleman said he spoke with Perkins on Sunday about the possibility of becoming head coach, but during the season he was focused on coaching. "We were trying to win football games, being naive to all the rumors that were going around, hoping that they wouldn't be true, as far as coach Forte," Coleman said. "Unfortunately it was, and I take a lot of pride in accepting this position at this time."

Alcorn State fires Thomas

Alcorn State coach Johnny Thomas was fired last week, and the university said in a news release that a search for a replacement will begin immediately.

The Braves finished the season 2-8 after their 31-19 loss to rival Jackson State, giving Thomas a 48-61 record in 10 years. University officials are talking with the Alcorn State alum about hiring him in another position.

Thomas had 16 starters returning and said before the season he hoped to field a Southwestern Athletic Conference contender. Nothing went as planned, though, and the Braves started 0-5 before losing three of their last four. Thomas fielded six winning teams since the Braves went 0-11 in 2000, but never surpassed seven wins in a season.

Thomas took over at Alcorn State in 1998 after a nine-year break from coaching. He had served as an assistant professor of health and physical education at Arkansas-Pine Bluff before taking over at his alma mater.

Thomas is a 1977 graduate of Alcorn State.

© 2007 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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