BCSP Notes . . .

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff named former UAPB assistant coach George Ivory as the Golden Lions' new men's basketball coach last week at Golden Lion Stadium.

Ivory, 42, returns to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff campus after serving as an assistant at Mississippi Valley State and Grambling State for the past two seasons.

Ivory, who was an All-American basketball player at Mississippi Valley State during the late 80's, replaces former Golden Lions' coach Van Holt. Holt resigned earlier this month after posting a 50-124 overall record over six years. Ivory was Holts' assistant from 2002 to 2006.

"We were looking for someone with knowledge of the Southwestern Athletic Conference," UAPB Athletic Director Louis "Skip" Perkins said. "Coach Ivory has been in this league his entire adult life and he knows exactly what it takes to play, coach, recruit and win in the SWAC."

Ivory was the 1984 SWAC Freshman of the Year at MVSU and would later be named the 1987 SWAC Player of the Year. He was a two-time Black College All-American and was inducted into the 2006 Class of the Mississippi Valley State Sports Hall of Fame.

Jones abruptly resigns, Richardson takes over VUU grid program

Virginia Union Head Football Coach Arrington Jones III, who this year led the Panthers to their first bowl game in six years, abruptly resigned last week.

In a letter to Athletic Director Michael Bailey, Coach Jones cited personal reasons for his resignation and indicated that his resignation was effective immediately. Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Greg Richardson has been appointed as the Panther's new head football coach.

Jones joined Virginia Union as head football coach in 2004. He compiled a record of 21-21 during his four seasons but was 16-6 over the past two campaigns.

This past season behind the play of all-conference quarterback Lamar Little, he coached the Panthers to a 9-1 regular season record, earning his team the 2007 CIAA Eastern Division title and winning the CIAA Coach of the Year award. The Panthers lost a close 31-24 decision in the 2007 CIAA title game to West Division champ Shaw and went on to represent the CIAA in the Pioneer Bowl, losing to SIAC champion Tuskegee, 58-51. The Panthers finished 9-3.

Richardson, 56, is no stranger to CIAA football circles, recently completing his second season as VUU's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He was also a member of the Virginia Union football staff during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. He previously served as head coach at Livingstone from 1999 to 2001.

Clark released from FAMU women's hoops

Florida A&M officials announced last week that the contract of head women's basketball coach Debra Clark would not be renewed, and that a committee would be appointed shortly to conduct a search for a successor. No specific timetable was outlined regarding the search process, however appointments to the committee were expected to be completed later this week.

Clark, a 1984 graduate of Hampton University, served the past seven seasons at the helm of the FAMU women's program, compiling a 100-109 record during her tenure, highlighted by a 17-12 mark in 2003-04.

Overall, Clark owns a 211-194 career record spanning 14 seasons, which included a seven-year stint at Winston-Salem State University from 1994-95 to 2000-01.

This year's team finished 14-17 overall.

UMES to compete for NCAA Bowling title

Maryland Eastern Shore is one of eight schools selected by the NCAA Bowling Committee to compete for the 2008 NCAA Bowling Championship. The Lady Hawks, the second ranked team in the nation, will make their fifth straight appearance in the championship. The Lady Hawks advanced to the finals of last year's national championship, before falling to Vanderbilt 4-3. The 2008 MEAC champs are 113-23 overall.

The championship will take place on April 10-12, 2008 at the Thunder Alley in Omaha, Nebraska. Others in the field include Arkansas State, Central Missouri, Minnesota State University, Mankato, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, New Jersey City, Sacred Heart and Vanderbilt.

© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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