UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
GSU HOOP COACHES OUT: Grambling State has announced that head men's basketball coach Larry Wright and head women's
basketball coach
David "Rusty" Ponton will not be
retained for the 2008-09 season. "I applaud
the dedication both head coaches have put into their programs during
their tenure at Grambling," stated Grambling State Director of
Athletics Troy Mathieu. "However, as
we look to take our basketball programs to a higher level
of competitiveness, a change in leadership was
necessary." The university will begin the
process of conducting a comprehensive search to fill both positions. While the
search is taking place, Senior Woman Administrator and Lady Tiger
assistant coach Sharon Perkins and men's assistant coach
Kenny Sykes will serve as interim coaches for their
respective programs.
SIMMONS RESIGNS AT B-CU: After four season at the helm of the
Bethune-Cookman women's basketball program,
head coach Francis Simmons has decided to resign effective immediately
according to B-CU Director of Athletic Lynn W.
Thompson. Simmons met with Thompson last week to
discuss his plans for resignation. "We are 
grateful for the work that
Coach Simmons has done, and after meeting we both came to the conclusion that new leadership
and direction would best serve the program at this time,"
said Thompson. Simmons, a native of Columbia, S.C.,
took over the program prior to the beginning of the
2004-05 season for now Assistant Athletic Director and
Senior Woman Administrator at B-CU, Sandra
Booker. In his four years guiding the Wildcats, Simmons amassed
a record of 22-92 overall, including a Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference record of 10-58. The search for a new
head coach will begin immediately. For more information,
please contact the B-CU Office of Sports Info at (386) 481-2206
WEST THROUGH AT ALCORN: Alcorn
State men's basketball coach Samuel West
was fired last week after five seasons on the job, a school
official confirmed. West's removal coincides with the arrival of
new athletic director Darren Hamilton, who started
Tuesday, replacing interim AD Wiley Jones. Alcorn State
officials would not comment further but said a news
release with more details would be issued on later. West, 52,
won 44 games and lost 103 in his five seasons as the
Braves coach. The former high school boys coach was an
assistant at Alcorn for seven years under legendary coach
Davey Whitney before being named head coach in April of
2003. The Braves were 7-24 this season and did not qualify for
the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
The Braves started the season 1-13, including 2-9 in
SWAC play. Alcorn never won more than 11 games under West
or lost less than 18.
NEW SCSU SOCCER COACH: Glad Bugariu has been named women's soccer coach at South Carolina State, athletics director Charlene Johnson announced last week. He succeeds Amy Olson after three seasons (2005-2007) as head coach at Belmont Abbey. In three seasons there, Bugariu compiled a record of 52-12-2 including an 18-4-1 record this past season. His teams dominated the Div. II Carolinas Conference, capturing two regular season championships (2007, 2005), two tournament titles (2006, 2005) and one runner-up tournament finish (2007).
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