BCSP Notes . . .
Edwards to head Alcorn State women's basketball program
Alcorn State University Director of
Athletics, Dr. Darren J. Hamilton, has announced
that decorated former player Tonya Edwards will
be the Braves' new head women's basketball coach. The appointment
is pending approval by the Board of Trustees.
Edwards was introduced at a press conference on Tuesday morning, July 1 at the University Club in Jackson, Mississippi.
"One of the things we looked for is name recognition, which she has," Hamilton told the Natchez (Ms.) Democrat newspaper. "We were also looking for someone with Mississippi ties. She has ties in Hermanville. She understands how to win and recruit and values education. She is exactly what we were looking for."
Edwards comes to Alcorn State from the University of Detroit-Mercy, where she spent the last two seasons as assistant women's basketball coach. During her tenure she oversaw the budget, scheduling of non-conference games, team travel, served as recruiting coordinator, and coached the guards.
But Edwards left a greater mark as a player. As a 5-10 guard, she won two high school state championships in her native Flint, Michigan, two national championships as an NCAA Division I player at Tennessee and two world championships as a professional athlete with the Columbus Quest of the old ABL. She was also named the Most Valuable Player of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in 1987.
She was coached by the legendary Tennessee Head Coach Pat Summit, who has accrued the most career wins in NCAA history.
Coach Edwards has also received her share of accolades. In 2006 she was inducted into the University of Tennessee's and the Greater Flint Afro-American Halls of Fame. In 1997 and 1998 she was named to the ABL's all-star team, in 1999 she was named to the WNBA all-star team, in 1990 she was named to the Kodak Women's Basketball Team, as well as playing professionally in the ABL and WNBA, in Turkey, Italy, and Israel.
She won a high school state championship as a head coach at her alma mater, Northwestern Community High School in Flint, whom she led to an undefeated 28-0 mark in 1993, and also served as interim coach in the ABL with the Quest.
In 1990, Ms. Edwards received her B.S. degree in Sports Management with a minor in Business from the University of Tennessee. Her duties commenced on July 7, 2008.
Hamilton said he is looking forward to Edwards building on the foundation laid by her predecessor, legendary coach Shirley Walker.
"One of the things we have is a solid foundation in terms of championships," Hamilton said. "We have a historic program that was led by the legendary coach Walker. (Edwards) has to instill a winning attitude and build the program based on a strong foundation."
BCSIDA holds annual meeting, elects new officers
The Black College Sports Information Director's
Association (BCSIDA) elected officers at its annual meeting in Tampa, Florida,
last week, held in conjunction with the convention
of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
This year's BCSIDA meeting hosted 41 attendees and concluded with the election of a President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer and Independent Representative to three-year terms ending in 2011. Lincoln University Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information Rob Knox was elected President.
Belmont College Media Relations Director for Women's Sports Kenisha Rhone was elected Vice President. Kristene Kelly, Sports Information Director at Johnson C. Smith University, was elected Secretary-Treasurer and Scottie Rodgers, Associate Director of Communications for The Ivy League was elected Independent Representative.
These four individuals will be joined by Shera White, Director of Public Relations for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association; Patricia Porter, Director of Media Relations for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; Harry "Trae" Stinson, Director of Communications for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and William Bright, Director of Media Relations for the Southwestern Athletic Conference to form the BCSIDA Executive Board.
Eric Moore, Managing Editor of Onnidan's HBCU Sports Online, serves as the organization's executive director.
For more information, visit the association's web site at http://bcsida.com.
© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.