BCSP Notes . . .

Bibbs will begin working under her new contract immediately which means the terms of her old deal have been voided in place of her new arrangement. Bibbs' new contract extends into the 2011-2012 season.

"Patricia was brought in to do what she has done so many times in her career ­ elevate a program to the top of the conference," said interim athletics director Wheeler Brown. "She certainly has not disappointed. She has taken the women's basketball program from the middle of the pack in the conference and made us the team to beat in the MEAC. We are excited about where she can take our program not only in the MEAC, but nationally."

"This is a joyous day for me," said Bibbs. "The opportunity to coach at an institution like North Carolina A&T is a privilege because the Aggie family has been so gracious to me, my family and our program. I said when I came here I was going to take this program to the NCAA Tournament and this gives me the opportunity to do that many times over."

Bibbs had the Aggies on the brink of the NCAA Tournament in March. The Aggies lost to Coppin State in the MEAC Championship Game 72-70. Despite the title-game loss, the Aggies put together the best regular-season in school history.

The Aggies won a school-record 25 games, won the MEAC regular-season title with a 15-1 record and earned the program's first national postseason appearance in 14 years when they earned an automatic bid to the WNIT. For her efforts Bibbs was named MEAC Coach of the Year, marking the ninth time she has earned a conference coach of the year honor.

Bibbs enters her 24th season as a collegiate coach. She has a career record of 422-246 and 51-40 in three seasons as the Aggies head coach. In her career, she has won 11 regular-season titles, nine conference tournaments and has led a team to the NCAA Tournament six times.

Sharp announces additions, promotions in SWAC office
Southwestern Athletic Conference Commissioner Duer Sharp has announced three new hires and one promotion in the conference office. Kelly Brooks has been named Associate Commissioner, Ashley Robinson was named Assistant Commissioner for Compliance, and Duane Lewis was named Assistant Commissioner for Communications.

Additionally, Jennifer Huggins has been promoted to Assistant Commissioner for Championships.

Brooks comes to the SWAC following a three-year stint on the Membership Services staff of the NCAA, where his responsibilities included student-athlete reinstatement, Division I athletics certification and the membership services hiring team. Prior to the NCAA, he served two years as the director of student-athlete development at Xavier University. Brooks previously served four years as an assistant coach on the women's basketball staff at the University of Alabama. He additionally spent two years as an academic programs advisor for the Crimson Tide athletics department. A native of Starkville, MS, Brooks earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the Mississippi University for Women in 1997 and a Master's degree in education with a concentration in athletic administration from Alabama in 1999.

Robinson comes to the conference office after a one-year stint as Director of Compliance at Mississippi Valley State, where he was responsible for monitoring the academic process and eligibility for student-athletes in the Delta Devil athletic program. Prior to MVSU, he was assistant compliance officer at Jackson State and formerly an academic coordinator at Delaware State. A native of Jackson, Ms., Robinson received a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in business administration in 2003 from Mississippi Valley State. During his time at MVSU, he was a member of the Delta Devils' men's basketball team, where he finished his career as the school's single season and career assist leader.

Lewis comes to the conference office after one year as Director of Communications for the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, where he served as the media director for the double hosting of the Sugar Bowl and the Allstate BCS National Championship Game. Prior to the Sugar Bowl, Lewis spent ten years on the media relations staff of the NFL's St. Louis Rams, including serving as Director of Football Media (2003-05) and as Director of New Media (2006-07). Lewis earned his bachelor's degree in broadcasting from Southern in 1995. He also has worked as a sports correspondent for both the Baton Rouge Advocate and New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Huggins becomes assistant commissioner for championships at the Southwestern Athletic Conference after serving as assistant director for championships for the past three years. A native of Birmingham, Ala., she began with the SWAC in 2002 as an intern and then Media Relations Assistant, where she served as the primary media liaison for women's and Olympic sports. Huggins is a 1999 graduate of the University of Alabama where she earned a B.A. degree in Communications and Information Sciences.

Duke Crews to transfer from Tennessee to Bowie State
Willard Duke Crews, a key cog in the University of Tennessee's run to the Sweet 16 in the men's NCAA Basketball Tournament this past season, has decided to transfer to CIAA member Bowie State.

Crews, a 6-7, 233-pound forward, was a high-profile McDonald's All-American before enrolling at the University of Tennessee. He made an official announcement of his transfer on Friday, July 11 during the Allen Iverson Celebrity Summer Classic press conference at the ESPN Zone in Washington, D.C.

During the event, he was presented with the Allen Iverson Scholarship that the NBA superstar and Crossover Promotions began in 2006. Scholarships are awarded to students from Iverson's hometown of Hampton, Virginia and surrounding areas that exemplify academic and athletic excellence. Crews will also receive a full-athletic scholarship from BSU.

"We are very excited to have Willard Crews as part of the BSU program," says BSU Men's Head Basketball Coach Luke D'Alessio. "Willard is an excellent student-athlete that we have great faith in and he will be an excellent addition to our institution. We've had three All-Americans to play at BSU and we expect Willard to be the fourth."

In addition to BSU, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the University of Pittsburgh heavily recruited Crews. His decision to attend BSU was influenced by the historic representation of the CIAA and its basketball legacy. Crews, who is from the Hampton, Va. area where the CIAA is very popular, felt that BSU and the CIAA was the best fit for him. He expressed being very comfortable with the players and the University.

Crews, who is expected to play power forward or center at BSU, started two games and averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds for the Vols. He exhibits tremendous athletic ability and toughness on both ends of the floor.

© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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