BCSP Notes . . .

Inge comes to B-CU after serving for nine years as the head women's basketball coach at Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Md. where she earned a career record of 120-135. While at Mount St. Mary's, she was a record setter as both a player and coach. Inge is the former Vanessa Blair who last year married Mount St. Mary's men's basketball standout Riley Inge.

"I'm excited about the B-CU family," expressed Inge. "I'm thankful to Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed (University President), Mr. Lynn Thompson and Sandra Booker (Senior Woman Administrator) for this tremendous opportunity to serve Bethune-Cookman University as their head women's basketball coach. The decision to join the Wildcats' family was an easy one once I saw how much the university supported the women's basketball program and athletics in general. I'm honored to be part of such a historic university with a storied athletic program."

Inge, who took over the reigns of the women's basketball team at Mount St. Mary's prior to the 1998-99 campaign, guided the women's squad to a 21-7 overall record and a Northeast Conference regular season crown. Inge's remarkable debut season earned her NEC Coach of the Year honorsmaking her the first and only person in league history to have been named both Player of the Year and Coach of the Year in their career. She spent all of last year out of basketball and in the corporate sector but was eager to return to the sport that has meant so much to her throughout her life.

In addition to her player and coach of the year awards, Inge earned Northeast Conference Player of the Decade honors on the 10th anniversary of NEC women's basketball. One of three Mountaineers to make the six-member NEC Team of the Decade, Inge was named the top player in the NEC from 1985-1995. She was also one of three Mountaineer players to be named to both the 20th and 25th NEC Anniversary team.

Texas Southern turns to Grambling standout, LSU assistant to lead women's hoops
Texas Southern Director of Athletics Charles McClelland has announced the hiring of LSU assistant coach Yolanda Wells-Broughton as the Lady Tigers new head women's basketball coach.

Wells-Broughton comes to TSU after serving one year as an assistant coach at LSU under former WNBA Houston Comets Coach Van Chancellor. During her inaugural year at LSU, she helped guide the team to its fifth straight Final Four and its third Southeastern Conference regular season title in four years.

Wells-Broughton, a Houston native, will replace Surina Dixon, who was hired in March but released June 30.

"It's a blessing to have the opportunity to come back to my hometown and coach," Wells-Broughton said. "All of my family members are excited about my return. I'm not looking at this as a challenge, but an opportunity to raise the bar and take the program to new heights."

"I'm really pleased Yolanda has found a head coaching job," LSU head coach Van Chancellor said. "It's an honor for her. It speaks volumes of the LSU women's basketball program that we have assistants taking head coaching positions. From Texas Southern's point of view, it's a tremendous hire because of her knowledge of the area and her experience in this profession."

Prior to her stint at LSU, Wells-Broughton served as an assistant coach at Texas Christian University from 2004-07. In her three years at TCU, the Horned Frogs posted a 63-33 record. She helped to guide the team into the NCAA Tournament all three seasons.

From 2000-04 Wells-Broughton served as an assistant at Trinity Valley Community College. During her tenure on the JUCO level, she helped Trinity Valley post a 126-8 (.940) record and saw 19 of its players sign National Letters of Intent to play Division I basketball. When she left, the school owned a 50-game conference winning streak and a 78-game regular season winning streak.

Broughton-Wells served for two seasons as the head women's basketball coach at Paul Quinn College in Dallas. At Paul Quinn, she was responsible for all phases of the program for the NAIA school and also served in a dual capacity as academic coordinator.

No stranger to the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Wells-Broughton played from 1992-94 for Grambling State. As a player at Grambling State, she earned all-conference honors and helped GSU earn its first-ever trip the NCAA Tournament in 1994.

Coppin Beans
Romonzo Beans has been named the head volleyball coach at Coppin State University, Director of Athletics Dr. Mary Wanza announced last week. Beans takes over the Eagle volleyball program after successful stints at both Anne Arundel Community College and Broadneck (Md.) High School.

Beans has spent the past 10 seasons as the head coach at Broadneck, building one of the most successful volleyball programs in the state of Maryland. During his time, Beans has led Broadneck to 158 wins and just 36 losses, including state titles in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2007. The Bruins have also won eight consecutive regional championships, a feat that has not been matched by any other active high school coach in Maryland.

"This is a great day for Coppin State volleyball," Wanza said. "We believe that Romonzo is the right person to lead our program going forward. He has proven at different levels of competition that he is a winner and we are excited to see what he can accomplish at Coppin State." Coppin State finished the 2007 season 1-25 overall and 0-10 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Beans was named the All-Metro Coach of the Year in 2000 and the All-Anne Arundel County Coach of the Year in 2007 by the Baltimore Sun.

In July of 2006 Beans was named the head coach at Anne Arundel Community College where, in just his second season, AACC finished as NJCAA Region XX Champions and the District G Runner-up.

© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.

Return to Front Page