BCSP Notes . . .
Nickelberry, Mebane out at Hampton
Kevin Nickelberry has resigned as head men's basketball coach
at Hampton University in order to pursue other professional
opportunities, according to Lonza Hardy Jr., the school's
athletics director. Hardy said Nickelberry decided to resign
at this time so that his departure would not have
an adverse affect on the program's recruitment efforts.
"I want to thank Coach Nickelberry for his three years of service to Hampton University," stated Hardy. "Coach Nickelberry is a dynamic young coach, one of the country's top recruiters and an individual who has a bright future ahead of him. While we hate to lose him, I respect his decision to resign in order to pursue other opportunities."
In three years as Hampton's head coach, Nickelberry compiled an overall record of 50-44, including a record of 29-21 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). In 2006-07, his first year at the helm, the Pirates finished the season with a 15-16 record, losing to Florida A&M in the second round of the MEAC tournament. In 2007-08, the Pirates were 18-12, losing in the second round of the MEAC tournament to Coppin State. This season, Nickelberry led the Pirates to a 16-16 record, losing to South Carolina State in the MEAC tournament's second round
Nickelberry said his decision to leave Hampton was a tough one.
"I want to thank Hampton University for giving me my first college head-coaching opportunity," said Nickelberry. "Everyone here has worked to help make me a better coach. The administrators and staff here are tremendous, the student-athletes here are outstanding and this is one of the most prestigious universities anywhere. It has been my honor working at Hampton for the past three years."
Hardy said he has named assistant head
coach Edward Joyner Jr. as the Pirates' new interim
head coach through the 2009-10 season. One of
Nickelberry's initial hires in 2006, Joyner is a native of
Winston-Salem, N.C. and a graduate of Johnson C.
Smith University in Charlotte, NC. Prior to
joining Nickelberry's staff, he served for 11 years as his
alma mater's assistant head coach.
Nickelberry's resignation comes on the heels of the announcement by Hampton that women's basketball coach Walter Mebane's contract would not be renewed.
David Six, a very successful former head girls basketball coach at Hampton High School, has been named interim head coach of the Lady Pirates for the 2009-10 season.
Anderson given extension at Jackson State
Jackson State University has extended the contract of head men's basketball coach Tevester Anderson through the year 2012.
"I am excited about this extension," Anderson said. "We have
made very good progress over the last six seasons, but we still have
some business to do. This extension gives me the
opportunity to leave a winning legacy at Jackson State."
Anderson, who guided the Tigers to a Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament championship in 2007, has a 66-42 SWAC record and a 95-100 overall mark at Jackson State. JSU's 2007 SWAC title was the program's first in seven seasons and the fifth overall. For his career, Anderson has a 198-152 record as a head coach.
Prior to coming to Jackson State, Anderson was the head coach at Murray State (Murray, KY), where he averaged 20 wins over five season. He led the Racers to two Ohio Valley Conference regular season championships, two OVC tournament championships and two NCAA tournament appearances.
"We appreciate coach Anderson's efforts in helping to make the Tigers into perennial SWAC title contenders," said Director of Athletics, Robert L. Braddy. " We play a very tough pre-conference schedule and we feel that our program is headed to the next level."
The Tigers are considered one of the top two or three teams each season in the SWAC. Under Anderson JSU has either been in the conference tournament semi-finals or finals.
Richards gets permanent post at St. Augustine's
Saint Augustine's College named interim head coach Margaret Richards as full-time head women's basketball coach effective April 1. Richards was the interim head coach during the 2008-09 season when the Lady Falcons posted a 15-14 overall record and reached the CIAA Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2003.
"Our women's basketball program made great strides this past
season under the leadership of Coach Margaret
Richards," President Dr. Dianne Boardley
Suber said. "Coach Richards is a talented young coach who has been
able to put the Lady Falcons on a path towards
championship performances. Athletic Director Coach
[George] Williams and I agree that she has earned the
opportunity to continue her coaching career here at
Saint Augustine's College."
In her first season as a college head coach, Richards directed the Lady Falcons to a season sweep of defending CIAA champion Shaw University, which was nationally ranked at one point in the season. It was the first time the Lady Falcons swept their crosstown rival since the 1999-2000 season, and it also snapped a 12-game losing streak to the Lady Bears. Other highlights include a victory over CIAA Western Division champion Fayetteville State University in the CIAA Tournament quarterfinals, and a win over nationally-ranked Nova Southeastern University in the season opener.
The Louisville, Ky., native played at the University of Nebraska where she was a four-year guard and captained the team her final two seasons. Before coming to St. Aug's she was a grad assistant at Louisville and served from 2005-07 as an assistant women's coach at Kentucky State.
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