GILES OUT AT MILES' HOOPS:

Miles College Interim Athletic Director Dr. Chico Caldwell announced this week that Christopher Giles has been released as the Head Men's Basketball Coach, effective immediately. Assistant Coach Will Cotchery will assume the duties and responsibilities as interim head coach of the basketball program for the remainder of the season. The search for a new head coach will get underway.

Cotchery has spent the past two seasons as the assistant coach of the men's team. Previously, he served as an assistant basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern and four seasons at Jackson State as an assistant. Cotchery was also a graduate assistant coach at his alma-mater at the University of West Alabama for two years.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, he attended the University of West Alabama, where he was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1983 and later played professional basketball in the CBA in Lima, Ohio. While, at the University of West Alabama, Cotchery was named three times 1st Team All-Gulf South Conference Player, Gulf South Conference Player of the Year in 1982, named Gulf South Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player in 1982, selected to the Alabama All-State and All-Regional Small College Teams and NABC Division II All-American 2nd Team. In 1992, Cotchery was inducted into the University of West Alabama Hall of Fame.

Giles coached the Golden Bears to an overall record of 14-81 during his four years at the helm. Indicated in these figures are 14 wins in 2006-07 and 15 wins in 2007-08 that had to be forfeited. Giles record for this season was 1-9 and 1-6 in the SIAC.

WELLS RESIGNS AT SSU:

Robby Wells has resigned as head football coach at Savannah State University for personal reasons. Wells' resignation is effective immediately.

"At this point I have to think about my family and my health before I can think about anything else," said Wells. "I wish the players well as they pursue their dreams on and off the field. My thoughts and prayers will be with them as they continue to progress in their collegiate career."

Marilynn Suggs, interim athletics director, has appointed Julius Dixon to serve as interim head football coach. Dixon served as the Tigers' defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the past two seasons. He was recently moved to defensive line coach.

Wells became SSU's 21st head football and compiled a 7-15 record over the span of two seasons. The Tigers finished with a 5-7 record in 2008 and a 2-8 record in 2009.

Wells came to SSU after serving as defensive coordinator and football marketing director for one season at Benedict College. Wells also served as the General Manager for the Augusta Spartans Arena Football Team in 2006. Wells got his first coaching job at an HBCU in 2002 serving as the defensive coordinator at South Carolina State from 2002-2005.

SSU will begin a nationwide search to find a replacement immediately.

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