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UNDER THE BANNER What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
 TAYLOR MADE FOR JSU: Jackson State
University has named former WNBA head coach
Denise Taylor as the school's new head women's basketball
coach effective July 1. Taylor replaces Andrew Pennington
who was reassigned to athletic administration. Taylor will be the Lady
Tigers' third head coach since 1975. A native of Cleveland,
Mississippi and a graduate of Texas Southern
University in Houston, Taylor welcomes the
opportunity to coach at JSU and in the Southwestern Athletic
Conference. "I am happy to have the opportunity to coach at a university with a winning
tradition like Jackson State. I am thoroughly familiar with the
Lady Tigers basketball program and the SWAC." One of
eight coaches selected to help launch the inaugural season of
the WNBA in 1997, her team, the Utah Starzz, received
several accolades under her direction. They were the only team
to score over 100 points during the first season. Although
they had a 7-21 season, Taylor believes the Starzz were
successful because they had the youngest team in the league while
the other teams had more experienced players. Taylor was
also voted the league's best dressed coach. A true fashion
plate, she was called the Pat Riley of the WNBA. Prior to her
year and half stint with the Starzz, Taylor was the head coach
at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Ill. She
compiled a record of 60-51 from 1993-97 and established
the school's first Division I winning season in 1993. She
was honored as the East Coast Conference
Coach-of-the-Year after the 1993-94 season. From 1991-93, Taylor coached
at American International College in Springfield, Mass.
She was selected as the school's first head women's
basketball coach. Taylor made school history by giving its
women's program its first winning season and setting nine
school records. She also served as an assistant at Lamar
University in Beaumont, from 1987-91. Taylor began her
coaching career in 1986-88 at her alma mater as a volunteer coach.
A former player from 1981-85, Taylor is ranked in the top
ten in TSU career scoring, rebounding and games played.
Taylor is optimistic about the future and has big plans for the
Lady Tigers. "One of my main objectives is to recruit
quality student-athletes who are going to graduate. We are going
to be a disciplined team. Our style of play will be up tempo."
She adds, "I'm continuing to accomplish my goals. I
wanted to coach at the WNBA level and I accomplished that goal.
I also wanted to take a team the NCAA tournament. I
believe I can accomplish that goal at JSU."
© 2001 Azeez Communications, Inc.
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WEEKS IN REVIEW: Southern University freshman outfielder
Rickie Weeks is the only black college player selected for a Team
USA baseball squad that will play a 30-game schedule including
international contests. Weeks, a 5-11, 195 pounder from Alta
Monte, Fla., is set to play on the Team USA Red, White and Blue
Summer Tour. He is part of a 22-player squad picked after a
four-day tryout held in Tucson, Ariz. Team USA opened its
schedule with a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs' Rookie League
team. The squad left June 20th for Japan, the site of the 30th
USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series. Weeks hit .422
this season, the 20th best average in all of NCAA Div. I
baseball. He knocked in 70 runs in 55 games to place among
national leaders (18th), and had 12 triples (second nationally at .22
per game). He led Southern head coach Roger Cador's
Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Jaguars
(40-12) with 14 home runs, 77 hits and 76 runs scored. Weeks
battled recent first round Major League Baseball draftee
Michael Woods (Detroit Tigers, 32nd selection) for the team lead
in most offensive categories. He ended the regular
season leading Woods in total bases 156 to 152.