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UNDER THE BANNER What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
 JEFFERSON TOPS, AGAIN: Jackson State
University sports information director
Samuel Jefferson has been named the 2001
Southwestern Athletic Conference's Sports
Information Director of the Year. This award was voted upon by the
league's sports information directors. This year marks the fifth straight
year and eighth time overall that he has won this award. This marks as
one of the closest races for this award in recent history as Jefferson
finished with 28 points, Harlan Robinson of
Prairie View A&M University with 27 and
Peter Forest of Alcorn State
University closed out the trio with 25 points. Jefferson has
served as Jackson State's sports information director since 1973.
He is the only full-time sports information director the school
has ever had. Jefferson, a 1968 Jackson State graduate, was a
high school and community college instructor prior to joining
the Tigers' staff in 1973. While at Jackson State, Jefferson
has received numerous awards and commendations for his
publications. He has served as the chairman of the SWAC
Sports Information Directors and president of the Black
College Sports Information Directors' Association
(BCSIDA). Jefferson has served on the CoSIDA (College Sports
Information Directors' of America) Board of Directors. He has
also worked on several CoSIDA committees, including the
site selection committee for which he presently serves. For
the past several years, Jefferson has hosted the award
winning "Tiger Rap" radio show featuring the head coaches of
football, basketball and baseball. He also hosted the
James Carson television show. Active in community
affairs, Jefferson has served as a member of the Jackson
Public Schools Superintendent's Advisory Council, Jackson's
Big Brothers of America Board and president of the
Northwest Middle School PTA. He is married to the former Roney
Hart and they have three sons, Eldric, Samuel III and Reginald.
FANG'S NEW ASSISTANT: The Coppin State College men's basketball program has hired Keith Johnson as associate head coach. Johnson has served as assistant coach at Cheyney University for the past two seasons, helping guide the Wolves to a 30-23 mark and back-to-back berths in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament. "Keith will make a great addition to our staff," said Eagle head coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell, who also serves as athletics director. "He has a great knowledge of basketball, and he really loves the game. I've worked at basketball camps with him, and I've known him for years, so I've seen his work ethic firsthand. He has a good rapport with young people, and I'm confident the players will benefit from his presence on and off the basketball court." "I think I can be an asset to the program, and I think it's going to be a great experience," said Johnson. From 1989-95, Johnson was head coach at Cheyney, where he fashioned a 75-84 record. Prior to taking over as head coach, he was an assistant at his alma mater for six seasons, helping steer the Wolves to the 1986 NCAA Division II Final Four. In 1987, he was named the school's first full-time assistant. Johnson is a fixture at the John Chaney/Sonny Hill Basketball Camp and serves as director of the event, a post he has held since 1992 after starting as a counselor 21 years ago. The Philadelphia native also spent two years as physical director at the Northeast Boys and Girls Club in his hometown early in his career. Johnson is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, having served the organization as a Division II congressman from 1990-95. He also holds membership in the Black Coaches Association. A former standout on the hard court at Cheyney during the school's heyday as a Division II power, Johnson played three seasons under Basketball Hall of Famer John Chaney. A four-year starter, Johnson served as captain and was named team most valuable player as a senior. The Wolves reached the NCAA Tournament three times during his career and were ranked No. 1 for much of his junior season. He totaled more than 900 points, 900 rebounds and 300 assists, and in 1991, he was inducted into the Cheyney Athletic Hall of Fame. Johnson received his bachelor's degree in recreation from Cheyney in 1983. © 2001 Azeez Communications, Inc.
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