Everett Spencer
May 5, 2007 8:25:31 GMT -5
Post by Raider Country on May 5, 2007 8:25:31 GMT -5
S.C. State hires Carter as basketball coach
Posted: May 4, 2007
Associated Press
ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Tim Carter, new South Carolina State basketball cap perched on his head, used almost every finger on one of his hands Friday figuring out how many head coaches his players have had.
Carter, the Bulldogs newest coach, is the team's fourth leader since the end of the 2005-06 season. He hopes he's finally the one to bring stability -- and victories -- back to South Carolina State.
"Any time there's a coaching change, players are going to be apprehensive. But part of my philosophy is honesty. We're here to communicate with our players and we're going to get that done," Carter said Friday after he named coach.
Carter joins South Carolina State after a season as an assistant for his good friend, Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton. Before that, Carter spent 11 seasons at Texas-San Antonio, where he went 160-152 and reached the NCAA tournament in 1999 and 2004.
His hiring hopefully ends more than a year of turmoil that began when then head coach Ben Betts left for an Oklahoma assistant's spot. Betts replacement, former South Carolina State player and assistant Jamal Brown, was fired in March for what the school said were violations of its obligations under the federal Title IX law.
Brown's assistant, Ray Martin, spent the time between Brown's dismissal and Carter's acceptance as interim coach, assuring Bulldog players that things would improve.
"This is a burden off our backs," said Everett Spencer, a Bulldogs forward who was part of the school's search committee that hired Carter.
Carter made it clear to the 100 or so people gathered to greet him that South Carolina State will show excitement and intensity on the court. Players won't walk the ball up the court, Carter pledged. Those who don't dive for loose balls will find themselves on the bench.
"I will make one promise: You will enjoy watching us play," Carter said.
The length of Carter's contract and other details are still being worked out, South Carolina State athletic director Charlene Johnson said.
Carter emerged during a search that attracted more than 50 candidates to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school.
Spencer, who transferred from Wright State to play for Brown, said Carter's intensity stood out among the candidates.
"We wanted a coach who wasn't going to settle for mediocrity," Spencer said.
The Bulldogs thought they had that a year ago when Brown, who played on one of South Carolina State's five NCAA tournament squads, was brought in to take over for Betts.
But Brown could not survive a rocky first season. He missed several midseason games because of what the school said were personal reasons. Brown was fired on March 29. School counsel Edwin Givens denied a Freedom of Information Act request by The Associated Press last month for more details of Brown's dismissal.
Carter plans to get the school's focus back to the games. When he met a few Bulldog players the first time, Carter cracked, "Where are the tall guys?"
When he finished greeting boosters and administrators, Carter planned to talk with his players individually.
His daughter is graduating Texas-San Antonio next week, meaning he won't return to Orangeburg full-time until mid-May. Along with teaching his players, Carter expects to pop up in the student union, the cafeteria and gathering places selling the game to students and the community.
"The game plan is to have a lot of fun, and get us where we're contending for a championship nearly every year," Carter said.
www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=203353
Posted: May 4, 2007
Associated Press
ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Tim Carter, new South Carolina State basketball cap perched on his head, used almost every finger on one of his hands Friday figuring out how many head coaches his players have had.
Carter, the Bulldogs newest coach, is the team's fourth leader since the end of the 2005-06 season. He hopes he's finally the one to bring stability -- and victories -- back to South Carolina State.
"Any time there's a coaching change, players are going to be apprehensive. But part of my philosophy is honesty. We're here to communicate with our players and we're going to get that done," Carter said Friday after he named coach.
Carter joins South Carolina State after a season as an assistant for his good friend, Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton. Before that, Carter spent 11 seasons at Texas-San Antonio, where he went 160-152 and reached the NCAA tournament in 1999 and 2004.
His hiring hopefully ends more than a year of turmoil that began when then head coach Ben Betts left for an Oklahoma assistant's spot. Betts replacement, former South Carolina State player and assistant Jamal Brown, was fired in March for what the school said were violations of its obligations under the federal Title IX law.
Brown's assistant, Ray Martin, spent the time between Brown's dismissal and Carter's acceptance as interim coach, assuring Bulldog players that things would improve.
"This is a burden off our backs," said Everett Spencer, a Bulldogs forward who was part of the school's search committee that hired Carter.
Carter made it clear to the 100 or so people gathered to greet him that South Carolina State will show excitement and intensity on the court. Players won't walk the ball up the court, Carter pledged. Those who don't dive for loose balls will find themselves on the bench.
"I will make one promise: You will enjoy watching us play," Carter said.
The length of Carter's contract and other details are still being worked out, South Carolina State athletic director Charlene Johnson said.
Carter emerged during a search that attracted more than 50 candidates to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school.
Spencer, who transferred from Wright State to play for Brown, said Carter's intensity stood out among the candidates.
"We wanted a coach who wasn't going to settle for mediocrity," Spencer said.
The Bulldogs thought they had that a year ago when Brown, who played on one of South Carolina State's five NCAA tournament squads, was brought in to take over for Betts.
But Brown could not survive a rocky first season. He missed several midseason games because of what the school said were personal reasons. Brown was fired on March 29. School counsel Edwin Givens denied a Freedom of Information Act request by The Associated Press last month for more details of Brown's dismissal.
Carter plans to get the school's focus back to the games. When he met a few Bulldog players the first time, Carter cracked, "Where are the tall guys?"
When he finished greeting boosters and administrators, Carter planned to talk with his players individually.
His daughter is graduating Texas-San Antonio next week, meaning he won't return to Orangeburg full-time until mid-May. Along with teaching his players, Carter expects to pop up in the student union, the cafeteria and gathering places selling the game to students and the community.
"The game plan is to have a lot of fun, and get us where we're contending for a championship nearly every year," Carter said.
www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=203353
