|
Post by Admin on Jul 12, 2007 8:42:02 GMT -5
www.wabashplaindealer.com/articles/2007/07/12/sports/sports2.txtTime for a BSU change By TOM DAVIS, Tom's Take Wednesday, July 11, 2007 11:48 PM EDT On a January evening 18 months ago, Western Michigan thumped Ball State 68-59 in men's basketball action. What made this evening significant is the fact that Indiana natives Andrew Hershberger and Joe Reitz, along with former Muncie resident Derek Drews, combined for 46 Bronco points. Not recruiting East-Central Indiana well enough, or in the case of current Cardinal coach Ronnie Thompson, not at all, is one of the problems that has besieged the Ball State program over the past few years. But not the only one. The Muncie Star-Press is reporting that sometime in the very near future (possibly today), the Cardinals may announce that Coach Thompson, who has been in Muncie just 15 months, has been released from his contract after reaching a settlement. Over that time period, Thompson has proven to be abrasive, defensive (except on the court), arrogant and ignorant. Traits that may be acceptable if you are guiding the program to a 22-9 record, but not a 9-22 mark. Recently, Thompson appeared to have been a victim of racism, due to several notes with insensitive words being slipped into his office. However, according to the police investigation, no signs of forced entry were found. Leaving in question who exactly had access to his office? Other than he that is. Without a doubt, the issue of race will be brought to the forefront of Thompson's departure. But the debacle that is the Thompson era is not a matter of racism, which I guess is easy for a white kid from Yorktown to say. If Thompson is a victim of racism, then where were the racists in Delaware County when University Gym, and now Worthen Arena, was filled to the brim with fans - white and black - cheering the exploits of African-American players such as Ray McCallum, Paris McCurdy, Billy Butts, Curtis Kidd, Bonzi Wells, Steve Payne, Theron Smith, Duane Clemens, Chandler Thompson, etc. ? Is there an element of racism in Muncie? Sure. But that's not the problem right now. No, the problem is with Thompson. The attendance hovered at pathetic levels this past season, as Thompson recruited ZERO players from East-Central Indiana. His recruits have hailed from California, Virginia, and Ohio, but not Muncie and New Castle. Meanwhile, players such as Jordan Armstrong (Muncie Central, Southern Illinois), Ben Botts (Muncie Central, IPFW), Tom Freeman (Muncie Central, Ohio University), Vaughn Duggins (Pendleton Heights, Wright State), Zach Hahn (New Castle, Butler), Chase Stigall (New Castle, Butler), Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Southern Illinois), along with the aforementioned Western Michigan players, each chose to go elsewhere. And this list doesn't even include 6-11 Maconaquah grad Brandon Parks, who plays for a very strong Kent State team, and was coached in Bunker Hill by "Mr. Ball State," Rick Clark. The lack of interest in local kids continues, as 6-11 forward Emerson Kampen (Yorktown High School) is spending his summer visiting countless mid-major colleges, including the likes of Butler and Wright State, but not Ball State.This coming season the Cardinals will have ONE Indiana player on its scholarship roster, and that is only due to former coach Tim Buckley recruiting senior-to-be Peyton Stovall. In addition to recruiting non-local players, Thompson has recruited the wrong players. When told that Ball State offered scholarships to Steve Horton and Jarelle Redden, one Division II coach expressed astonishment. "I know for a fact that Thompson could not have seen Jarelle play (in-person) unless he broke NCAA rules," the coach stated. "And neither of those guys are going to help you compete in the MAC." Thompson break NCAA rules? Absolutely. He's done it twice in his short stay on campus. But at least he's learned his lesson right? Not exactly. He and his coaching staff broke the same rule twice. Proving either extreme ignorance or blatant disregard for ethics. Or both. So let's see if we have all of this straight, he loses games (lots of them), recruits kids from California instead of his backyard, and has no use for the NCAA manual? Check. Check. And check. The Ball State program is one that over the past 20 years has built a tradition of success, not always by the rule book, not always with squeaky-clean characters, but the kids were often local, and the community supported them. Both the white and the black players. Racism is not a factor in Thompson's downfall. It is simply Thompson. --- Tom Davis is the managing editor of the Peru Tribune. He can be reached for comment at tdavis@perutribune.com.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jun 20, 2007 18:25:13 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 28, 2007 21:12:41 GMT -5
www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_5982487Opening the doors of rejection A new coach can mean a fast exit for players hoping to stay By John Henderson Denver Post Staff Writer Article Last Updated: 05/25/2007 03:27:14 AM MDT "It's important that you're honest with players: '... I would not have recruited you because you don't fit into the style of play we're implementing."' CU's Jeff Bzdelik, who has lost three players since taking over as coach. (Post / Karl Gehring)If college basketball is big business, then the term "running kids off" may be the dirtiest business of them all. The imagery is heartbreaking. A new coach walks in the door and a player walks out, a knapsack in one hand and a tear-stained basketball in the other, a road map sticking out of his back pocket. What people often don't see is what happened behind that door. The interplay between a new coach and an old player is an odd, uneasy mix of honesty and tough love, sometimes with a report card or a rap sheet somewhere nearby. And, quite often, old players are all the happier to go elsewhere after talking philosophy with a new coach who finds him a new school. This state's five Division I schools have four of the 50 new coaches in the country. Colorado, Colorado State and Denver don't have new coaches because the old players were good. That's why Jeff Bzdelik, Tim Miles and Joe Scott, respectively, are in the process of evaluating leftover players and mapping out their direction. "I don't know many coaches in the business of running kids off," said Miles, who has already seen four players leave. "I know we want the same: kids who behave correctly, graduate and guess what? Coaches really want to win. You need to have the right recipe in order. And players? Guess what they want? "They want to win, but they really want to play." A basketball scholarship is not a marriage. It must be renewed every year. If a coach doesn't want a player back, it's in his right to say, "See ya' later." Divorces in Las Vegas aren't this quick. But a player leaving today can be more costly to schools than in the past. The NCAA-mandated Academic Progress Report came aboard in 2003 and penalizes programs with bad academic standings. Any player who leaves the program before his eligibility runs out costs the program one point. If that player leaves and isn't in good academic standing, it counts as another point. Too many points and a program can lose scholarships, creating a new formula: lost scholarships = lost games. "It's cold. It's callous," Jim Haney, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, said of running off players. "I think the practice occurred. It wasn't widespread, but it occurred. But in today's reality of the APR, you run a kid off just because you don't think he can play, there's a penalty. "I think the whole concept of running off is a term not much in application anymore." Or maybe it's just a different application. Last year, Ron Everhart left Northeastern to take over a Duquesne team that went 3-24 under Danny Nee, the former Nebraska coach. Everhart kept Guard James Inge, left, and center Sean Kowal, working out at the Big 12 Tournament in March, won't return to the Buffs. (AP / Danny Johnston)only two players. Five left. One of them was Ronnie Thomas, a stocky 6-foot-8 sophomore who averaged 4.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 24 games as a frosh. He remembers being home before summer school and reading in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Everhart had signed two or three big guys. Thomas called for a meeting.
"I wanted to find out where I stood," Thomas said from Dayton, Ohio, where he redshirted last year for Wright State. "He told me straight. 'You won't play a lot. If you transfer that's your best bet."'
Everhart told Thomas he wasn't his type of player. Everhart wanted to his team to run. "I was mad," Thomas said. "I was hoping to turn the program around. I liked Pittsburgh. The school was good."
Looking back, however, it worked out best for both parties. Duquesne improved to 10-18, and Thomas is looking to play up to 15 minutes a game next season.
"I appreciate him being honest," Thomas said. "I thought it was a little late, but right now I'm happy. I'm loving where I'm at right now." Then there is the strategy of Bob Huggins. After building a 399-127 record at Cincinnati and a dismissal for his off-court transgressions, Huggins took over a moribund Kansas State program that went 15-12 under Jim Wooldridge in 2005-06. Huggins took that same roster and went 23-12 this past season. After Huggins arrived, not one player left. In fact, before he took the job, he didn't look at a single film of players. "I don't go in with preconceived ideas," said Huggins from West Virginia where he recently took over after one season at KSU. "I'm doing the same thing here. I don't judge people." The two strategies are the most common first-year coaches employ. Rarely do coaches walk in, put the team through the two allowed two-hour weekly practices and show a 6-4 forward exit routes out of town. However, if you see a new coach hand out five more scholarships than he has openings, "That's a red flag," Miles said. "That coach really isn't committed to anyone."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 16, 2007 14:34:05 GMT -5
www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070516/SPORTS06/705160520/-1/LOCAL17May 16, 2007 Butler altering ticket policy Some fans unhappy with plan assigning seats based on past purchases, donations By David Woods david.woods@indystar.com To Brent Lighty, season tickets to Butler basketball games represent more than entertainment. They are a way to honor his late brother, Brad, a 1988 graduate of the university. "Because of how much he loved Butler," said Lighty, 46, Indianapolis. Now, he and other fans have been vexed by a new policy for assigning seats. Butler is introducing a system of priority points in which years as a ticket buyer, along with amount of money donated to the athletic department, determine location. In addition, Butler is raising ticket prices. Last season, single-game admission -- $8 for adults, $4 for youths -- was among the lowest anywhere. "We can't keep doing that," athletic director Barry Collier said. "It's hurt our ability to sustain our programs." Butler is researching ticket prices at conference schools and will announce its new prices by the end of summer. Collier said the seating change was necessary because Butler was not rewarding its biggest donors with desirable seats at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Collier said the move is part of a plan to help Butler competitively and financially. He said this system is widely used around the Horizon League and the country. Similar plans determine seat locations at Indiana and Purdue universities. Longtime fans say they don't want to be displaced from areas where they have built friendships with those near them. And they resent what they perceive as an attempt to cash in on last season's NCAA Sweet Sixteen run or to coerce them into donating to athletics. Or that new fans can effectively outbid them for desirable seats. "I'm not saying they're doing that," Lighty said, "but it's certainly how it's set up." Mike Freeman, Butler's manager of external operations, and Collier said most feedback has been favorable. Lighty conceded Butler is "usually glacial" regarding change. "We didn't do this with any malice," Freeman said. "We didn't do this trying to displace people." Hinkle has 2,518 seats in chair or bench backs. Last season Butler sold about 1,390 season tickets in an arena seating fewer than 11,000. Butler averaged 5,734 in home attendance, second in the league to Wright State's 5,864. (Wright State benefited from two 10,000-plus crowds for games against Butler.) Last season Butler introduced $50 courtside seats, and there was enough demand that the number available grew from 24 to 48 seats. They all sold. Collier said next season's tickets would be scaled to have different prices for different games. He said it is difficult to estimate how much extra revenue all the changes would generate but that it would have a "significant impact." Season ticket-holder Jim Disney, 61, Danville, said he doesn't believe many fans will be moved. But if Disney does relocate, he said he would understand. "I don't think they're forcing anyone to donate," Disney said. "They're just saying if you do, you'll be given (a better) choice of tickets." Mike Ricks, 42, Pittsboro, the son-in-law of Butler Hall of Fame inductee Wally Cox, has mixed feelings. He doesn't want to lose his front-row seats but conceded a need for more revenue. "I'd rather be up a few rows and win 20 games than be in the front row and be 12-15," Ricks said. Call Star reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jun 30, 2007 22:44:35 GMT -5
sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2922050Summit League gains new teams, seeks rise in standing among mid-majors Associated Press Updated: June 30, 2007, 6:37 PM ET OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Summit League has three new members, a new name and a new logo. More importantly, commissioner Tom Douple believes the conference has a new direction. North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne will officially join the conference on Sunday in the biggest addition to the membership since six teams joined in 1994. And while the league will say goodbye to Valparaiso, a charter member and one of its most recognizable faces, Douple sees a promising future for the former Mid-Continent Conference. "We have a lot of schools that now want to join us to get in the league. We have a lot of people calling on us," said Douple, who took over as commissioner in 2005. "I think the future looks very, very bright for us." Douple envisions the renamed conference becoming "one of the more competitive and premier mid-major conferences," a niche role that's been filled at the NCAA tournament the past few years by the Missouri Valley, Horizon and Colonial conferences and personified most famously by George Mason's Final Four run two seasons ago. But Douple understands there's plenty of work to be done for his conference to emerge from near the bottom of the pack in RPI to earn more than its one automatic bid in postseason play each year. That's why teams in the league have been asked to sign on to The Summit Plan, aimed at improving graduation rates and academic success, home attendance and RPI -- which, in turn, means an increased commitment in athletic budgets for scholarships, recruiting and staff. What we've done is solidified our membership, we changed our name and our logo, and we've also changed the commitment level. That's part of The Summit Plan. It's given us a new image and perception, but also it's given us a plan of commitment from the presidents. It's very exciting. Summit League commissioner Tom Douple The conference's Presidents Council agreed in principle to the plan this week, and the next step is for athletics directors and college presidents to submit improvement ideas for their individual schools. "Some of our schools are doing a fantastic job in maybe one of any of those areas, and others are doing good here but maybe not in this particular area. ... They're taking internal looks, and the commitment's there," Douple said. "We've increased the scholarships in our core sports. I think it's a statement from the presidents that we are going to improve." Douple said he wants to see the Elmhurst, Ill.-based league get into the top half of the NCAA's 31 conferences in home attendance and RPI in the next five years. "What we've done is solidified our membership, we changed our name and our logo, and we've also changed the commitment level," Douple said. "That's part of The Summit Plan. It's given us a new image and perception, but also it's given us a plan of commitment from the presidents. It's very exciting." The conference was left with only seven committed teams last year after Chicago State became an independent and Valparaiso announced plans to join the Horizon League. Conferences must have eight teams to earn automatic NCAA tournament bids. Western Illinois is the only remaining member from the league's formation as the Association of Mid-Continent Universities in 1982. Other members are Centenary, Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis, Missouri-Kansas City, Oakland (Mich.), Southern Utah and Oral Roberts, which last season won nine conference titles, including those in men's and women's basketball and baseball. "What we were looking for are good fits into our current membership, schools and communities that are committed to improving their athletic programs and their academic profiles," Douple said. "We feel with the addition of those schools, it gets us to 10 right now and quite frankly we're as strong as we've ever been." The Summit League announced this week that it would move its premier events, its men's and women's basketball tournaments, to Sioux Falls, S.D. in 2009 and 2010. Tulsa, the home of Oral Roberts, has hosted the tournaments the past three years and will also have the 2008 events. Douple called Sioux Falls "a huge college basketball area" that supports the sport at the NCAA Division I and II levels and the NAIA. "There's just a lot of interest in college basketball -- men and women -- in that region. By bringing it to Sioux Falls, we think we can create a regional event with a lot of interest," Douple said. Douple said the conference plans to stream all of its men's and women's basketball games online this year, and he hopes teams will soon be able to expand from local to regional television coverage. Beyond that, he hopes for additional coverage on national networks down the road. "We're making some strides and continue to. Are we there yet? Absolutely not, but we have a clear direction now," Douple said. "We understand that we're not going to be top 10 or BCS, but we certainly want to compete against all the rest day in and day out." Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 12, 2007 10:23:03 GMT -5
www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/sports/basketball/17216283.htm• N'Gai Evans (North Canton Hoover), Wright State, basketball. The 6-foot-2 guard was a third-team All-Ohio selection in Division I after averaging 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Vikings (18-4). He shot 50.2 percent. Evans played in the recent Ohio/Kentucky All-Star Game. Wright State coach ``Brad Brownell and his staff did a great job of recruiting N'Gai,'' Hoover coach Randy Montgomery said. ``They really did their homework and found a diamond in the rough.''
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 3, 2007 20:34:57 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/high-schools/2007/05/02/ddn050307zsp2biancardi.htmlBiancardi — Theresa, that is — to lead Bellbrook girls The wife of the former WSU coach previously coached at Boston College. By Eric Frantz Contributing Writer Thursday, May 03, 2007 BELLBROOK — The Bellbrook High school girls soccer program has a new coach with a familiar name. Theresa Biancardi — wife of former Wright State University men's basketball coach Paul Biancardi — has been hired as the Eagles girls soccer coach. She replaces Cathy Cable, who resigned to concentrate on family affairs. "Two years ago (when Bellbrook) was looking for a coach I had considered it, but my children were too young at that point and I just wasn't able to make the time commitment," Biancardi said. "This time around it was a better situation for my family." Bellbrook has found a good fit in Biancardi. An experienced coach and player, Biancardi's soccer credentials are impressive. A native of Hearne, Texas, Biancardi graduated from the University of Texas, where she helped the Longhorns capture their first "club soccer" national championship in 1983. Her coaching career blossomed at Boston College, where she served as head coach of the Eagles from 1990-97. During her tenure, BC went 66-54-7, made several appearances in the NCAA Top 20 national rankings and had a 100 percent graduation rate. Biancardi also served as the first president of the Big East Conference Women's Soccer Coaches Association. In 1998 — when her husband became an assistant men's basketball coach at Ohio State University — she took over the program at Columbus Watterson High School and led their Eagles to a Division I state semifinal appearance. She was named the Central District Coach of the Year and earned a state sportsmanship award. When the family moved to Dayton, Biancardi concentrated on family. Now she finds herself at the reigns again. "I've followed the program since we moved here," said Biancardi, who has had some Bellbrook players baby-sit her children. "The program is in good shape. It's not like I'm coming into a bad situation. "I'm not going to change things, I just want to coach. I know they've had success in the past and I want to build on that." The Eagles went undefeated in the regular season last year and are the defending Southwestern Buckeye League Southwest Division champs. Bellbrook has a storied tradition and has long been one of the area's marquee teams. Since moving up to Division I a few years ago, the Eagles have failed to find the success they had as a Division II team. Biancardi said she looks forward to that hurdle — and others. "It will be a challenge," Biancardi said. "Anytime you make a coaching change and lose eight seniors it's tough. "The most important thing for me as a coach is going to be instilling the value of team, hard work and discipline. Everyone has to make sacrifices to benefit the team as a whole. I have very high expectations." Biancardi plans on installing a "controlled game," but admitted that a lot of what the Eagles do depends on personnel. She's met with players and is finalizing her staff. And don't be surprised to see Paul Biancardi with an "assistant" label. "We've joked about it, but if one of these assistant coaches don't come through, (Paul) may be out there helping," Theresa said. "You can always use good people around you and people who know how to coach — regardless of the sport." In addition to her extensive coaching and playing background, Theresa Biancardi continues to maintain a grasp on national and international soccer developments. Since 1989 she has held the U.S. Soccer Federation's "A" License, which is the highest designation a coach can achieve. Biancardi has to renew the license every four years, which requires participation at seminars, workshops and programs. The "A" status makes her eligible to coach at the professional level. Contact this writer at (937) 862-9305 or eric@miamivalleysports.com.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 23, 2007 20:36:27 GMT -5
mainstreetnewspapers.com/articles/2007/04/19/vinton/sports/sports04.txtSHEPHERD TO RANDOLPH Byrd senior Cameron Shepherd is getting in on the ground floor. Last week Shepherd announced that he’ll be attending Randolph College and playing basketball for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference School. Randolph College, in Lynchburg, is still known as Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, but the name will change when the school admits male students next year. In Cameron’s first year there will be 200 boys and 800 girls. Clay Nunley, a former assistant at Army, has been given of the task of starting the men’s basketball program. The team will play with all-freshmen next year and will compete unofficially in the ODAC with a partial conference schedule. Randolph will be a full-fledged member of the men’s ODAC for the 2008-09 season. Cameron, who also plays soccer for Byrd, plans to major in either Physical Education or Sports Medicine. He’s among the top students at Byrd, with a chance at being the Valedictorian.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2007 23:52:51 GMT -5
www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=6379255&nav=menu188_2Massacre raises fears in Gas City April 18, 2007 12:56 PM EDT The shooting at Virginia Tech raised concerns here in the town of Gas City. Gas City - One Indiana family watched, waited and worried when they heard about the shootings at Virginia Tech. So did friends at Mississinew High School. Just last week, Grant County learned it lost a soldier in Iraq and Monday some feared another tragedy. The Virginia Tech shootings had some folks fearful in Gas City, Indiana. "Right away when I saw V. T. my heart dropped and right away I thought of Rhamey, Braden and Braylee," says Mississinewa High School's Assistant Principal Steve Quaderer. The Bushmans are natives of Grant County. Rhamey is a medical student at Virginia Tech. "She was on campus this morning (Monday) and took a test," says Quaderer. Her mother, Deb Pattison works at a car dealership. "And a customer came in from our lounge and said there had been a shooting at Virginia Tech." That sent her on a search for information. "That's the phone call any parent doesn't want to get. I couldn't get ahold of anybody I called. It was a while before I would hear about Rhamey." Her daughter graduated from Mississinewa High School in 1998, an outstanding student. Her high school sweetheart Braden Bushman was also a standout. In two different yearbooks they were both named best athlete. He played basketball at Wright State while she earned her graduate degree. Then marriage, baby Braylee, his teaching job at an elementary school near the V. T. campus and her work there as a medical student. "She was there while the shooting was going on but didn't know," says her mother of Monday's tragedy. "And left while the shooting was going on." She got caught in traffic while police were shutting down campus. "She said some of her classmates were still taking the test and were still in the classroom because the school went on lockdown," said Quaderer. He says he found himself on the phone passing news from TV to Rhamey still stuck near the V.T. campus. He says Braden's school went on lockdown too. Deb Pattison still can't grasp it all. She just feels "relief, and our prayers are with the other families. So sad." Last year the Pattison's had some tense moments when the Virginia Tech campus was locked down as police searched for a double murder suspect. They caught him near some athletic fields. He killed a security guard at a local hospital. The same hospital where Pattison's daughter could serve her internship.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2007 23:44:44 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 18, 2007 23:42:03 GMT -5
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18187560/Saint Louis is fortunate still to have an excellent group of candidates available if it looks in the right places: Ohio State associate head coach John Groce, Kent State coach Jimmy Christian, Wright State coach Brad Brownell and Sam Houston State's Bob Marlin. Any one of them would be as good a fit for SLU as anyone hired elsewhere this spring. But wouldn't it have made more sense to be the first to fish these waters rather than the last?
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jun 18, 2007 12:24:53 GMT -5
Coach Marshall is at Wichita State - he left Winthrop this Spring.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 7, 2007 9:40:52 GMT -5
www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070406/NEWS/704060372/-1/StateUNCW fires athletic director Capaccio Interim director will be named next week By Brian Mull Staff Writer brian.mull@starnewsonline.com The University of North Carolina Wilmington fired athletic director Mike Capaccio on Thursday, cutting short a tenure packed with triumph, but also turmoil that ultimately fractured the university's modest fan base. "Effective immediately, Mike Capaccio has been relieved of his duties as director of athletics," chancellor Rosemary DePaolo said in a statement late Thursday afternoon. "He has been notified that his contract will not be renewed. I believe the university will be better served with this change in athletic department leadership. This decision was reached after a thoughtful and comprehensive performance review of his two years as athletic director." DePaolo, who did not return messages left on her cell phone by the Star-News, said in the statement that an interim athletic director will be named next week and a national search for a replacement will be announced in the near future. Capaccio did not return multiple messages left on his cell phone and home phone. There were few lights on inside his residence and no cars in the driveway. His office inside the Nixon Annex at UNCW remained intact as of 8 p.m. UNCW board of trustees member George Teague wouldn't elaborate on Capaccio's dismissal, saying only that the board has full confidence in DePaolo. Capaccio had been under review for a month after DePaolo appointed a committee to evaluate his performance and the direction of the athletic department. Her special assistant, Max Allen, and faculty athletic representative Bill Bolduc interviewed all varsity head coaches, senior athletic officials and executive members of the Seahawk Club. "I had no problems with Mike," UNCW softball coach Melissa Jarrell said. "He was very supportive of softball and always very open to anything I had to discuss with him. He was always willing to listen to what I felt like would be best in that situation." Other coaches did not immediately return phone calls left by the Star-News or declined to comment. DePaolo received the committee's report last week, and she and Capaccio met several times since then to discuss his future at the university. His contract is scheduled to expire May 10. His dismissal ended a meteoric rise through the UNCW athletic department. After a successful career as a junior college coach in the Midwest, Capaccio arrived at UNCW in 1999 to work as director of basketball operations, one of the department's lowest-paying positions. He became executive director of the Seahawk Club, the university's fund-raising arm, in 2002 and took over as interim athletic director on Oct. 26, 2004, replacing Peg Bradley-Doppes. A renowned fund-raiser, Capaccio received the job on a permanent basis on May 10, 2005. In his first year, UNCW athletic teams won a school-record four Colonial Athletic Association championships; the program's endowment increased to $4.5 million; scholarship contributions reached $700,000; and Capaccio received a raise. Brownell leaves
But last spring, he and men's basketball coach Brad Brownell, who posted an 83-40 record in four seasons, couldn't agree on a contract extension and Brownell departed for Wright State on March 31.
UNCW had its worst season in school history (7-22) under first-year coach Benny Moss, and Trask Coliseum - typically near capacity in recent years - was half-empty for several games late in the season.
Meanwhile, Brownell led Wright State to its first NCAA Tournament bid in 13 years, reigniting the fire between the factions of Seahawks fans.Still some support UNCW student body president Katie Gurgainus said she and her peers remain united regardless of personnel changes. "How quickly people forget that UNCW experienced four CAA championships during the 2005-2006 season ... only one of which was basketball," Gurgainus said earlier this week via e-mail. "Mike was athletic director at this time as well." George Rountree, a prominent area attorney, longtime Seahawk Club member and top donor, said he hoped Capaccio was not the scapegoat for one disappointing basketball season.
"The fact that Brad Brownell's departure could be a factor in this is appalling," Rountree said. "He's history. He's gone and - right, wrong or indifferent - everybody needs to get over it. Brad Brownell wasn't fired. He was offered a contract that he asked for. And he changed his mind and wanted more money."
Brownell, in town to visit his in-laws in Wilmington, declined to comment when reached on his cell phone.The Trask Coliseum locker room is named in part for Rountree, who played basketball at the University of Arizona. He said he considered both DePaolo and Capaccio his friends and that he would continue to support the university. Time to move on Other UNCW supporters said Capaccio's removal was necessary. "Maybe now we can move on," Seahawk Club member John Allen said. "Maybe some of the fans that have fallen by the wayside can get behind Benny Moss and the basketball program." Moss was out of town and could not be reached for comment. Jerry Wainwright, the men's basketball coach from 1994-2002, said earlier this week he was "disappointed" by recent events around a program he helped build. He feels it is important for all Seahawks supporters to unite and support Moss and his players. Wainwright, who owns a home in Brunswick County, just completed his second season as coach at DePaul. "The negativity has to stop," Wainwright said Wednesday afternoon. "I hope everybody takes a deep breath and takes a look at how things can be more beneficial. If you love the university, turn the bad emotion aside and put that energy into support. It is what it is."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 6, 2007 18:39:04 GMT -5
www.fayobserver.com/article_ap?id=103359Athletic director fired after UNC Wilmington review The Associated Press WILMINGTON, N.C. The athletic director has been fired at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington after a monthlong review of his department, school officials said. Mike Capaccio was relieved of his duties Thursday, Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo said in a written statement released by the university. The announcement came about a week after a committee reviewing the athletic department turned in its report, which wasn't released publicly. "I believe the university will be better served with this change in athletic department leadership," DePaolo said in the statement. "This decision was reached after a thoughtful and comprehensive performance review of his two years as athletic director." Neither DePaolo nor Capaccio, who was named to the post May 2005, returned telephone messages seeking comment. DePaolo appointed the committee to look at Capaccio's performance and the department's direction. The chancellor had met with Capaccio several times since the report was completed last week. An interim athletic director will be named next week and a national search for a replacement will be announced soon, according to the university statement. Capaccio came to UNC Wilmington in 1999, as director of basketball operations. He became executive director of the Seahawk Club fundraising group in 2002, and he was named interim athletic director in 2004. Capaccio was credited with increasing the athletic department's endowment to $4.5 million and in his first year as athletics director, the school's teams won four championships in the Colonial Athletic Association. But discontent arose among some fans after former basketball coach Brad Brownell, who had an 83-40 record over four years, left last year for Wright State after he and Capaccio couldn't agree on a contract extension. This season, the Seahawks went 7-22 under coach Benny Moss in the worst basketball season in school history, while Brownell led Wright State to its first NCAA tournament game in 13 years. George Rountree, a lawyer and Seahawk Club member, said he hoped Capaccio wasn't being made a scapegoat because of the basketball season. But club member John Allen said the change could help. "Maybe some of the fans that have fallen by the wayside can get behind Benny Moss and the basketball program," Allen said.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2007 0:02:34 GMT -5
www.goldenstateofmind.com/story/2007/10/21/222016/37Undrafted guys...if I had to throw some darts at the wall (because that's what this is essentially), I'll take five guys, some of whom are overseas right now, who I think will end up having very good careers in professional basketball. Zabian Dowdell, DaShaun Wood, Kyle Visser, Trey Johnson, Russell Carter.
|
|