Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Dribbles and bits on W&M, JMU, GMU, VCU, etc.

Consider this a grab-and-go bag of notes from around the Commonwealth.

*William and Mary has hired former ODU Director of Operations Beth Bradley as an assistant coach to Debbie Taylor. Bradley, who last year was a volunteer coach at the University of Denver, worked under former ODU coach Wendy Larry in 2010-11 and was a former graduate assistant to Cindy Fisher at the University of San Diego. Fisher was an assistant coach on Larry's staff in the '90s. That completes Taylor's staff, which also includes newcomers Kelly Morrone, an assistant who was formerly at Rhode Island, and Chris Koclanes, director of operations. (Koclanes, as you might have guessed, is the bro of former ODU assistant Belle Koclanes, who is now at American.)

Sean O'Regan
*James Madison's Sean O'Regan has been promoted to associate head coach, coach Kenny Brooks announced Wednesday. O'Regan joined the JMU staff in 2007. The JMU graduate coordinates JMU's schedule and is in charge of the Dukes' guard play. He is rated No. 11 among the nation's Top 25 assistant mid-major coaches  on CollegeInsider.com (yes, there is a rating for everything......). FYI: Delaware's Jeanine Radice is No. 6, Liberty's Heather Stephens is No. 7, UNCW's Jimmy Garrity is No. 14 and VCU's Tarrell Robinson, No. 15.

Also for JMU, Dukes graduate Andrea Woodson-Smith leads Team USA into its first game in the 2012 Paralympics in London on Thursday. The U.S. meets France.

*At VCU Aseem Rasogi has been hired as director of player personnel to new coach Marlene Stollings. Rasogi's responsibilities will include oversight of community, alumni and university relations,  assisting with the program's male scout team, database oversight and camp coordination.
McRae now an Aggie

As for who's not at VCU .... sophomore Aprill McRae has transferred to North Carolina A&T after a freshman year where she shot 50 percent from the field in averaging 4.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg for the Rams. McRae also started nine games. While the 6-3 McRae will have to sit out the basketball season due to NCAA transfer rules, she is currently playing volleyball for the Aggies. ... Sophomore guard Christina Carter has also transferred to NC A&T. Carter made 29 starts and averaged 4.6 ppg for VCU last season.

Also gone, Kiana Trice-Hill, a promising 6-2 forward, who redshirted last season due to a knee injury. Trice-Hill's mother, Trena, has landed at Columbia University, as an assistant to coach Paul Nixon.

George Mason announced its non conference slate on Wednesday, which includes road games at Maryland and at George Washington. The Patriots open the season in Rochester, Mich., at Oakland on Nov. 9 and play their home opener on Nov. 13 against Maryland-Eastern Shore. They will also participate in the Aggie Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 23-24, opening against host New Mexico State.

In Blacksburg, Australian wing Hannah Young has deferred her admission to Virginia Tech until spring 2013.

4 comments:

  1. Christina Carter from VCU also transferred to NC A&T....

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  2. I believe Debbie Smith who saw very limited playing time at JMU has also transferred to NC A&T. Looks like A&T is really trying to build a program on transfers.

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  3. A&T is a program that's had some great talent come though it's program and had a lot of success. Looking forward to seeing Coach Robinson take that team to another level. This year they have some good pieces and next year with incoming freshmen and transfers, they will be eben better.

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