By William H. Glover Jr. J.D.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NASB)

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1 (NASB)

Excerpts from the Movie Chariots of Fire:

I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It’s hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape. But how long does that last? Who am I to say, “Believe, have faith,” in the face of life’s realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, “Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me.” If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race. I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure. Run in God’s name and let the world stand back and in wonder.

Do you not know? 

Have you not heard? 

The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.

Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;

they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40: 28-31 (NASB)

Concussion in Sports Online Course Now Available

Among the Sports Envoy alumni are WNBA President Donna Orender; current Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra; NBA Legend Sam Perkins; plus women’s basketball greats Cynthia Cooper and Sue Wicks. Since 2004, 39 NBA and WNBA players and coaches have visited 17 different countries for the SportsUnited Office, where they have conducted hundreds of basketball clinics for thousands of young boys and girls and coaches.
 

In addition, the SportsUnited Office has worked closely with the NBA and WNBA to enhance its Sports Visitor programs bringing young players and coaches to the U.S. from around the world. The young basketball visitors and their coaches typically attend a NBA or a WNBA game, meet with NBA and WNBA players and coaches, and participate in professionally organized basketball clinics. Helping making some of our visitors’ experiences particularly memorable were former Sports Envoys Matt Bonner, Teresa Edwards and Rolando Blackman. These Envoys took time from their busy schedules to conduct high-energy clinics for participants from Tanzania, Mozambique and Lebanon. This year the leagues will assist with programs for youth from Afghanistan, Nepal, Mozambique, Russia, Egypt, Morocco and Australia.
 

For more information, please visit the SportsUnited website, Facebook page, or contact Laura Tischler, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, at 202-632-6454 and TischlerLL@state.gov.

By William H. Glover Jr. J.D.

What is a role model? The official definition in a dictionary states that it is somebody to be
copied; a worthy person who is a good example for other people; someone worthy of imitation; a
person who is unusually effective or inspiring in some social role, job, etc. and so serves as a
model for others.[1]

Although, many athletes believe it is unfair to hold them to a higher standard of behavior; a survey conducted by the American Bible Society showed that athletes were considered important role models to 18.3% of the teens who participated in the survey. Whether an athlete accepts it or not, he or she is definitely seen as a role model to some children.[2]

Many sports writers say that athletes should not be role modes. “Spoiled-athlete syndrome begins early in sports socialization. From the time they could be picked out of a lineup because of their exceptional athletic ability, they’ve been pampered and catered to by coaches, classmates, teammates, family members and partners. As they get older, this becomes a pattern. Because they’re spoiled, they feel they aren’t accountable for their behaviors off the field. They’re so used to people looking the other way.”[3]

“The idea that people who make millions of dollars to play a game should be idolized by our youth today is a travesty. What are kids supposed to think when they see stories regarding steroid use among baseballs greatest sluggers, including Bonds, McGwire and Sosa. Is that the type of message that we should be sending. That you must do whatever is necessary to succeed, even if it means cheating, lying and hurting yourself in the process. More and more, high school athletes are taking the lead from professional athletes who are at the pinnacle of their respective sports, and more and more it is leading to disaster. Steroid use is at an all time high among high school seniors, a direct correlation to the mammoth statistics by superstar sluggers who cheated the game.”[4]

What does this Post have to do with Sports Law or Law in general? James Madison, the fourth president, known as “The Father of Our Constitution” made the following statement “We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”[5]

Bobby Bowden, the venerable long­time coach of Florida State football com­mented a few years ago on the problem. He said. “So many kids now that I’m coaching that are coming up, they think no more of breaking the law than the man in the moon. Most of them don’t even know them. Some of them don’t even know the Ten Commandments. And they’re what I call ‘living in sin’ and don’t even know it. I sure appreciate my parents disciplining me and trying to teach me what was right at that early age.”[6]

Bowden was right about the fact that many young people have been brought up without knowing the Ten Commandments, but that does not give them-or us-a rea­son to ignore God’s commands. However, a missionary to Indonesia was trans­lating Scripture into the language of the people. As she did her work, she wondered if they would be able to comprehend the difference between right and wrong. So she asked the people to begin naming what they felt were the top rules for living. To her shock, these people, who had never even heard of the Bible, named the rules that we know as the Ten Commandments.[7]

When God codified those rules and etched them in stone for Moses, he was not making up new rules. He was simply put­ting down in writing what he had already put in every human heart.[8]

Aside from their unusual and gifted talent, professional athletes are usually people just like you and me. They experience the same family problems other people do, have to pay bills like we do, and basically have a home life, albeit usually a larger home than the rest of us have – a lifestyle that is similar to that of many middle-class Americans, although on a far-larger scale. Athletes come from different social and cultural backgrounds and are a reflection of those backgrounds, which are fundamentally based on family and education.[9]

Should we hold athletes to a higher standard? The Ten Commandments were not written just for them. Should not we all be role models for young people?

[2] Role Models by Cheryl Weldon, http://cawworldwide.com/rolemodels.html  

[3] Raina Kelley, They’re Not Role Models. Why we should stop worshiping athletes—unless they’re on the field. Newsweek, March 11, 2010 

4 Farzin Mojtabai, Athletes Negative Impact on Kids Exposes Societal Flaws, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/26607/athletes_shouldnt_be_role_models.html?cat=40

5 James Madison, 1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia

[6] Sports Devotional Bible, Zondervan, 2002, page 76 

 7Id                                            

 8 Id                                                                                                                                                                                              9 USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Sept, 2001 by Gary Sailes

Synopsis

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a 35 year old sports agent working for Sports Management International (SMI). After suffering a near nervous breakdown as a result of stress and a guilty conscience, he writes a Mission Statement about perceived dishonesty in the sports management business and how he believes that it should be operated. He goes to a copy shop early the next morning and distributes copies of it to all of his fellow employees. It is entitled The Things We Think and Do Not Say: The Future of Our Business His co-workers are touched by his honesty and greet him with applause the next business day, but the company’s management orders Maguire fired for his actions.           

The management sends Bob Sugar (Jay Mohr), Maguire’s protégé, to fire Maguire. Jerry and Bob then proceed to call all of Jerry’s clients to try to convince them to not hire the services of the other. Jerry gets through to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), one of his clients who is disgruntled by his contract that he believes to be far inferior than that of his teammates. Tidwell tests Jerry’s resolve through a very long telephone conversation, which culminates in the famous Show Me the Money! telephone yelling match between Rod and Jerry. Meanwhile, Bob Sugar secures most of Jerry’s previous clients as his own. Frank Cushman, a superstar football prospect expected to be drafted #1 in the NFL Draft, also ends up (temporarily) staying on with Jerry after he makes a visit to Cushman’s home. Leaving the office, Jerry announces he will start his own sports management agency and asks if anyone is willing to join him to which only 26-year-old single mother Dorothy Boyd (Renée Zellweger) agrees. Boyd had previously bumped into Maguire in the airport and told him personally how inspiring she found his “memo.”

Jerry travels to the NFL Draft with Cushman and convinces Tidwell to come along as well, to give him exposure to representatives of other NFL teams should he later become a free agent. Though Tidwell at first feels neglected compared to the superstar Cushman, Bob Sugar contacts Cushman’s dad while Jerry is in the lobby with Tidwell and re-signs Cushman to SMI. Jerry is devastated and turns to his fiancée Avery (Kelly Preston) for support, but she criticizes  him and he breaks up with her. He then turns to Dorothy, and becomes closer to her young son, Ray. Jerry eventually starts a relationship with Dorothy. However, without any commissions coming in to support their business, Dorothy thinks about moving to San Diego since she has a secure job offer there.

Jerry concentrates all his efforts on Tidwell, now his only client, who turns out to be a very difficult client to satisfy. Over the next several months, the two argue constantly with each other Rod claims that Jerry is not trying hard enough to get him a contract. Jerry claims that Rod is not proving himself to deserve the money for which he is asking. Eventually, Rod’s star starts to rise but the two invariably get into argument after argument. Jerry ends up later marrying Dorothy in order to provide her medical insurance and share expenses to help them both stay afloat financially and to keep her from moving to San Diego. He is emotionally and physically distant during the marriage, but is clearly committed to becoming a father to Ray. Although Dorothy is totally in love with him, she breaks up with him because she believes he does not love her, and married her out of fear of being alone and because he enjoyed playing father to her son.

Bob Sugar spots Rod just before the game and attempts to steal him. Rod turns him down. Rod and Jerry travel to the Cardinals game. The two soon reconcile. Rod plays well but appears to receive a serious injury when catching a touchdown. He recovers, however, and dances for the crowd, which cheers wildly for him. After the game, Jerry and Rod get renewed confidence for a lucrative new contract for Rod. After months of harsh words and criticism directed towards one another, the two embrace in front of other athletes and sports agents and show how their relationship has progressed from a strictly business one to a close personal one, which was one of the points Jerry made in his mission statement. Jerry then flies back home to seek out Dorothy and tell her that he loves her and wants her in his life (the famous “You complete me” and the “You had me at hello” scene). He also mentions that his business has really picked up.

Rod Tidwell later appears on a sports show for an interview. Without Ron’s knowledge, Jerry has secured him an $11.2 million contract with the Cardinals that will allow him to finish his pro football career in Arizona. The visibly emotional Tidwell proceeds to thank everyone who helped accomplish this success and extends the warmest thanks to Jerry for his help. Jerry, who is also on the set of the show, speaks with several other pro athletes, some of whom have read his earlier mission statement and express their positive opinion of it as well as respect for the work he had done with Tidwell. The film ends with Jerry, Dorothy and Ray walking in the park and stumbling across a Little League baseball game. When the ball lands near them, Ray picks it up and throws it back onto the field. A surprised Jerry then comments on his natural throwing ability, much to Dorothy’s dismay.

Biblical Principles from Jerry Maguire

Jerry was this guy who was on top of his game as a sports agent. He made things happen. He was paid handsomely for his efforts. But he got to the point where he hated himself for who he had become — a money-loving man who lacked integrity. What followed was an inspired, late-night manifesto that promptly got him fired. 

By sure tenacity and just enough grace, Jerry got one client to start his new sports agency. Completely broke and defeated, Maguire thinks himself a complete failure, even though Dorothy still believes in him. In reality, Jerry is very close to landing the big bucks. He just doesn’t know it yet. Isn’t that so often the case in real life? Just when we are about to completely give up, the answer is there right around the corner.

Humility is painful, but it sure does show us all what is truly important. In the film, we recognize that having a heart is essential to a successful life. It isn’t just about a job. It’s about living, loving, and being a decent, helpful, compassionate person whether you are raking in stacks of cash or barely able to rub two dimes together.

Money isn’t everything. So do not forget that as you take on a job. Don’t get so consumed with your own struggles and your financial difficulties that you forget to cherish those things that are closest to you — friends and family.

Ultimately, God is in control. He is sovereign. This is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation. It is the application of His other attributes of being all-knowing and all-powerful. It makes Him absolutely free to do what He knows to be best. God is in control of everything that happens.[1]

The Bible says that humility precedes honor.[2] And remember this: just like Jerry, we may at times be much closer to that breakthrough than we think.

Jesus said to his disciples, If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom. Matthew 16: 24-28

Jesus said that in terms of following Him, that in order to find your life, you must lose your life.  In order for Jerry Maguire to live his dream and use his new found faith in his principles, he had to literally lose his previous shallow existence as a sports agent, (with all the trappings) in order to find his knew life as a person of meaning and depth. This is often the case when people come to Christ. Much of the old relationships and trappings of the past fall away and they embark on their new path in following Jesus to a meaningful and “purpose driven” life.

Rod (Cuba Gooding) could be said to represent Jesus as he kept his word and stuck by Jerry in times of adversity. Jesus is called The friend that sticks closer than a brother [3] and the brother born for adversity.[4] When Jerry’s life fell apart, Rod stuck by him through thick and thin, until they finally got their breakthrough. Jesus always sticks with you, even with times get rough. Jesus is called in the Old Testament the Lord of the Breakthrough.[5] During times of adversity, Jesus will stick with you and see you through to your breakthrough. Even if the world forsakes you, He never will.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.[6]

Jerry’s wife Dorothy could be said to represent the Holy Spirit as she represented the tenderness, compassion, and comfort of God. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter [7]and the Helper.[8] Like the Holy Spirit, she was there for support and help and never stopped believing in Jerry and encouraging him even when he was having trouble believing in himself.

The other principle that comes to mind is the principle of perseverance. Jerry and his new friends and covenant partners – though tempted to quit when all hell broke loose and things seemed to be going from bad to worse – stick it out in faith till the end. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9. Ultimately, by not quitting, being loyal to each other, and developing closeness and compassion for one another over time, they eventually saw their dream fulfilled.

It has been said that the secret of Jerry McGuire is that it is really about two women, Marcee Tidwell (Regina King) and Dorothy Maguire (Renée Zellweger). Marcee Tidwell is a catalyst. At the critical moment when a contract is offered far below expectations, Rod turns to Jerry to see if he should accept what they both know is an insult. Marcee stops the show by counseling her strong, proud, gorgeous, baldheaded, black man that he is better than what has been offered. And she charts a course that culminates in the pivotal game that gets Rod’s team into the playoffs, crowns Rod as the game’s best wide receiver, and results in his $11 million guaranteed contract. Her plan involves great risks: Rod will play without a contract, showcase his talents, become a free agent and sign for less than he is worth. It is risky for her and Rod because of the possibility of injury and/or poor play without a contract. It is risky for Jerry because Rod is his only client. It is risky for Dorothy because she has bet her life on Jerry’s ability to live his dream, and it is Rod who gives life to that dream.

Dorothy has far more faith in Jerry’s plan than he, and demonstrates this by leaving a well-paid job at the sports agency from which Jerry was fired. She wants to help him build his own company, operated in accordance with his vision for a more humane approach to representing athletes. Without Dorothy, Jerry could not have survived. Jerry is smart enough to recognize his dependence on Dorothy and marries her, for the wrong reason. But Dorothy is a good wife, and very much like Marcee, she is also of critical importance to her husband. There are challenges to be overcome, but the movie ends with all well and both couples happy and $11 million richer.

In describing the qualities of a wife, Proverbs 31:12 says, Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?  She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Both Jerry Maguire and Rod Tidwell found good wives.

[2] Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. Proverbs 15:33

[3] Proverbs 18:24 

[4] Proverbs 17:17

[5] 1 Chronicles 14:11  

[6] Hebrews 13:5

[7] John 16:7 

[8] JOHN 14:16-18

Montevallo coach Young wins 200th game

Our Congratulations to Coach Danny Young

The NCAA News

The NCAA News

The NCAA News

Mike London, the head football coach at Richmond for the last two years, was named Monday to the same post at Virginia. He becomes the 39th coach in the program’s history.

London, a 2004 participant of the NCAA Coaches Academy, is the first graduate of any of the NCAA Coaches Academies and Forums to take over a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision program that competes in a Bowl Championship Series conference.

In two seasons at Richmond, London led the Spiders to a 24-5 record and the 2008 Division I Football Championship Series national title.

Named as the 2008 FCS National Coach of the Year by American Football Coaches Association and Schutt Sports/American Football Monthly, London previously served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Virginia between 2001 and 2005 before moving on to serve as defensive line coach for the NFL’s Houston Texas. He returned to Virginia in 2006 as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. London also has coached at William and Mary and Boston College.

A 1983 graduate of Richmond, London was standout defensive back for the Spiders and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

The NCAA Coaches Academies and Forums are a series of professional-development programs aimed at assisting ethnic minority football coaches with career advancement through skills enhancement and networking opportunities.

The NCAA offers the Future Coaches Academy, which is designed for individuals who have recently completed their collegiate eligibility and have a desire to enter the college football coaching profession, while the NCAA Advanced Coaches Academy, Expert Coaches Forum and the NCAA Champions Forum target current coaches with varying degrees of experience. Willie Taggart and Larry Porter, who were recently selected as head coaches at Western Kentucky and Memphis, respectively, also are graduates of the academies and forums.

Football – Cornell hired former Dubuque head coach Vince Brautigam to replace Matt Dillon, who resigned November 16.

Football – Southern U. fired Pete Richardson. Offensive line coach Damon Nivens will serve as interim coach until a replacement is named.

Football – TCU head coach Gary Patterson agreed to a new contract through 2016 after leading the Horned Frogs to a 12-0 regular-season mark this year and an 85-27 record through nine seasons at the school … Chuck Broyles retired after 20 years as head football coach at Pittsburg State and also is taking a leave of absence as athletics director at the school … Willie Totten resigned after eight seasons at Mississippi Valley State, where he has been asked to continue to serve as a health, physical education and recreation faculty member and establish a fund-raising athletics foundation … Kent Keith named interim head coach at Nicholls State, where he has been an assistant since 2004, serving most recently as wide receivers coach.

Football – Nicholls State named Kent Keith interim head coach. A search committee will look f or a permanent replacement for Jay Thomas, who was released November 20.

Football – Mark Mangino resigned after eight seasons at Kansas, where his teams compiled a 50-48 record and played in four postseason bowl games, including an Orange Bowl appearance in 2008.

Football assistants – Georgia will not renew the contracts of defensive coordinator and secondary coach Willie Martinez, defensive co-coordinator and linebackers coach John Jancek, and defensive ends coach Jon Fabris.

Football assistants – Arizona released offensive coordinator Rich Olson.

Baseball – Craig Gerdes named head coach at Eureka, where he is a former assistant coach.

Baseball – Tim Esmay named interim head coach for the 2010 season at Arizona State, where he has been on the staff for five seasons. He is a former head coach at Utah.

Golf – Mark Cole resigned as men’s golf coach at North Carolina Wesleyan, where he will continue to serve as the college’s associate director of development. David Doino, who assists with men’s basketball at the school and is a former head golf coach at Virginia Wesleyan, will serve as interim head coach.

Men’s and women’s golf – Rosemont tabbed Robert Thomas for its men’s program, which will begin competition in fall 2010. He has coached at the prep level since 2005 and served as a basketball assistant at Delaware and Widener.

Men’s and women’s soccer – Xavier hired Woody Sherwood for its women’s program. Sherwood spent the last three seasons at Indiana, the last as assistant head coach.

Men’s and women’s soccer – Detroit tabbed Nick Deren to lead its men’s program. Deren has been with the program as interim head coach since early October. He had been an assistant under former coach Morris Lupenec.

Men’s and women’s track and field – Wingate hired Joe Soehnlen to build the school’s program from scratch. He begins his duties January 1.

Men’s basketball – Fordham released head coach Dereck Whittenburg from his contract. He had compiled a 69-112 record with the Rams, including a 1-4 start in his seventh season. He leaves the post with a career 136-162 record as a head coach. The school named assistant coach J ared Grasso as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Men’s basketball assistants –Terrell M. Stokes joined the men’s basketball staff at District of Columbia as an assistant coach, joining head coach Jeff Ruland. Stokes spent the last four years as an assistant at Loyola College in Baltimore.

Women’s basketball – Deb Patterson agreed to a new five-year contract at Kansas State, where she is in 14th season.

Gymnastics – Jackie Ventre named assistant women’s coach at Rhode Island College.

Soccer – Sara Johnson selected as Wartburg’s first full-time women’s head coach, after assisting men’s and women’s coach T.J. Buchholz for the past three seasons. Johnson was a member of the 2004 Division III Women’s Soccer Championship-winning squad at Wheaton (Illinois). Buchholz continues as men’s head coach … Joy Boswell resigned after four seasons as women’s coach at Pacific (Oregon), where her teams compiled a 20-52-6 record.

Football – Cornell hired former Dubuque head coach Vince Brautigam to replace Matt Dillon, who resigned November 16.

Football – Southern U. fired Pete Richardson. Offensive line coach Damon Nivens will serve as interim coach until a replacement is named.

Football – TCU head coach Gary Patterson agreed to a new contract through 2016 after leading the Horned Frogs to a 12-0 regular-season mark this year and an 85-27 record through nine seasons at the school … Chuck Broyles retired after 20 years as head football coach at Pittsburg State and also is taking a leave of absence as athletics director at the school … Willie Totten resigned after eight seasons at Mississippi Valley State, where he has been asked to continue to serve as a health, physical education and recreation faculty member and establish a fund-raising athletics foundation … Kent Keith named interim head coach at Nicholls State, where he has been an assistant since 2004, serving most recently as wide receivers coach.

Football – Nicholls State named Kent Keith interim head coach. A search committee will look f or a permanent replacement for Jay Thomas, who was released November 20.

Football – Mark Mangino resigned after eight seasons at Kansas, where his teams compiled a 50-48 record and played in four postseason bowl games, including an Orange Bowl appearance in 2008.

Football assistants – Georgia will not renew the contracts of defensive coordinator and secondary coach Willie Martinez, defensive co-coordinator and linebackers coach John Jancek, and defensive ends coach Jon Fabris.

Football assistants – Arizona released offensive coordinator Rich Olson.

Baseball – Craig Gerdes named head coach at Eureka, where he is a former assistant coach.

Baseball – Tim Esmay named interim head coach for the 2010 season at Arizona State, where he has been on the staff for five seasons. He is a former head coach at Utah.

Golf – Mark Cole resigned as men’s golf coach at North Carolina Wesleyan, where he will continue to serve as the college’s associate director of development. David Doino, who assists with men’s basketball at the school and is a former head golf coach at Virginia Wesleyan, will serve as interim head coach.

Men’s and women’s golf – Rosemont tabbed Robert Thomas for its men’s program, which will begin competition in fall 2010. He has coached at the prep level since 2005 and served as a basketball assistant at Delaware and Widener.

Men’s and women’s soccer – Xavier hired Woody Sherwood for its women’s program. Sherwood spent the last three seasons at Indiana, the last as assistant head coach.

Men’s and women’s soccer – Detroit tabbed Nick Deren to lead its men’s program. Deren has been with the program as interim head coach since early October. He had been an assistant under former coach Morris Lupenec.

Men’s and women’s track and field – Wingate hired Joe Soehnlen to build the school’s program from scratch. He begins his duties January 1.

Men’s basketball – Fordham released head coach Dereck Whittenburg from his contract. He had compiled a 69-112 record with the Rams, including a 1-4 start in his seventh season. He leaves the post with a career 136-162 record as a head coach. The school named assistant coach J ared Grasso as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Men’s basketball assistants –Terrell M. Stokes joined the men’s basketball staff at District of Columbia as an assistant coach, joining head coach Jeff Ruland. Stokes spent the last four years as an assistant at Loyola College in Baltimore.

Women’s basketball – Deb Patterson agreed to a new five-year contract at Kansas State, where she is in 14th season.

Gymnastics – Jackie Ventre named assistant women’s coach at Rhode Island College.

Soccer – Sara Johnson selected as Wartburg’s first full-time women’s head coach, after assisting men’s and women’s coach T.J. Buchholz for the past three seasons. Johnson was a member of the 2004 Division III Women’s Soccer Championship-winning squad at Wheaton (Illinois). Buchholz continues as men’s head coach … Joy Boswell resigned after four seasons as women’s coach at Pacific (Oregon), where her teams compiled a 20-52-6 record.