Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / May 27, 1993, edition 2 / Page 4
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PROFILE Weaver Will Use Discipline and Defense to Build Contender By DERRICK MAHONE i JACKSON, Miss. ? Just after being named basket ball coach at Alcorn State on Thursday, Sam Weaver began talking about discipline and defense in his effort to respectability. Weaver, an assistant at Southern Illinois the last four seasons, takes charge of a program trying to return to its glory days of the 1970s and early 80s. "If the other teams are not used to it (defense), that's their problem, because we're going to guard people," Weaver said. "If other teams are not used to it, that may be a notch in our favor." The 34-year-old Weaver was chosen for the job over two other finalists, Dellie Robinson, a 1976 Alcorn gradu ate and coach at Vicksburg (MS) High, and L. Vann Pett away, coach at Alabama A&M. Former Alcorn star Larry Smith, a reserve forward for the San Antonio Spurs, was also in consideration for the job. The job became available when Lonnie Walker, who succeeded longtime Braces coach Dave Whitney, was fired March 19 with a four-year record of 47-77. Alcom was 7-20 this past season. Alcorn won the SWAC championship six of eight seasons beginning in 1977 and went to the NIT or NCAA six of seven years. But the Braves had losing seasons six of the past seven years, compiling an overall record of 55 144. "Lonnie was, is like a brother to me," said Dr. Norris Edney, chairman of the search committees thai hired Walker and Weaver. "I am sure Lonnie thought Tie was doing all the right things. I don't know how we got in the position we are in. You just wake up and you are there." Weaver said he would do more than just try to turn the program around. 'Today we begin dreaming about being a regular at the NCAA Toumament.and maybe someday reaching the Final Four" tfe said. "YoiTsiy; sGoachr*iow you're stretching it too far,' but you goMo reach for something and we're going to start today . . . it's not impossible." Jackson State and Southern University brought the SWAC national recognition last month when Southern beat Georgia Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tour nament and Jackson State knocked off Connecticut in the NIT. "It's not the size of the school, but the size of the commitment that counts," Weaver said. Terms of Weaver's contract were not disclosed. This will be Weaver's first head coaching position after spending 13 years as an assistant. Before working at Southern Illinois. Weaver was at Missouri Southern (1988-89_ and Drake (1987-88). He began his coaching career at Southeast Missouri State in 1982. At SIU, he coordinated a defense which gave up only 69 points a game. "We believe Coach Weaver will come in and do a tremendous job to move our basketball program forward," Alcom athletic director Cardell Jones said. "He did well in all the interviews. He is a very positive person. We think he will be able to instill a winning attitude into the players.'x^ ~ Alcorn players will have to change several things before realizing Weaver's dream. "There's not going to be any more sporadic shots coming up from the ozone somewhere," he said. "And I want our players to represent themselves as if they are college students. The earrings and the funny walks and the fiinny talk doesn't come from English class. There's going to have to be a change." The returning players said they are ready to except the challenge from the new coach. "He seemed very serious about us going to class and doing good things on campus/' said sophomore forward Fred Ashley. "1 was impressed with him. I think we will like his style of play. He said we will run and play hard defense." ~~ ~ 7~~ Said guard Randy Stokes: "He seem like a straight forward person. There are some new rules we will have to follow. He wants the team to be more together. We got to live up to the new rules if we want to play." Weaver learned about the Alcorn job through his friendship with Southern University coach Ben Jobe. "I'm real happy for him," said Jobe, who met Weaver at an NCAA convention about four years ago. "Hp. has been looking at a head coaching job for a while. I'm ieal happy that a young man like Sam would want to come to a historically black school. It is a new day. The Alcorn job is a good job, and I know he will do well. Mississippi is a hotbed for recruits." Weaver, a native of McNeil, Ark., graduated from Henderson State in 1981 and earned a master's degree in 1987 from Southeast Missouri State. He helped lead Three Rivers Community College to the 1979 national junior college championship, where he was voted tourna ment most valuable players. "Sam was a fabulous players for us," Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said. "He displayed a lot of leadership. I'm really pleased. He loves to play good hard-nose man to-man defense. He will do a good job for Alcorn State."
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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May 27, 1993, edition 2
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