Southern names Rob Spivery men's basketball
coach
May 5, 2005
BATON ROUGE -- Rob Spivery was officially announced as the new
men’s basketball coach at Southern University athletic
department officials announced today in a 2:00 p.m. press conference.
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Rob Spivery |
Spivery, formally the coach at Alabama State, has agreed in
principle to become the next coach at Southern University.
The appointment is pending, awaiting approval of the Southern
Uiversity Board of Supervisors. Spivery coached at ASU for
nine seasons, compiling a 129-136 record. His head coaching
career spans 20 years with an overall record of 304-281.
“Coach Spivery is well known, and he has been in the
public eye & the coaching business for the past 30-some
odd years. He has tremendous connections with some great coaches,
including Nolan Richardson. He was on (Nolan) Richardson’s
staff at Tulsa some years back”, remarked Chancellor
Jackson.
Spivery replaces former men’s basketball coach, Michael
Grant, who was dismissed from his duties two weeks ago.
“He was the only candidate on my list,” added
Chancellor Jackson. “We started the process last Friday,
and he immediately told me that he couldn’t talk with
me, that I must first speak with the president of the school,
before we could have any contact. I liked that about him, he
handle his business appropriately.”
“We have agreed in principle, but the contract is still
in negotiations, but we are very close”, said Jackson.
“I am proud and excited to become the next men’s
basketball coach at Southern University,” said Spivery. “The
chance to take a program, and try to rebuild it back to prominence
is a challenge that I wanted to undertake.”
Spivery, once approved, will become the fourth coach in the
last six seasons for Southern, which has had five straight
losing seasons.
“I am really excited about getting to work here at Southern
University.” Said Spivery.
Rob Spivery's teams have gone 11-2 against Southern in the
last five seasons. The Hornets knocked Southern out of the
Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament the last two seasons
-- the semifinals last season and a one-point margin in the
2004 quarterfinals -- and in the 2001 semifinals.
At Alabama State, Spivery led the Hornets to the SWAC Tournament
title in 2003-04 and won both the regular-season and tournament
titles in 2000-01.
Last season, the Hornets went 15-15, losing in the SWAC Tournament
final.
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