SHARP SWAC COMMISH: The Southwestern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors with President Ronald Mason Jr. of Jackson State University as chairman announced last week the selection of Duer Sharp as the new Commissioner of the SWAC. Sharp, who has served as interim commissioner since Robert C. Vowels, Jr. stepped down in June, begins his duties immediately as the SWAC's fifth commissioner. "I am honored and excited to lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and I am grateful to the Council of Presidents and Chancellors for giving me this opportunity to be a part of the exciting future of the SWAC. Robert and the Council have done an outstanding job of establishing a solid foundation in regards to the enhanced athletic experience of our student-athletes and fans and improving the academic mission of our member institutions," said Sharp. "The Conference office will continue to address issues such as sportsmanship, corporate sponsorships, developing new revenue sources and working with member institutions to ensure adherence to SWAC and NCAA rules compliance, academic progress and student-athlete graduation." The 38-year-old Camden, New Jersey, native joined the SWAC staff in January 2004. As assistant commissioner, he was responsible for overseeing the conference governance structure and officiating programs for football and men's basketball. Named associate commissioner in June 2005, Sharp served as the coordinator of the football championship and basketball tournament director as well as managed the day-to-day operations of the SWAC office. His duties also included the enforcement of 18 intercollegiate sports in accordance with SWAC and NCAA policies. Sharp received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Afro-American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a four-year starter for the Badger football team (1988-1991).

TSU HISTORIAN PASSES: Kindell Stephens, 64, longtime sports information officer at Tennessee State University, passed away at his home on Wednesday, January 2. A stand-out basketball player at Fisk University, Stephens came to Tennessee State during the football glory days of the "Big John" Merritt era and served as the sports information director and 'Voice of the Tigers' on TSU radio broadcasts for many years. Stephens worked closely with many coaches and TSU athletes, coining many of the colorful nicknames associated with Tiger greats such as quarterbacks Joe "747" Adams and "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam. Stephens had become a historian, of sorts, for TSU athletics and at the time of his death was completing a book on Tennessee State University athletics.

CAU AD RESIGNS: Brenda Edmond-Square has resigned as athletic director of Clark-Atlanta University. Ms Square was the school's first-ever female AD. She came to CAU in June of 2001 after serving as Assistant Director of Athletics at her alma mater, Southern University. She held that post for four years before coming to Atlanta. She was interim AD at Southern from 1999-2000. According to Onnidan Online columnist Hal Lamar, speculation is that Ms Edmond-Square is headed back to the SWAC in some capacity. As for Ms Square's replacement, that too has fueled certain speculation, according to Lamar. He reports the scuttlebutt is that decision makers at CAU are looking in the direction of former Savannah State Athletic Director Tony O'Neal, who resigned the post back in October after a three year stint.

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