Custom Search Watkins Named Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach at N.C. A&T
GREENSBORO – Richard Watkins has been named the first-ever men’s and women’s varsity golf coach at North Carolina A&T State University as announced by director of athletics Earl Hilton on Thursday. Watkins will start the women’s program in the fall of 2016. The men’s program will begin the following autumn.
Watkins
“Richard Watkins has always been on my short list of candidates for Golf Coach here at A&T,” said A&T athletics director, Earl M. Hilton III. “He is precisely what we need in order to get two new golf programs off the ground. Coach Watkins is a fixture in the Greensboro golfing community. He has a tremendous passion for the game and for student-athletes. He has decades of experience in teaching the game, and he’s a proven winner. I could not be more pleased to add him to our coaching staff.”
For Watkins and many longtime supporters of A&T athletics, an Aggies golf program has been a long-awaited wish come true. When Watkins arrived at A&T in 1976 to pursue a master’s degree in physical education, legendary men’s basketball coach Cal Irvin and Dr. Otis Tillman, Sr., an A&T graduate, convinced Watkins to become the golf coach of an A&T club team.
Even though a varsity team never materialized, Watkins served as a golf instructor over a span of nearly 40 years, but never lost hope that A&T would one day start a golf program.
“I’m excited,” said Watkins about becoming the Aggies coach. “I know others are excited too. A lot of people have wanted a golf program here for years. Anytime any of the past (A&T) athletics directors wanted information on what it would take to start a program, I was more than willing to help, so I’m looking forward to building a winner. I want to thank (Chancellor Harold L. Martin), athletics director Earl Hilton and the rest of the athletic administration for having the forethought to bring this program into fruition.”
Watkins has been a part of the pro shop staff at Gillespie Park Golf Course in Greensboro for the past 20 years. His responsibilities included course maintenance and private and group golf instruction. He has also served as a golf instructor for the Multicultural Golf Association of America clinics and the TYGR Paws clinics. He has also worked at the Oak Hollow Golf Course (High Point) and was a volunteer assistant golf coach at Page High School under head coach Debbie Jones.
In 1992, Watkins returned to A&T to become an instructor in the physical education department now known as human performance and leisure studies, a position he still holds. From 1993-96, he was the head baseball coach for the Aggies, helping the Aggies win the ‘93 MEAC championship.
ncataggies.com
UDC Promotes DeWayne Burroughs to Head Women’s Basketball Coach
WASHINGTON, DC – University of the District of Columbia Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Patricia Thomas, has announced the hiring of DeWayne Burroughs as the new Head Women's Basketball Coach. Burroughs, an Assistant Women's Basketball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at UDC since 2011, replaces Lester Butler, Jr., who was announced the new Head Men's Basketball Coach at his alma mater, Virginia Union.
Burroughs
"DeWayne Burroughs has solid coaching experience and has been an integral part of the women's basketball program's success every step of the way," Thomas said. "Under his leadership, I am confident our women's basketball program will continue on its current path of success."
During his four-year tenure as Butler's assistant coach, Burroughs helped the Firebirds reach three NCAA Tournaments (2012, 2014 and 2015), win the program's first East Coast Conference Tournament Championship (2014) and its first ECC Regular Season Championship (2015), as well as set school single-season records for wins (25) and consecutive wins (14). In 2014-15, the Firebirds were ranked as high as No. 18 and finished No. 22 in the final USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll.
As recruiting coordinator, Burroughs brought in three All-ECC performers: Denikka Brent, Telisha Turner and Tajruba Baldwin-Kollore. Brent was an ECC All-Rookie Team selection in 2012, a two-time First Team All-ECC performer in 2013-14 and 2014-15, the 2014-15 ECC Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team Daktronics All-East Region selection. Turner was a First Team All-ECC performer in 2013-14 and a Second Team All-ECC selection in 2014-15. She was also the ECC Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2014. Baldwin-Kollore (Criminal Justice – Newport News, VA/Denbigh HS), who is one of nine returning student-athletes from last year's record-setting squad, was an All-ECC Honorable Mention selection last season.
Burroughs' previous college coaching stops were Chesapeake College and Bowie State University. While at Bowie State, Burroughs served as an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator. He helped guide BSU to two 9th-place Atlantic Region rankings, two Eastern Division titles and two CIAA Finals appearances. Burroughs also recruited two CIAA defensive players of the year, three CIAA All-Rookie team selections and several players that went on to earn CIAA All-Conference honors.
udcfirebirds.com