The CIAA Presents Its 2002 Spring Coaches of the Year

May 7, 2002

Janie Cofield of Elizabeth City State University was selected as this year's Softball Coach of the Year. Cofield steered the Lady Vikings to ECSU's first ever CIAA Softball title, as they won this year's championship in Petersburg, VA. Cofield's Lady Vikings finished second in the Eastern Division, 8-2, up from their 2001 fifth place divisional finish (3-7). Cofield will also lead the Lady Vikings to the NCAA Division II Regionals as the CIAA's first ever softball automatic qualifier.

Shaw University's Bobby Sanders retained his Baseball Coach of the Year title, as the Bears celebrate their 2002 Baseball Championship victory and an 11-5, 18-15 regular season record.

Elorine Hill and Raymond McDougal swept Women's Tennis and Golf Coaches of the Year for the Fayetteville State University Broncos. Hill, in the conference's first season of Women's Tennis, took home the first CIAA Women's Tennis Championship title. Hill will also compete at the NCAA Division II Regionals, a first for CIAA Tennis. McDougal, leader of the Fayetteville State Broncos and repeat Golf Coach of the Year, captured this year's 2002 CIAA Golf Championship.

Men's Tennis Coach of the Year, James Cuthbertson of Johnson C. Smith University, directed the Golden Bulls to an outstanding victory, being their fourth consecutive Men's Tennis title. Cuthbertson will also prepare the Golden Bulls for the CIAA's first ever NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Regional appearance.

Saint Augustine's College's George Williams, was chosen as the 2002 Men's Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year after an impressive first place finish in the 2002 Outdoor Men's Track and Field Championships.

Mike Lawson of North Carolina Central University, earned the 2002 Outdoor Women's Track and Field Coach of the Year honor, as runners-up at this year's Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
The 2001-02 CIAA Coaches of the Year will be honored at the Annual CIAA Coach of the Year Luncheon on May 30, 2002 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley in Raleigh, NC.