The CIAA Honors Its 2003 Spring Coaches of the Year

Hampton, VA - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Executive Committee convened Friday afternoon to select this year's CIAA Spring Coaches of the Year.

Dianthia Ford-Kee of Shaw University was selected as this year's Softball Coach of the Year. Ford-Kee's team was Eastern Divisional Champion (10-0, 21-1, 28-12) going into this year's tournament. The Lady Bears captured the 2003 CIAA Softball Championship after a tough battle through the loser's bracket. Ford-Kee took her team to the NCAA Division II Regionals as the CIAA's automatic qualifier; Shaw's first-ever visit to the tournament.

Shaw University's Bobby Sanders retains the title of Baseball Coach of the Year for the third straight year. The Shaw Bears finished the regular season at the top of the conference with a record of 12-4, 19-16.

Elorine Hill, Head Coach of the Fayetteville State University Lady Broncos has kept her team as the dominant force to beat as she reclaims the Women's Tennis Coach of the Year honor. Hill's squad has won the conference's only two Women's Tennis Championships and taken successive trips to the NCAA Division II Regionals.

Men's Tennis Coach of the Year, James Cuthbertson of Johnson C. Smith University, directed the Golden Bulls to their fifth consecutive Men's Tennis title. Under Cuthbertson's tutelage, the Golden Bulls finished the season unscathed with a conference record of 6-0 and 14-0. They finished the season 16-8 overall. Cuthbertson also made a repeat appearance at the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Regional this year.

James Saunders of Johnson C. Smith University has been honored as Golf Coach of the Year. His Golden Bull team finished as runners-up to FSU in this year's CIAA Golf Championship.

Saint Augustine's College's George Williams was chosen as the 2003 Women's Indoor and Men's Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, after his teams captured the 2003 Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Cliff Huff of Livingstone College earned the 2003 Men's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year honor as his team improved from a fourth place finish in 2002 to the runners-up spot in this year's CIAA Championship.

William Montague of Shaw University will claim this year's Women's Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year bringing his team to the second place finish at this year's championship; up from 4th place in 2002.

The 2002-2003 CIAA Coaches of the Year will be honored at the Annual CIAA Coach of the Year Luncheon on May 29, 2003 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley in Raleigh, NC.