CIAA Brings Back its Own, Rick Mahorn and Tracie Haygood

Raleigh, NC…For this year’s 2004 Men’s and Women’s Tournament Banquet Tip-Off speakers the CIAA has chosen two of their own who have made a mark on the CIAA floor and in the world.

Rick Mahorn

Rick Mahorn, of the Detroit Pistons and the 1979 CIAA Player of the Year will address the 2004 Men’s Basketball Tournament participants at Tuesday night’s banquet at the Embassy Suites-RDU.

Mahorn’s accomplishments in the CIAA include, All-CIAA (3 consecutive years: 1977-80), CIAA Player of the Year (1978-79), All-CIAA Sportswriter’s Association (1977-80), Basketball Weekly All-American First Team (2 consecutive years; 1978-80), National Association of Basketball Coaches (DIV. II) All-American Second Team (1978-80), All-State First Team (1977-80), All NAIA District 29 (1977-78) and District 19 (1978-80), NAIA District Player of the Year (1978-80) and Associated Press All-American (1977-79) honors.

His professional career consisted of playing for the Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and leading the Detroit Pistons to two NBA Championships as an essential player in the “Bad Boy Regime.” Mahorn is currently a Radio Color Analyst for the Detroit Pistons.

Tracie Haygood

To kick-off the women’s tournament, the CIAA invites former Virginia Union University scholar-athlete, Tracie Haygood. Haygood, who is known for “making it happen” in the chemical engineering field, will share her insight on basketball and the business world Sunday night. Tracie was recognized as the premier basketball player during all four years at VUU from 1989-93. Her various awards for women’s basketball include: 1989-93 Highest Cumulative GPA, 1989-90 Most Versatile Female Athlete, 1989-90 Newcomer of the Year, 1991-92 Most Valuable Player, 1992 Pre-season All-CIAA, 1992-93 Most Outstanding Player, 1993 Recipient of the Jesse Chavis Outstanding Sports Leadership Award and several All-Tournament honors. She served as team captain from 1991-1993.

Haygood received a dual degree in Math and Chemical Engineering from Virginia Union and Howard University. Upon completion of her studies in 1996 she became a production engineer with Union Carbide in Victoria, Texas. She later began a sales career with the ExxonMobil Chemical Company in Houston, Texas. Presently, she is a Market Development and Account Manager for DuPont Dow Elastomers in Houston where she is responsible for managing business development at chemical plants.

Admission to both banquets is by invitation only.