LANGSTON, Okla. – Director of Athletics Donnita Drain has announced the appointment of Philip Stitt as the head men’s basketball coach at Langston University. Stitt has more than 25 years of coaching experience, including seven years at the NCAA DI level, ten years at the NCAA DII level and 11 years at the junior college level.
“I am more than thrilled and excited to see the direction of Langston University men’s basketball under Coach Stitt,” Director of Athletics Donnita Drain said. “We had a tremendous pool of candidates which included over 60 applicants with various coaching backgrounds from successful high school coaches all the way up to the NCAA DI level. Through it all we had a great screening committee comprised of several alumni, including former lettermen athletes, and current administrators at Langston University. Coach (Philip) Stitt came through with shining colors. He has a rich experience of coaching at other HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), tremendous championship experience, and he’s a proven winner and recruiter.”
Stitt most recently coached at Marion Military Institute (MMI) in Marian, Ala. where he led MMI to a 77-33 record over the past four seasons. During that time span, Stitt has coached two NJCAA All-Americans, two ACCC All-Region 22 performers and three NJCAA Academic All-Americans while consistently being ranked in the top 25 and clinching the ACCC/NJCAA Region 22 Championship in 2015-16. Stitt has also received coaching accolades during his time at MMI where he was named the NJCAA Region II Coach of the Year, the NJCAA District 12 Coach of the Year and Birmingham’s Tip-off Club’s Alabama Junior College Coach of the Year in 2015-16. Over the span of 28 seasons, Stitt holds a record of 100-68 at MMI and a career coaching record of 215-156.
“I’m very excited, particularly after meeting with President (Dr. Kent J.) Smith, Jr., Director of Athletics Donnita (Drain) Rogers and the search committee,” the first-year head coach said. “Everybody has a passion for Langston University and I’m looking forward to working in that type of environment. One of the factors that stood out to me about Langston University is the people. In this business, the people are important. I’m excited to get started.’ Of Stitt, President Kent J. Smith, Jr., said “During the screening process, Coach Stitt showed tremendous attention to detail and his ability to recruit stood out. He also brings impressive HBCU experience which will serve him well at Langston University. I am confident that Coach Stitt will lead our Lions to continued success on and off the court.”
Stitt’s coaching career began in 1991 as an assistant at Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Fla. After spending three seasons with the Stars, he moved on as the assistant coach at NCAA DI Jacksonville University. In 1997 Stitt joined the coaching staff at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, N.C. In his only season at Fayetteville State University, the Broncos finished with a 17-10 record, tied for second place in the CIAA Western Division. The next season, Stitt became an assistant at Winston Salem State University (WSSU). At WSSU, he was part of five 20-win seasons, two CIAA conference championships, five NCAA Division II tournament berths and two NCAA Division II Sweet 16 appearances. He was also named the 2004-2005 CIAA Coach of the year.
Stitt returned to Florida Community College in 2006 to take over the program as head coach for two seasons before moving on to Grambling State University (NCAA DI) as the Associate Head Coach (2008-2009). Stitt has also served as assistant men’s basketball coach at Fayetteville State University (NCAA DII), North Carolina A&T State University (NCAA DI) and Florida State College at Jacksonville before arriving in Marion, Ala.
Director of Athletics Donnita Drain would like to thank the alumni, lettermen, and University supporters who assisted in the screening and interview process for this important search including Dr. James Mosely, Judge Kenneth Watson, Dr. Kevin Cox, Ms. Lateka Alexander, and Ms. Mariea’ Drain. The contributions of our alumni to the interview and screening process were invaluable, and their input further solidified the selection of Mr. Stitt as the next head coach of Langston University Men’s Basketball.
The Langston University Department of Athletics will hold a press conference to welcome Coach Stitt on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the Langston University – Oklahoma City Campus located at 6700 N Martin Luther King Avenue in Oklahoma City.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr., President of Langston University (LU), announced today the appointment of former WNBA player Elaine Powell as the new head coach for the women’s basketball team.
“We are excited about Coach Powell joining the Langston University Athletics Department as she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team. She has inherited a program with a longstanding history of excellence and we know from her track record, she will ensure that our legacy is preserved,” said Dr. Smith.
Coach Powell joins LU Athletics having previously served as an assistant coach for women’s basketball programs at Alabama A&M, Ohio University and Grambling State University. She spent nearly a decade playing in the WNBA, where she earned numerous awards and honors. Under former coach and Detroit Pistons player Bill Laimbeer, she was a three-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock. Prior to her professional basketball career, she was a student-athlete at Louisiana State University (LSU) where she was a Kodak All-American and finished her career as LSU’s 11th all-time leading scorer with 1,163 points. She was the first player in LSU history to be drafted into the WNBA.
“Elaine Powell is a proven leader whose dedication and commitment to excellence has shown in her work while coaching at numerous NCAA Division 1 programs for more than 8 years. Prior to her collegiate coaching career, she was a student athlete at LSU, so she comes from a championship pedigree, which is what we strive for here at Langston University. She has served those institutions admirably, investing a great deal in the student athletes. We look forward to her bringing that same enthusiasm, devotion and student centric approach to our program,” said Donnita Drain Rogers, Athletic Director for Langston University.
Coach Powell succeeds Cheryl Miller, who had a record of 49-12 and two NAIA Tournament appearances during her two-year stint.
The Lady Lions finished the 2014-15 season with a 29-4 record, and won the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Championship over Our Lady of the Lake. The Lady Lions finished the 2015-16 season with a final record of 20-8 and received a third straight bid to the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship tournament in Independence, Missouri. Langston received three selections to the Red River All-Conference team; and two students were named to the NAIA Women’s Basketball All-America honorable mention team for their efforts.
“Cheryl Miller has been a tremendous asset to the University’s sports program and we appreciate all of her efforts to strengthen our women’s basketball team. She was a role model both on and off of the court to the players and entire University community. We wish her well in her future endeavors,” said Dr. Smith.
Langston University is a public historically black college enrolling a close-knit community of under 4,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County just 10 miles east of Guthrie and 42 miles from Oklahoma City. Langston offers over 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. To learn more, please visit the Langston University website at http://www.langston.edu.
LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University is proud to announce the head coach of the women’s basketball team, Cheryl Miller, was included among the 30 most influential women in college sports. In February, the Sports Management Degree Guide ranked Miller No. 10 among other legendary coaches including Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer, and Muffet McGraw. The ranking was created to recognize prominent female athletes who helped pave the way for women to participate and excel in intercollegiate sports.
Cheryl Miller joined the Langston Lady Lions in 2014 after a celebrated athletic career. As a four-time All-American, she was recruited as a forward to the University of Southern California. Miller scored a history-making 3,018 career points and claimed 1,534 rebounds. She led the Trojans to an impressive 112-20 record and was named MVP in two NCAA championships. Cheryl Miller won the Naismith Award, Broderick Award, and the 1984 Olympic gold medal. She also served as a sideline reporter for Thursday night NBA coverage on TNT.
The Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer has coached the Langston women’s basketball squad to victory. In her first year, the Lady Lions defeated Our Lady of the Lake for the 2015 Red River Athletic Conference tournament title. This year’s team ended the season with a winning 20-8 record. “Langston University is honored to have such a distinguished coach,” said Langston University President, Dr. Kent J. Smith Jr. “Cheryl Miller has excelled in training our women’s basketball team for success on and off the court. She brings intelligence, discipline, experience, and enthusiasm to our sidelines.”
Langston University is a small, public historically black college enrolling a close-knit community of under 4,000 students. Founded in 1897, LU is located in rural Logan County just 10 miles east of Guthrie and 42 miles from Oklahoma City. Langston offers over 40 associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across six academic colleges. Student-athletes compete for the Lions in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division. Along with basketball, Langston’s varsity sports include cross-country, football, cheerleading, softball, volleyball, and track and field.
Sports Management Degree Guide offers free, online resources for undergraduate and graduate students interested in studying sports business. The website helps guide readers to building successful careers in the in-demand athletics industry. Students can find mini courses, info graphics, articles, blogs, and FAQs to answer questions about obtaining a quality education in sports management. Read the full article titled “30 Most Influential Women in College Sports” at: http://www.sports-management-degrees.com/30-most-influential-women-in-college-sports/.
LANGSTON, Okla. – Former Langston University (LU) football player and alumnus, Quinton Morgan, was recently named the permanent head football coach for the Langston Lions football team effective immediately.
In October, he took on the role of interim head coach for the remaining five games of the season and his leadership strongly impacted on the team’s performance. Under his leadership, the team experienced success with no losses (5-0), averaging 43.6 points per game, and outscored their opponents 218 to 65. Although Langston finished No. 2 in conference, they completed the season with a better overall record of 7-3. “Hard work is the company of success,” coach Morgan said.
He is a proven leader in athletics and has served on the LU coaching staff for more than 10 years. In 2011, he assumed the role as interim head coach for the LU softball team. It was under his direction, the team secured a record of 31 wins and advanced to the Red River Athletic Conference postseason tournament for the first time. His leadership steered the women to one of the best seasons in LU softball history.
Upon his appointment as head football coach, he outlined his goals and a strategic plan for recruitment and player management initiatives for the football program.
“He is committed to improving the academic and athletic performance of his players, increasing the athletic program’s graduation rates, and plans to increase visibility in high schools to help boost recruitment and retention numbers,” said Donnita Drain Rogers, LU Athletic Director.
“The Langston Lions plan to come back strong next season, and after watching coach Morgan perform from the sideline, this is truly possible,” said Rogers.
Prior to coaching, he earned a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation in 2005 and a master’s degree in urban education in 2010 from Langston University.
Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Langston offers more than 38 degree programs, including five masters degrees and one doctoral program. To learn more about Langston University, go to http://www.langston.edu or visit the newly updated http://www.langstonsports.com.
LANGSTON, Okla. —Langston University homecoming, the EvoLUtion will start off with Cheryl Miller as the grand marshal. Homecoming is Oct. 12-17, 2015, with Miller leading the annual parade and kicking off festivities on Saturday.
“We are excited to have one of Langston University’s newest members, Coach Cheryl Miller serve as our homecoming grand marshal,” said Kent J. Smith, Jr., President of Langston University.
“Cheryl has been a great addition to our campus and has shown she has the true spirit of a lion. Cheryl leads our girls not only on the court, but instills the quality of leadership and provides the mentorship they need to thrive.”
Coach Cheryl Miller was appointed as Langston University head women’s basketball coach in April 2014. Miller was a three-time national player of the year at the University of Southern California, leading the Women of Troy to national championships in both 1983 and ’84 and playing on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. She went on to coach in the WNBA for four seasons before beginning a career as a national sports broadcaster.
The NCAA named Miller one of the top five collegiate basketball players in NCAA history. Miller was USC’s head women’s coach for two years in the mid ’90s, and then coached the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA from 1997 to 2000. Miller led LU’s women’s basketball team through a great 2014-15 season, finishing with a 28-4 record.
Homecoming is an anticipated tradition at Langston University. Events are scheduled each day during the week of homecoming, such as the annual Gospel Fest, President’s Scholarship Gala, Greek Step Show, and the coronation of Mr. and Miss Langston University. The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Oct. 17, while the football game begins at 2 p.m. against Southwestern Assemblies of God.
Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Langston offers over 38 degree programs, including five masters degrees and one doctoral program. For more information on Langston University homecoming and to purchase tickets, visit www.langston.edu/homecoming.
LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University has appointed a new head coach for volleyball, Jacob Rodriguez.
“Coach Rodriguez, a true man of integrity and great character, is a great addition to our athletic department,” said Donnita Rogers, the Director of Athletics. “His enthusiasm is contagious. Rodriguez will be a tremendous role model for our student-athletes and will play a pivotal role in putting Langston University volleyball on the map.”
Rodriguez comes to Langston from Bacone College, where he served as the head volleyball coach for three years. During his three years as head coach, the team went 46-52 overall and 24-16 in the Red River Athletic Conference.
Prior to Bacone College, he served as the assistant coach at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. During this time the team made tremendous strides, which included trips to the NAIA Regionals and the National Christian College
Athletic Association Regional and National Tournament in 2007.
Rodriguez currently holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology from Dallas Baptist University and a Bachelor of Science degree in History from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
Stepping into this position, he has high hopes for the volleyball program’s fourth season. Last year the Volleyball program reached historic new heights, the team recorded its first win over East Central University, an NCAA Division 2 opponent.
The Lady Lions made it to the Conference Tournament last year; he knows the bar is already set high. He is ready to build a strong 2015 recruiting class and turn Langston’s volleyball team into a program that strives to win national championships.
“The most important thing for this team is to compete; the team will need to continue to build off of this foundation,” said Rodriguez.
“Our first goal as a team is to give a unified effort every time we step on the court.”
The Lady Lions open the 2015 season on August 21, 2015, against Southwest Assemblies of God in Waxahachie, Texas. For more information or to view the Langston Sports schedules please visit www.langstonsports.com.
LANGSTON, Okla.—Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson and Mike Garrett, athletic director at Langston University, will induct 10 football players into the Langston University Hall of Fame as a part of the halftime festivities at Homecoming on Oct. 18, 2014.
“These are deserving men,” said Henderson, a retired NFL linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys and a Langston University alumnus. “They are great football players and each has provided valuable contributions to Langston Athletics.
“I am pleased to be part of this activity, and I hope it begins a tradition to acknowledge student-athletes who have made contributions at Langston University.”
Inductees were chosen by a selection committee for their performance as a student-athlete. The men will be presented with a medal and recognized for their contributions to the university.
Men being honored will include the coach and several players of the 1973 team that won the title of Oklahoma Collegiate Conference Champions.
Thomas Henderson, Mike Garrett and Langston University alumnus Clarence James will present the medals.
Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Langston offers more than 38 degree programs, including five master’s degrees and one doctoral program. For more information on Langston University Athletics, please visit www.langstonsports.com.
LANGSTON, Okla. – Langston University has named Karon Abraham of Newark, New Jersey, as point guard for the men’s basketball team.
Abraham averaged 13.7 points per game on 41.9 percent shooting with the NCAA Division 1 Robert Morris Colonials, a NCAA Division 1 program located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 2009-2012.
Langston University finished under .500 for the third straight year. Newly appointed Head Coach Stan Holt has been working to build a strong 2014 recruiting class and turn Langston’s men’s basketball team into a program that strives to win national championships. Holt is optimistic about the upcoming season.
“This is an exciting day for Langston Basketball,” Holt said. “Karon brings NCAA Division 1 experience. He has played at the highest level, and we expect him to use that experience to excel at Langston.”
During his two years at Robert Morris, Abraham was particularly dangerous from beyond the arc, making 43.4 percent of his three-point attempts.
“I feel excited and blessed to have this opportunity,” Abraham said. “I definitely see where Coach Holt and Mike Garrett (LU Athletic Director) are taking this program, and I know I will be able to help.”
Abraham will provide an immediate threat from the backcourt, along with returning sophomore Renard Green. Green led the Lions in scoring last year, averaging 12.3 points per game. Landon Gray also comes back to the team after shifting in and out of a starting role in 2013-2014.
Langston University has named Stan Holt as head coach for the men’s basketball team.
“We are excited and pleased to welcome Stan Holt, he is young and eager“, said Mike Garrett, LU Athletic Director. “I look forward to a successful season and to one day look back on our future success and be able to say, we got him first.”
Holt brings with him over seven years of progressive experience as well as a Master of Education in post-Secondary Administration and Student Affairs. Holt has developed and impacted such names as Taj Gibson of the Chicago Bulls and Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic.
“The athletic administration at Langston University has brought tremendous passion and energy to the department”, Holt said. “I sincerely welcome the support and involvement of the community, Langston alumni, administration, faculty and staff as we bring unparalleled effort and enthusiasm to the court.”
Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, OK. Langston offers over 38 degree programs, including 5 master’s degrees and one doctoral program.
Cheryl Miller has officially been named head coach of women’s basketball at Langston University and was formally introduced to the team and the student body during center court ceremonies today in Langston.
Miller was a three-time national player of the year at the University of Southern California, leading the Women of Troy to national championships in both 1983 and ’84 and playing on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. She went on to coach in the WNBA for four seasons before beginning a career as a national sports broadcaster.
“This is a historic moment for Langston University athletics as we welcome legendary player and coach Cheryl Miller as women’s basketball head coach,” said Langston President Dr. Kent Smith. “Securing a coach of the caliber and character of Coach Miller is a tribute to Athletic Director Mike Garrett’s stature in the sports world.”
“Coach Miller’s credentials as a player and coach are unsurpassed in women’s basketball. We are thrilled and honored to have her here wearing Lion blue on our courts,” said Mike Garrett, athletic director at Langston University. “Coach Miller has the skills and tools to lead our women’s basketball team to domination in the NAIA.”
The NCAA named Miller one of the top five collegiate basketball players in NCAA history. Miller was USC’s head women’s coach for two years in the mid ’90s, and then coached the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA from 1997 to 2000.
“I am excited to be a part of a university with such a rich heritage”, said Cheryl Miller, women’s coach at Langston University. “We are talking championships. The bar has been set high, but I look forward to raising the bar even higher. I also hope to develop the player’s potential both on and off of the court. “
Langston’s women’s team ended the season with a 20-13 record. Leading scorer, Lynette Holmes (28 ppg) was named player of the week for two consecutive weeks.
Langston University is located 12 miles east of Guthrie, OK. Langston offers over 38 degree programs, including 5 master’s degrees and one doctoral program.
