Posted: Friday, July 8, 2011 12:02 am

Sports Briefs


Tennessee St. hire
is experienced aide

Tennessee State University men’s basketball head coach John Cooper has announced the hiring of Rick Duckett as an assistant coach.
Duckett spent the last two seasons as a basketball color analyst for UNC Greensboro on 101.1 WZTK-FM.
He has nine years of coaching experience as a head coach with three different programs gathering a career record of 156-98.
Cooper and Duckett reunite after working together under two programs. During Cooper’s collegiate career as a player at Wichita State, Duckett was an assistant (1987-92) help leading the Shockers to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1988 and 1997 and a NIT berth in 1989.
From 1993-98, Duck-ett was head coach at Fayetteville State with Cooper serving as an assistant from 1993-95.  
In addition, Duckett has spent years as an assistant, coaching for one season at Central Florida (1983-84) and Jacksonville (1983-84).
A year prior to the appointments, he spent the first of two stints at R.J. Reynolds High School (Winston Salem, N.C.) returning as a teacher and coach from 1992-93.
Duckett began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, North Carolina, from 1979-80. He received his full-time start as the head coach of the freshman squad at Harvard University from 1980-82.

TSU athletic family
saddened by loss

The Tennessee State University athletic department is morning the death of DeAndra Brown.
Brown suddenly died on June 25 following activities with friends at a local recreation center.
“DeAndra was a good kid that walked onto the football team in the spring as a transfer from Lane College,” said TSU head football coach Rod Reed. “He worked very hard and became  a part of our camp roster.
“I saw great potential in him, not only as a football player, but also as a great young man. He will be sorely missed by our program.”
Brown was projected to be a defensive lineman for the Tigers’ football team this fall.

SEC football duo
transferring to OVC

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Former Georgia running back Washaun Ealey and ex-Mississippi linebacker Clarence Jackson have transferred to Jacksonville State.
Gamecocks coach Jack Crowe said both players have enrolled in classes at the FCS school. They are eligible to play this season.
Ealey led the Bulldogs in rushing the past two seasons, rushing for 1,528 yards and 14 touchdowns while starting nine games.
Georgia coach Mark Richt granted Ealey his conditional release in May after twice suspending him.
Jackson played in four games as a sophomore for the Rebels, seeing his first action in Jacksonville State’s double-overtime upset.
Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt dismissed him from the team after he was charged with public drunkenness in May.
The Gamecocks will open their season by hosting Ohio Valley Conference foe UT Martin