Indianapolis- April 24, 2009 – The 2009 BCA Coach of the Year award
recipients are: Coach Michael London, Head Football Coach at University
of Richmond, Coach as the Male Coach of the Year, Coach Beverly
Kearney, Women’s Track and Field Head Coach at the University of Texas
as the Female Coach of the Year, Dr. Derrick Gragg, Athletic Director,
Eastern Michigan University will be honored with the BCA Administrator
of the Year award and the BCA High School Coach of the year is Kathy
Richey-Walton of Southwest DeKalb High School, Decatur, GA and Board
member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
The awards recipients will be honored during the BCA National Convention
and Expo, at the awards banquet on Friday, May 29, 2009 at the Hyatt
Regency Indianapolis. The awards banquet is in conjunction with the
Annual BCA National Convention and Expo. The event is open to the
public. Registration information for the awards banquet or the full
convention can be located at www.bcasporsts.orghttp://www.bcasporsts.org,
All recipients were nominated and selected by BCA based on the following
criteria; team success during the most recent season, team improvement
from previous season, fulfillment of team potential and professional
manner and attitude.
“Each of the awardees exemplifies the values and mission of the BCA. Our
honorees are not just successful professionals, but they are also
outstanding people”, said Floyd Keith, BCA Executive Director.
Coach Mike London lead the University of Richmond to the school’s
first-ever NCAA Championship, during his first year as Head Football
Coach. Coach London is the first African-American to lead his team to
the FCS National Championship game in 30 years – when Florida A&M head
coach Rudy Hubbard won the inaugural FCS (then I-AA) title.
In addition to the BCA Female Coach of the Year , in February, 2009 The
U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)
announced that the organization will name the Association’s Division I
Women’s Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year award in honor of
USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and current University of Texas women’s head
coach Beverly Kearney. Coach Kearney began her 17th season at the helm
of the University of Texas women’s track and field program.
Dr. Derrick Gragg, Athletic Director at the Eastern Michigan
University, has turned in back-to-back success in the first two years at
under his leadership. In 2007-2008, Gragg’s second as athletics
director, EMU followed up the record-breaking eight championships in
2006-2007 with four league regular-season titles and one MAC Tournament
crown and the Eagles secured the Resses Trophy which is awarded annually
to the top overall men’s athletics program in the league.
Southwest DeKalb High School Coach Kathy Richey-Walton has been will be
honored as the BCA High School Coach of the Year. During her tenure at
Southwest DeKalb high school, her teams have been named DeKalb County
Tip off Club Team of the year and Coach of the Month during the same
time. In addition, the team has had several regional and state
championship experiences, including the State Championship for the past
two years.
The Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt
non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to foster the growth
and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports both
nationally and internationally. The BCA is committed to creating a
positive enlightened environment where issues can be examined closely,
debated sincerely and resolved honestly. The BCA’s focus involves the
concerns of its colleagues in professional sports, NCAA (Division I, II,
and III), NAIA (Division I and II), junior college and high school
levels.
For additional information contact: Glenda K. Wilson, Director of
Marketing and Events at 317-829-5603 or gwilson@bcasports.org
Join BCA for the 2009 BCA National Convention and Expo
May 27-30, 2009
Hyatt Regency Indianapolis
Visit www.bcasports.org for registration information
