Vince Dooley To Receive Paul 'Bear' Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award

/PRNewswire / -- The Paul Bear Bryant Awards committee of the American Heart Association has announced that former University of Georgia Head Coach and Athletic Director, Vince Dooley has been named the 2010 recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dooley will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Paul Bear Bryant College Football Coaching Awards Dinner Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 at the Omni Houston Hotel. The award recognizes excellence in coaching on and off the field during a career, allowing recipients to take their place in history alongside legends such as Bryant. Recent Lifetime Achievement recipients include Barry Switzer, Tom Osborne, and Glenn "Bo" Schembechler.

Dooley served as head football coach at the University of Georgia from December, 1963, to Jan. 1, 1988, and as Director of Athletics from 1979-2004. Dooley is the most successful coach in Georgia history. He guided the Bulldogs to a career record of 201-77-10 becoming only the ninth coach in NCAA Division I history to win over 200 games. The Bulldogs won one national championship (1980) and six SEC Championships under his direction. He took his teams to 20 Bowl games and coached a Heisman Trophy winner (Herschel Walker, 1982), a Maxwell Award Winner (Walker, 1982), an Outland Award Winner (Bill Stanfill, 1968), 40 First Team All-Americans and 10 Academic All-Americans.

Under his watch as athletic director, Georgia teams won 20 national championships (ten in his final six years) including an unprecedented four during the 1998-99 year (women's swimming, gymnastics, men's tennis, men's golf). During Dooley's tenure Georgia athletic teams won 78 SEC team championships and numerous individual national titles in both men's and women's sports.

The Paul Bear Bryant Awards honor excellence in coaching while raising funds to fight heart disease and stroke. Bryant himself suffered a heart attack prior to his death in 1983. Funds raised benefit research, community education and outreach programs of the American Heart Association. For more information on the Bryant Awards, or to purchase tickets or a table for the event, visit www.heart.org/bryantawards or call 713-610-5000.

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Watch Top NCAA Head Coaches and Celebrities Meet Their Rivals on the Links

/PRNewswire/ -- Thirteen top NCAA head coaches including Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, Frank Beamer and Rick Neuheisel will team up with celebrity alumni and hit the links to battle for $350,000 in scholarship money in the Chick-fil-A Bowl Alma Mater at Reynolds Plantation Christmas Day. Fans across the country can tune in to see how their favorite university team fares in the tournament Dec. 25 at 2:30 p.m. (ET) on CBS.

Top CBS Sports personalities Bill Macatee and Bill Raftery make up the broadcast team that will call the action.

"This is one of those unique and wonderful events where the personalities of the coaches and celebrities really come out," said Bill Macatee of CBS Sports. "It's so rare to be able to see a new side of them. You can tell they're having fun out there and it's fun for us to be a part of it."

The Chick-fil-A Bowl Alma Mater at Reynolds Plantation is the premier head coach-celebrity golf event in the nation pitting rivals against each other in a spirited, but light-hearted competition. The event features pairings that include a university head coach and a celebrity alumnus from the same school competing in a scramble format against other university teams from around the country. The event will award $350,000 in scholarship winnings among the 13 university teams and will donate another $115,000 to charity.

"The Chick-fil-A Bowl Alma Mater is a fantastic event," said Alabama head coach Nick Saban. "They did an outstanding job of making it a first-class event and we really enjoyed being a part of the tournament."

Players and teams for the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl Alma Mater include:

Team Alabama
Coach: Nick Saban
Celebrity: Ken Stabler

Team Arizona State
Coach: Frank Kush
Celebrity: Michael Haynes

Team Auburn
Coach: Tommy Tuberville
Celebrity: Pat Sullivan

Team Boston College
Coach: Jeff Jagodzinski
Celebrity: Chris O'Donnell

Team Colorado
Coach: Bill McCartney
Celebrity: Kordell Stewart

Team Georgia Tech
Coach: Paul Johnson
Celebrity: Jon Barry

Team Maryland
Coach: Ralph Friedgen
Celebrity: Neil O'Donnell

Team Michigan
Coach: Rich Rodriguez
Celebrity: Brian Griese

Team Minnesota
Coach: Tubby Smith
Celebrity: Jim Petersen

Team South Carolina
Coach: Steve Spurrier
Celebrity: Sterling Sharpe

Team UCLA
Coach: Rick Neuheisel
Celebrity: Sinjin Smith

Team Virginia Tech (defending champions)
Coach: Frank Beamer
Celebrity: Dell Curry

Team Wake Forest
Coach: Jim Grobe
Celebrity: Billy Packer



"This field of coaches and celebrities is simply awesome," said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. "One thing is for sure, this year's match will be even more toughly contested than last year's. These guys are here to win."

In addition to seeing competitive golf on a championship-caliber golf course in a beautiful, lakeside setting, viewers will be treated to personal interviews with all the participating coaches that give viewers an inside look at the personalities that drive the men that roam the sidelines of these top national programs.

"The Chick-fil-A Bowl Alma Mater was a first-class, well-organized event played on an outstanding golf course," Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez said. "Brian Griese and I really enjoyed the competition against coaches and distinguished alumni from other institutions."

"We are thrilled to, once again, host the Chick-fil-A Bowl Alma Mater," said Mercer Reynolds, chairman/CEO of Linger Longer Companies. "The coaches and celebrities always make this a fun event and this year, we had a hard- fought competition on our Oconee Course. We are excited to share the beauty of Reynolds Plantation with the nation on Christmas Day."

The Chick-fil-A Bowl Alma Mater at Reynolds Plantation is produced by veteran golf producer Jim Walton Jr. in conjunction with Pithey Communications for CBS Sports. Walton has also produced other golf specials including the ADT Cliffs Challenge, the Palmer Cup, The Pressure Challenge, the Doyle Brunson & Dewey Tomko Invitational and the Kiwi Challenge. The event's executive producer is Scott Savlov of Savlov Consulting, Inc. who also executive produced such events as The Par 3 Challenge on Fox, the Under Pressure Challenge on CBS and Rock the Rock from Alcatraz on VH1.

The tournament was played April 29 at the beautiful Oconee Course at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia and was taped for the national broadcast by CBS from 2:30 - 4 p.m. (ET) on Christmas Day.

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Agnes Scott Names Williams to Coach Georgia's First Collegiate Lacrosse Team

Agnes Scott College has named veteran lacrosse coach and player Nicolle Williams to build its varsity college program for the sport -- the first in Georgia.

“We hired Coach Williams for her outstanding depth of experience, not only as a coach, but as a player with tremendous success on the national level,” said Joeleen Akin, athletic director at Agnes Scott. “We believe she has the insight, talent and vision necessary to establish and build a strong, new Lacrosse program for Agnes Scott.”

Agnes Scott College is recruiting team members and will field its first lacrosse team in fall 2009.

“The timing is perfect for Agnes Scott College to begin a lacrosse program,” Akin said. “The sport is gaining such a wide following around the country, particularly in Georgia and the Southeast. The addition of the lacrosse program will allow high school athletes to continue their playing careers as Scotties.”

Decatur resident Williams has served over the past five years as lead coach for two local lacrosse clubs, Dixie Chix Lacrosse Academy and most recently, Hotlanta Lacrosse Company. A member of the Georgia Lacrosse Umpire Board, Williams is vice president of the Women’s Division of the Georgia Lacrosse Foundation Regional Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse.

“The growth of lacrosse in the state of Georgia is remarkable,” Williams said. “We have doubled the number of high school, middle school and recreational programs in the past five years. The skill level continues to improve as lacrosse is played year round and newcomers are picking up the sticks at younger ages. I believe the sky is the limit for our new team here at Agnes Scott.”

In October, Williams received the U.S. Lacrosse Youth Excellence Award for Girls’ Coach of the Year. Prior to her arrival to Georgia, Williams was the varsity lacrosse coach at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn. for five years. There she amassed a 67-10-2 record as a coach, including a perfect 17-0 season in 1996, when her team won the New England Championship.

“The first step towards building a program is getting the word out to talented, student-athletes that Agnes Scott lacrosse is here,” Williams said. “Attending games and tournaments, meeting club and high school coaches and using the contacts I have established over my time as both a player and coach will all be a part of it.”

As a player, Williams was a goalie for St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where her teams reached the Division III, NCAA National Tournament three times. The Saints appeared in the semifinals in 1989 and finals in 1990. Williams set school records for single-season goals-against average (5.01), career saves (583), career-goals against average (5.69) and was inducted into the St. Lawrence University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

“Success is about learning, improving and desire,” Williams said. “It is my plan to develop a team that wants to truly comprehend the skills and game of lacrosse, a team that is willing to be better tomorrow than they were today, and a team that is prepared to put forth their greatest effort every time they step on the field. If we do all of those things, we will be successful here at Agnes Scott.”

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Former PGA Pro Named Golf Coach

Long-time professional golfer Joe Inman, who has enjoyed success on the PGA and Champions Tours, has been named the Georgia State men’s golf coach, Director of Athletics Mary McElroy announced.

Inman, a Marietta resident, takes over a program that has reached the NCAA Regionals 10 of the last 11 years. He replaces Matt Clark, who moved to UNC Wilmington.

Spanning more than 25 years, Inman’s pro playing career includes four victories, one on the PGA Tour and three on the Champions Tour. He had nearly 100 Top 25 finishes on each circuit, and his career earnings total over $5 million.

“Joe Inman is the right person to take over the Georgia State golf program and take it to the next level,” said McElroy. “He brings instant recognition and credibility in the golf community and in the Atlanta area, which raises the profile of Georgia State golf. He is a perfect fit because of abilities as a teacher and recruiter, combined with his energy and passion for working with young people and promoting the game of golf.”

Inman’s career on the PGA Tour saw him play in 329 events, highlighted by a victory in the 1976 Kemper Open. He also posted three runner-up finishes and four third-place showings on the PGA Tour, along with 32 top 10 performances and 98 finishes in the top 25.

After working as a sales representative for PING from 1989-97, Inman began playing on the Champions Tour in 1998. He owns three tournament titles, winning the Pacific Bell Open in 1999 and 1999 and the SBC Open in 2000. He also compiled two runner-up finishes, three third-place efforts, 33 top-10 showings and 88 top-25 performances while missing only seven cuts in 276 events on the senior circuit.

Inman has been heavily involved in community and charitable activities, particularly in the Atlanta area. He serves on the board of directors of First Tee Atlanta, and he founded the Larry Nelson-Joe Inman Foundation to support youth golf initiatives.

As a collegian, Inman was a three-time all-America at Wake Forest, earning first-team honors in 1969 following second-team accolades in 1968 and honorable mention recognition in 1967. Playing on powerhouse teams under legendary coach Jesse Haddock, Inman helped the Demon Deacons to three straight Atlantic Coast Conference titles and top-three NCAA finishes in 1968 and 1969. His college teammates included future PGA Tour standouts Lanny Wadkins and Leonard Thompson.

He graduated from Wake Forest in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in history and turned pro in 1972.

Inman, 60, and his wife, Nancy, have three children: Craig, Sally and Kate. His younger brother, John Inman, is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour who is now the head coach at North Carolina.

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Campbell Named Head Coach

Now in his seventh season with the Georgia State program, Eric Campbell has been elevated to head coach for men’s and women’s track and field, Director of Athletics Mary McElroy announced.

Cross country head coaches John Rowland and Jessica Raby will continue to coach the men’s and women’s distance runners in the track programs.

In Campbell’s six years as an assistant coach, Georgia State student-athletes have earned 84 all-conference performances, 61 NCAA Regional qualifications, and two NCAA Championships appearances. He has helped the women’s track and field team to three top-three finishes at the conference meet in six seasons.

In 2008, Campbell coached the male and female Colonial Athletic Association Track and Field Scholar Athletes of the Year in Jacob English and Denice Vance. English was also named the Most Outstanding Field Performer at the 2008 CAA Championships as he captured the conference title in the triple jump and placed second in the CAA in the long jump.

On the women’s side, the Georgia State sprinters won CAA titles in the 400 meters (Nicole Davis) as well as the 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays, while Yolanda Berryhill claimed the conference title with a school-record throw in the discus. The Panther women earned a fourth-place finish in the CAA team standings in 2008, following a third-place showing the previous year.

Campbell coached nine student-athletes to NCAA Regional qualifying performances in a total of seven events in 2008.

“We’re very pleased to make Eric our head coach for men’s and women’s track and field,” said McElroy. “He has earned this opportunity through his outstanding work with our sprints and field events. We look forward to continued success and development for Georgia State track and field.”

Prior to coming to Georgia State, Campbell worked as a sprint consultant with the Quicksilver Track Club in Atlanta and also assisted with the track program at Benjamin Mays High School.

He holds a USA Track and Field Level II certification in sprints and hurdles and serves on the USATF Athletic Advisory Committee.

An Atlanta native, Campbell was a seven-time all-conference sprinter while competing at Howard University and Morris Brown. Eric is the older brother of Milton Campbell, a former world champion and world-record holder in the 4x400 meter relay who previously worked as an assistant coach at Georgia State.

Campbell, 33, and his wife, Tracie, have three daughters: Mariama, Olivia and Sophia.

Thrashers Name John Anderson Head Coach

The Atlanta Thrashers have named John Anderson the fourth head coach in team history, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.

Anderson, 51, has won five championships in 13 seasons as a head coach and most recently guided the Chicago Wolves to the American Hockey League’s 2008 Calder Cup Championship. He has 30 years of experience in professional hockey as a player and coach, including the past 11 years as head coach of the Wolves, the Thrashers primary minor-league affiliate since 2001. During his tenure with Chicago, he has earned a 506-283-99 regular-season record, a 105-60 post-season record and captured two Calder Cups (2008, 2002) and two Turner Cups (2000, 1998) when the team was a member of the International Hockey League. Anderson earned his first of five league titles as a head coach with the Quad City Mallards of the Colonial Hockey League in 1997.

“John has an impressive record of success as a head coach and we are excited to be adding him to our organization,” said Waddell. “He’s a proven winner whose leadership and experience behind the bench will play a vital role in the resurgence of our hockey club.”

Throughout his 13 seasons as a head coach, Anderson has made the playoffs on 12 occasions, including 10 of his 11 seasons with the Wolves. Overall, he has led his teams to the league finals eight times and has advanced to the conference finals 10 times. He has won 40-or-more games in a season 10 times, including 50-or-more wins on four occasions, and has reached the 100-point mark seven times. He is also the Wolves all-time leader in regular-season wins (506) and playoff wins (105).

Under his leadership, the Wolves have set several single-season team records, including 55 wins (1997-98); 114 points (1999-2000); 29 home wins (1997-98, 1998-99, 2007-08); 27 road wins (1999-2000, 2006-07); 331 goals (2006-07); and 208 goals-against (2003-04). Anderson collected his 500th career regular-season coaching victory with the Wolves on March 22, 2008 at San Antonio in the squad's 3-1 win. Since the team joined the AHL in 2001, Anderson has racked up 306 regular-season wins and has led the squad to a 16-4 series record in the Calder Cup Playoffs. He also led Canada to a 15-13 win in the 2003 AHL All-Star Classic.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Chicago but I’m thrilled to now have the opportunity to take those achievements and advance my career in Atlanta with an exciting organization like the Thrashers,” said Anderson. “This team has some great talent, and I look forward to the challenge or maximizing our potential and returning to the playoffs.”

Prior to joining the Wolves, Anderson spent the 1996-97 season as head coach with Quad City (CoHL), leading them to a 51-20-3 record and the Colonial Cup Championship. The previous season (1995-96), he began his coaching career with the Winston-Salem Mammoths, leading them to the Southern Hockey League finals and a 30-23-7 regular-season record.

In July of 2007, Anderson made his international coaching debut when he led the United States squad to the Gold Medal in the World Jewish Cup in Metulla, Israel.

During his 12-year NHL playing career from 1977 to 1989, Anderson amassed 282 goals and 349 assists for 631 points in 814 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs (1977-1985), Quebec Nordiques (1985-86) and Hartford Whalers (1986-1989). He also notched nine goals and 27 points in 37 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests with Toronto and Hartford. Originally selected by the Maple Leafs in the first round, 11th overall, in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft, Anderson registered five 30-goal campaigns, including four straight from 1981 to 1985. His most productive season came in 1982-83, when he led Toronto with 80 points (31 goals, 49 assists) in 80 games.

Anderson played three years in the International Hockey League with the Fort Wayne Komets (1990-91) and San Diego Gulls (1992-1994). As a player/assistant coach with the Gulls, Anderson helped propel the club to an IHL-record 62 wins and a berth in the 1993 Turner Cup Finals. Two years earlier, he tallied 40 goals and 83 points in 63 games to help the Komets reach the 1991 Turner Cup Finals. Overall, Anderson compiled 115 goals and 211 points in 200 career IHL games. With the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks in 1991-92, Anderson became the oldest player to win the league's Most Valuable Player award at age 35. That season, he notched 41 goals and 95 points in 68 games, while capturing the league's Sportsmanship Award and earning a spot on the AHL First All-Star Team.

At the beginning of his professional career, the winger split the 1977-78 season between the Maple Leafs and the Dallas Blackhawks of the CHL, earning the Max McNab Trophy (CHL) as the league’s most valuable player.

A native of Toronto, he represented Canada in the World Championships in 1983 and 1985, recording seven goals and four assists for 11 points in 15 games over the two tournaments, while earning a Bronze Medal and Silver Medal, respectively. He also competed in the World Junior Championships in 1977, amassing 15 points (10 goals, five assists) in seven games, helping Canada to a Silver Medal.

During his four-year junior career, Anderson competed for the Toronto Marlboros and tallied 327 points (154 goals and 173 assists) in 211 games from 1973-77. He led his team to the Memorial Cup Championship in 1974-75 with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in four games.

Anderson, who played for Waddell (General Manager) with San Diego in 1992-93, will go behind the Thrashers bench in place of Waddell, who served as the team’s head coach after relieving Bob Hartley of his duties on Oct. 17, 2007.