In a press conference held Thursday at Southern, ChancellorEdward Jackson announced his recommendation for Alabama State men’s basketballcoach Rob Spivery to become the Jaguars new head basketball coach. He will become the fourth coach in thelast six seasons for the program.
Chancellor Jackson stated that Spivery’s interaction withhis players, his understanding for athletics, and relationship with theadministration and the community is why he was his only choice for theposition.
“What impressed me was his understanding of SouthernUniversity, his knowledge about this university,” Jackson said. “He has a goodappreciation for the history of this school.”
Spivery stated that he was recommended for the position byhis dear friend Earl Hill, the athletic director and basketball coach atSouthern University New Orleans. He also mentioned that his attraction to Southern was that thebasketball program has potential and that it should match with the overallsuccess in athletics at Southern.
“With God’s help and his guiding hand and with the supportof everyone involved I know that we can turn this basketball program around andmake it what it deserves to be”, Rob Spivery said. “Southern basketball will be making great stride to beingthe very best in the SWAC and beyond.”
The Southern University System Board will make the finaldecision on the recommendation this month. The contents of the contract are still in the process ofbeing negotiated. ChancellorJackson feels strongly about the board agreeing with Spivery becoming the newmen’s basketball coach.
“They (the Board) want the basketball program to grow into amaster level of production as the other athletic programs here”, Jackson said.”I think we got the person to get us there and I intend to give him the toolsto get there.”
Spivery feels that is decision to come to Southern is anexcellent opportunity and he welcomes the challenge. Leaving the players they he made a commitment to at AlabamaState was the most difficult part of his decision, other than that it was easyto say yes.
“I always had my eye on Southern, being familiar with theprogram,” said Spivery. “I’mblessed and very fortunate at this point. I’m very confident with the decisionand pleased with what has taken place so far, so for me there’s no reservationand I’m ready to get to work.”
Spivery has proven himself as a leader of his programs andinsists on discipline as one of the characteristics to winningsuccessfully.
Spivery’s Alabama State team has gone 11-2 against Southernin the last five seasons. The Hornets knocked Southern out of the SouthwesternAthletic Conference Tournament in the last two seasons, the semifinals lastseason and a one-point margin in the 2004 quarterfinals, and in the 2001semifinals.
Alabama State is 129-136 in nine seasons under Spivery. TheHornets won the SWAC Tournament in 2003-04 and won both the regular-season andtournament titles in 2000-01. Lastseason, the Hornets went 15-15, losing in the SWAC Tournament final.
Grant was fired last week within two years of a three-yearcontract. He has an appeal hearing Monday to determine if Southern should paythe $76,000 base in salary for the final year of his contract.
Grant’s Southern teams went 1-5 against Spivery and AlabamaState, with a one-point win and three one-point losses.
