FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 8-31-01

AASU Promotes Ray, Bloodworth To Asst. Hoops Coaching Positions
Dawn Cason Hired As Women's Basketball Graduate Assistant Coach

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State men's and women's basketball programs have elevated graduate assistants Steve Ray and Andy Bloodworth to their respective full-time assistant coaching positions for the 2001-2002 season. The AASU women's basketball program also announced the hiring of Dawn Cason as a graduate assistant coach for the 2001-2002 season.

Steve Ray becomes the full-time assistant for AASU men's basketball head coach John Marhefka, who was elevated to the AASU men's basketball head coaching position on July 17^th, 2001. A former guard for the Pirates, Ray played at AASU from 1997-1999 and joined the staff last season as a graduate assistant coach. A native of Mount Vernon, Missouri, Ray holds the AASU all-time mark for three-point baskets made (163).

Andy Bloodworth becomes the full-time assistant to AASU women's basketball head coach Roger Hodge for the 2001-2002 season. Bloodworth, who joined the AASU women's basketball coaching staff last season as a graduate assistant after a stellar playing career at Calvin College, replaces Flori Willie, who left AASU to take the assistant women's basketball coaching position at North Alabama.

Joining the women's basketball staff as a graduate assistant will be Dawn Cason. A two-year standout at California Baptist University, Cason graduated from CBU with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2001 after averaging 13.3 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Lancers as a senior. A native of Tempe, Ariz., and the sister of current Lady Pirate center Zandrique Cason, Dawn will be pursuing a master's degree in public health administration at AASU.

- Pirates -