FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7-12-07
AASU Women's Basketball Promotes Black, Hires Harmon For 2007-08
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Head coach Roger Hodge has announced his coaching staff for the upcoming 2007-08 season, with the promotion of one coach and the addition of a new graduate assistant coach. Veronica Black, who has served as the Lady Pirates’ graduate assistant for the last two seasons, will move into the assistant coach spot, while former Gardner-Webb standout Brittany Harmon will join the program as the new graduate assistant coach.
This year will mark Black’s fifth year with coach Hodge and the Lady Pirate women’s basketball program, first as a two-year player for AASU from 2003-05, then as a graduate assistant coach from 2005-07. Black graduated from Armstrong Atlantic in December of 2005 with her bachelor’s degree in biology and is currently in her last semester of work on her master’s degree in sports medicine. Black takes over for Elizabeth Lyons, who resigned in June to take over as the head girls’ basketball coach at Richmond Hill High School.
“The decision to promote Veronica Black to the position vacated by Elizabeth Lyons was not a difficult one,” head coach Roger Hodge said. “For the past two years, Veronica has proven that she is ready for the challenge of continuing to build on the Lady Pirate Basketball tradition. I have a tremendous amount of faith in her abilities as a basketball coach and recruiter. Furthermore, she has played for me as well as coached with me, giving us a great chemistry. I have no doubt that Veronica will continue to be a great asset to our basketball program and a tremendous ambassador for Armstrong Atlantic State University.”
Joining coach Hodge and coach Black on the staff will be Brittany Harmon, a four-year standout for Gardner-Webb from 2003-2007. Harmon was the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2006-07 and leaves the Bulldogs as the school’s career leader in blocked shots with 240. The Virginia Beach, Va., native graduated in May with her bachelor’s degree in biology.
“Brittany played at Gardner-Webb University under one of the most respected coaches in the country in Rick Reeves,” coach Hodge said. “I believe that Brittany is a perfect fit for the completion of our coaching staff. She is a very personable young lady and will be an outstanding role model for our players. Brittany also has a solid understanding of the game and I believe our players will benefit greatly under her tutelage. Brittany was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Atlantic Sun and I am anxious to have her assistance in improving our defensive philosophy.”
The Armstrong Atlantic State women’s basketball squad finished the 2006-07 season with a 15-14 record and returns eight players for 2006-07, including honorable mention WBCA All-America honoree Kaneetha Gordon.
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