The Great West Conference added its seventh all-sports member when Chicago State accepted an invitation, Commissioner Ed Grom said today. The immediate addition of Chicago State gives the Great West seven members competing in all sports, along with the three football-only members.

The Great West begins competition next week with the inaugural championships in men's and women's cross country, which will take place November 1 at Utah Valley University. The Great West will also conduct championships this year in men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field and men's and women's golf.

Founded in 1867, Chicago State has a long tradition of service, having evolved over more than 140 years into a comprehensive, urban university comprised of five colleges enrolling more than 7,000 students. The Cougars sponsor 14 athletic programs, consisting of more than 200 student-athletes.

"We are very pleased to add Chicago State to the Great West Conference," Grom said. "Chicago State has been an NCAA Division I member for many years and the new leadership is moving the program in the right direction. I look forward to working with Dr. Pogue and athletic director Sudie Davis to help them reach their goals as an athletic department while at the same time, help make the Great West into a viable, vibrant conference."

The moves come three months after the women's basketball team forfeited 44 victories, and the women's and men's programs were placed on two years' probation for major and secondary violations.

"Given the serious nature of the allegations, we believed we needed to take immediate action in the best interests of the program," school president Kenneth W. Dobbins said in a statement.

The school said in a release that Kaverman was placed on administrative leave until Feb. 7, 2009, when his contract will end. Associate athletic director Cindy Gannon was appointed interim AD.

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Labels: coaching changes

It will be time for musical coaches soon, as any number of college and pro jobs will be open.

The biggest of them all might be Penn State, where Joe Paterno's continuing struggles with leg injuries could lead to the end of an era nearly 60 years long.

Many years ago, Paterno noted that most coaches had to retire when their legs went. He's also said he would get out when he no longer could lead his team out of the tunnel, which he did until this fall.

There are three theories on what will happen when Joe finally surrenders to age.

1. A current assistant, probably Tom Bradley, will be elevated.

2. A member of the "Penn State family," such as former Lions all-America Mike Munchak (now the offensive line coach of the Tennessee Titans), will be named. Former Paterno assistants such as Greg Schiano of Rutgers and Al Golden of Temple also fit in this group.

3. A person with no ties to the program, but a sufficiently "big name" to withstand the pressures of following Paterno, will be named.

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Labels: coaching changes

He's the mastermind, the unquestioned leader of the school's unprecedented growth in recent years.

So when University of the Incarnate Word president Louis Agnese, awash in pride over his new football team, suggests taking UIW's athletics programs into NCAA Division I by 2012, it's not a surprise.

“We're not that little college at the corner of Broadway and Hildebrand anymore,” he said.

UIW and Division I?

Agnese says it's possible, but only as a last resort if the school fails to gain admittance to the Division II Lone Star Conference.

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