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Claflin University President, Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, and Vice President for Student Development and Services, Dr. Leroy A. Durant, officially and cheerfully introduced the two men they've tasked with leading the Panther men's basketball and baseball programs toward new success in the new millennium, before a gathering of current student-athletes, faculty and staff, school alumni, local dignitaries and family members at a noon press conference held on Monday at the Jonas T. Kennedy Center.

"This is the beginning of a new and exciting era for the Claflin University sports program," a visibly pleased Dr. Tisdale said as he presented new Panther men's baseball coach William Brian Newsome, and new head men's basketball coach Ron E. Woodard to a steady round of applause. "Both of these men share our mission, our vision, our drive for academic excellence and our desire to compete and win conference titles. They are of good moral character and have a good knowledge of the games they will coach."

Newsome replaces Dr. Thomas C. Wood as head baseball coach, while Woodard steps in for a departed 17-year veteran of the Panther sideline in James "Gus" Guydon.

The Panther baseball team, which was resurrected back in 1997, captured the 2002 Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament title and was invited to the E.I.A.C. national tournament. Newsome served as assistant varsity basketball coach at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School in 2000, while working as an assistant varsity baseball coach at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School from 1998-2000. From 2000-2002 he worked in the Gaston-Swansea School District Four of Lexington County at the Sandhills Middle School in several capacities. Newsome developed and implemented the school's physical education program while serving as the B-Team basketball head coach, and worked as an assistant junior varsity and varsity baseball coach for Swansea High School.

Newsome, who was also the head coach for Orangeburg American Legion baseball team that advanced into the second round of the state playoffs this summer, earned a Bachelor of Science in Law degree in 1998 from Charleston Southern University, where he was a member of the school's baseball team, and earned a Physical Education Certificate from South Carolina State University.

"I was impressed with his energy from the first time I met with him," Dr. Durant said after Newsome's introduction. "I felt that we really needed to whatever it would take to bring this young man here with us."

Newsome, who will be joined on the Panther bench by assistant coach Marty Kinard, head coach of the St. George Post 105 baseball team that will leave for Rock Hill on Wednesday of this week for the 2002 American Legion state championship tournament, feels that the Panther baseball team has the potential for added success in the near future.

"I'm excited to be here and I'm ready to get started," Newsome said. "The building blocks are here for us to have continued success. Claflin has always felt like a family type atmosphere. I'm here to make sure that our kids are academically sound."

Coach Ron E. Woodard comes to Claflin from North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., where he has served in various coaching roles from 1988-2002. As associate head coach, he led the team to conference championship finals in 1999 and 2000; and as assistant head coach he steered the team to the NCAA Division II post-season tournament in three consecutive years from 1995-1997. The team won NCAA-CIAA Southern Division Championships in 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996 and 1997. He also served as a graduate assistant at Norfolk State University in 1985.

"I believe that this job was meant for me," Woodard told the audience. "My players are students first and athletes second. Their academic performance is very important to me. I'm a firm believer that if a student-athlete believes in themselves, the coaches and our system then we will be successful. The professionalism here is outstanding."

Woodard captivated the crowd with a keen wit and willing sense of humor.

"I believe in the three F's," Woodard said. "I will be firm, but I will be fair. And if I can't balance the two, it'll be farewell."

Also in attendance Monday were Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller and E.I.A.C. President Liz Zimmerman-Keitt. Both welcomed the two head coaches and expressed their support.

T&D Sports Writer Mike Rosier can be reached by e-mail at mrosier@timesanddemocrat.com or by office phone at 803-533-5529.

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