Newspaper Page Text
Michael Cooney named new head basketball coach
By Steven Gilley
Guest Writer
wizurdhai kSH)2lo®yah(H > x om
When Coach Ed
Murphy stepped down as
the men’s head basketball
coach, the possibility of
seeing new personnel
entered the thoughts of
many people and caused
a few to question the
future success of the
Wolves.
Murphy quickly
eliminated the doubts and
filled the head coaching
vacancy. However as
he was named the new
men’s head basketball
coach following 10 years
as an assistant coach.
“1 feel so fortunate
and 1 am so excited to
be the coach at a place
1 love,” said Cooney. “I
Wolves fans face angst,
joy as season moves on
By Steven Gilley
Guest Writer
wi:ardhadM)2lo(s yahoo x om
West Georgia’s
baseball team has seen
both the good and the bad
in their season, struggling
offensively in their most
recent game. l !'. After
facing the Philadelphia
Rams, the Wolves finally
saw the good. West
Georgia won 11-9 in both
games, sweeping the
doubleheader.
However, the
Wolves went 3-4 over
their next seven games,
losing twice to division
foe North Alabama and
Southern Polytechnic
State. The Wolves ended
their losing streak against
Miles College, winning
both games in the
doubleheader.
Playing their first
GSC East Division game
of the season, the Wolves
faced North Alabama in
a three-game series at
Cole Field. After losing
13-8 in the series opener.
West Georgia made an
impressive comeback to
win the second game 4-3.
Upcoming UWG Wolves Baseball Schedule
March 28
• at North Georgia, 3:00 pm
March 31
• at West Florida (DH), 3:00 pm
April 1
• at West Florida, 2:00 pm r*
April 4 3 z
• at Columbus State, 4:00 pm J
Upcoming UWG Wolves Softball Schedule
March 30
• vs WEST ALABAMA, 2:00 pm
April 2
• vs FLORIDA GULF COAST, 12:00 pm
April 4 ‘ N " ' ’ r r f
• at Miles, 2:00 pm Jr r r
April 6 J
•at Alabama-Huntsville, 2:00 pm -y J
love West Georgia and
my family also loves
it here. I couldn’t be
happier.”
Coach Cooney’s
tenure at West Georgia
has been very successful,
making him a highly
qualified replacement
for Murphy. In a span
of 10 years, the Wolves
produced a record of 201 -
91, including the 2002
Gulf South Conference
and NCAA Division II
South Region titles.
Cooney also
has showcased his
great recruiting skills
throughout the years,
recruiting two All-
Americans, 17 All-
GSC, and five All-South
Region players while
at West Georgia. His
first recruit was Curtis
Pass, who turned out to
After falling behind
early, the Wolves fought
back to tie the score.
Stepping to the plate. Alex
Parker’s RBI sent Davan
Abney home for the game
winning run. Jordan
Towns provided superb
pitching, improving to 5-
1 on the season.
Facing the Lions
in the third game, the
Wolves lost 11-6. West
Georgia had a small lead
early in the game but was
outmatched by North
Alabama who scored four
runs, capitalizing from
defensive errors.
The Wolves went
on the road to face
Southern Polytechnic
and hoped to get back on
track. Unfortunately, the
Hornets made it tough for
the Wolves winning both
games 7-3 and 6-5.
Jumping to an early 3-
1 lead, the Wolves looked
to control the game with
great pitching from Derek
Sheffield in his first start
of the season.
However, Sheffield’s
great start didn’t last long
as the Hornets quickly
erased the deficit. Eric
be an All-American and
was named to the West
Georgia Hall of Fame in
2005.
The passionate and
energetic coach is trying
to build the future of the
basketball team and has a
goal for his players to win
both on and off the court
in order to continue the
success at West Georgia.
“Wehavetwoprimary
goals,” says Cooney. The
first is to graduate our
players. Second, we want
to win the Gulf South
Conference and return to
the NCAA Tournament.”
“Stressing the
importance of academics
is important to the
future of our basketball
program,” Cooney adds,
“We must win in the
classroom in order to
win on the court.” The
Thornburg hit a three-run
homer in the fourth inning
and Southern Polytechnic
never looked back.
The Wolves went
back and forth with
Southern Polytechnic
in the second game and
managed to take the
lead. Unfortunately, the
Hornets tied the score in
the bottom of the fourth
and orchestrated a run in
the bottom of the eighth
to win the game.
After losing three
games in a row, the
Wolves defeated Miles
College 5-0 and 15-1 in
the doubleheader. The
first game was controlled
by the Wolves with great
pitching. The second
game was a team effort as
nine different players had
hits for the Wolves.
West Georgia
improved to 19-11 on
the season and 1-2 in
the GSC East Division.
The next game is March
28 at North Georgia and
the Wolves play at West
Florida on March 31 for
their second divisional
opponent of the season.
Sports
quest to reach his goals
starts this spring as he
plans to talk to all of his
players and emphasize
the importance of his
goals.
The season doesn’t
start until next fall, but
Coach Cooney is looking
forward to meeting
students, faculty, and
people in the community
to talk about improving
the support of the
basketball program.
“If students want to
meet with me and talk
about how we can make
the games more exciting,
I am willing to listen,”
says Cooney. “1 am
looking forward to the
upcoming season and I
am willing to listen to any
ideas that can improve
the overall experience at
the games.”
The Stat Box
UWG Wolves Baseball
Overall Statistics for West Georgia
(as of Mar. 21,2007)
Overall: 19-11 Away: 1-4
Home: 18-7 GSC East: 1-2
Previous Game:
• Miles 1, West Georgia 15(3/21/07 at Carrollton, GA)
UWG Wolves Softball
Overall Statistics for West Georgia
(as of Mar. 7, 2007)
Overall: 19-21 Away: 5-3
Home: 10-13 Neutral: 4-5
GSC East: 3-5
Previous Game:
• West Florida 1, West Georgia 3 (3/25/07 at Carrollton, GA)
< 928 F South Park Street, Carrollton
"J Private Mailbox Rentals
We Ship
Copies * FEDEX. UPS
Fax * / " o. iicpe
Notary Mail & Coptj
Resume Service
Typing Service
Laminating PmOsi Authorized ShipCenter*
Binding jff
Flyers
Wo Offer Molt Of tti Service that you can act at the poet office without the wait.
UWG Wolves Baseball
Overall Statistics for West
Georgia
(as of Mar 21,2007)
Overall: 19-11 Away: l-4
Home: 18-7 GSC East: l-2
Previous Game:
• West Georgia 15, Miles l
(3/21/07 at Carrollton, GA)
| —
JIKmI
Photo courtew Westga eiiu
New head basketball coach Michael Cooney.
The Stat Box
UWG Wolves Softball
Overall Statistics for West
Georgia
(as of Mar 25, 2007)
Overall: 19-21 Away: 5-3
Home: 10-13 Neutral: 4-5
GSC East: 3-5%,
Previous Game:
• West Georgia 3, West Florida l
(3/25/07 at Carrollton. GA)
Itt