Around the Ohio Valley - January 18

Austin Peay

Austin Peay’s Red Coat Society will welcome a new member Saturday, January 19. Local businessman Charles Hand, chairman and CEO of Hand Family Companies and long-time supporter of Austin Peay State University's athletics programs, will be inducted at halftime of the basketball game against Eastern Illinois Saturday evening.  The Red Coat society serves as a Hall of Fame for Austin Peay’s booster club, the Governors Club. 

Belmont

Former Belmont men’s tennis coach, Brian Baker, had won his first round match in the Australian Open, as well as the first set in the second round before his knee gave out on him in the second set. Due to the injury, he was unable to finish the match. The injury has been reported to be a torn meniscus. Baker is expected to be out 4 months.

Eastern Illinois

EIU will be hosting an event to celebrate Title IX March 1st and will go through the 2nd. Eastern Illinois Alumnus and NCAA Vice President Dr. Joni Comstock will be the keynote speaker, as the EIU Athletic Department pays tribute to the successes of women’s athletics. To register online to attend the event or for more information, click here.  

Eastern Kentucky

Several EKU student-athletes visited Lee and Owsley High Schools last week to speak about the importance of continuing their education after high school. The program is called “Colonels in Education” and this is the third year for EKU student-athletes to reach out to regional high schools to encourage education. 

Jacksonville State

The OVC announces on Wednesday the JSU softball team has been picked to finish first in the Eastern division of the conference for the 2013 season. The Gamecock’s did so by receiving 21 of 24 first places votes. “Competing for championships is where we expect to be as a program, but we don't put any emphasis on preseason polls. We are just excited and eager to get the season started, and hope to be there at the end of the season,” Head Coach Jana McGinnis said. 

Morehead State

The Eagles football program has announced they have hired former Kentucky Wildcat quarterback, Andre Woodson, to be the Wide Receivers coach. Woodson led UK to two bowl games and passed for over 9,000 yards as a Wildcat. Head Coach Rob Tenyer had this to say about the hire, “Andre played football at the highest level of Division I, and all indications point to him being a fantastic college coach.” 

Murray State

MSU quarterback Casey Brockman and offensive tackle Roderick Tomlin will come together one more time to compete in the inaugural Raycom College Football All-Star Classic on January 19. Kick-off is set for 2:00 p.m. The game can be seen on the CBS Sports Network. 

Southeast Missouri

The women’s Redhawks basketball team will be hosting a Youth Night on January 21. The game will be played against Morehead State, and all youth teams and players are welcome. Each player will receive free admission to the game as well as other exciting opportunities. 

SIUE

The SIUE Student Athlete Advisory Committee held its second annual talent show to raise money for the OVC’s “Hoops for Heroes” initiative. The event raised more than $400, which will go towards assisting veterans in attending the 2013 OVC Basketball Championship in Nashville, Tennessee March 6-9. 

Tennessee State

On January 15, members of the Tigers basketball team took a trip to the Monroe Carroll Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to give back to the Nashville Community. “We talk a lot about basketball and the stuff that goes on in our world, but I think it was important for our players to see what life is truly about and impact someone else's life," head coach Travis Williams said.

Tennessee Tech

TTU has announced Bonnie Bynum will take over as the Golden Eagles softball head coach effective immediately. Bynum is a former member of the Golden Eagle softball team, and was twice names OVC Pitcher of the Year. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to build on an already great program that Coach Acheson has established and I’m looking forward to the future of Tennessee Tech softball,” Bynum said. “I want to thank Tory for everything he has done for me in my career, both as a player and as a coach.

UT Martin

The UT Martin softball team earned an average GPA of 3.43 for the fall semester, as 90 percent of the team earned University Honor Roll honors. Four of those players earned a perfect 4.0 in the classroom. In order to be named to the Honor Roll the student must achieve a 3.20 for the semester.