Sports With Walter Moore


Contributing Writer, Walter Moore
Contributing Writer, Walter Moore

Buckner Hired At Western New Mexico

Western New Mexico University head football coach Adam Clark has announced the recent hiring of Chris Buckner as the new offensive coordinator.

Buckner spent the past two seasons at North Carolina Central University where he was in charge of wide receivers/recruiting coordinator.

He has familiarity with the area, having played college football at New Mexico State University. Before NCCU, Buckner served as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Savannah State University, where he was responsible for coordinating and developing the passing-game strategy for the offense during the 2013 campaign. He spent two seasons (2011-12) as the wide receivers/tight ends coach at Jackson State University, after working as a graduate assistant coach at JSU in 2010. A native of Arlington, Texas, Buckner played both wide receiver (2006-07) and defensive back (2008-09) at New Mexico State. He graduated from NMSU in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Balkcom Hired At Wilson High School

Thomas Balkcom was recently hired as the new head football coach at Wilson High School in Florence, South Carolina.

Balkcom comes to Wilson from Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia where he spent the past two years as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. Before

Chris Buckner
Chris Buckner
that he was special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Savannah State University. He also has coached on the collegiate level at Morehouse, Morris Brown and Central Florida.

The Miami,Florida native has also worked on the high school level at University High School in Orlando, Florida, at Pine Ridge in Deltona, Fla., and at Miami Jackson Senior High in Miami. Balkcom was a standout safety on Georgia Tech’s 1990 coaches poll national championship football team. He was defensive MVP in the Citrus Bowl win against Nebraska that captured the Yellow Jackets’ national crown.

CAU Fires Basketball Coach

Clark Atlanta University has opted to move forward in a new direction with the men’s basketball program, relieving head coach Tony LaMarr of his duties after three seasons. LaMarr directed the Panthers to a 31-53 (.369) record over three seasons.

Prior to leading the team, LaMarr served as an assistant coach for three seasons – including the 2011 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship. In the interim, former Clark Atlanta student-athlete and current assistant coach Alfred Jordan will serve in the leadership role for the Panthers. CAU finished the 2015-16 season with a 7-20 record and lost in the first round of the SIAC Tournament.

Former SSU Basketball

Thomas Balkcom
Thomas Balkcom
Player Passes Away

Maurice Gray, who was a member of the Savannah State men’s basketball team for two years has died. Gray died on March 19 from complications from kidney disease.

The Orlando, Florida native played for the Tigers during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons, for then coach John Williams after transferring from Valencia Community College.

Gray, a 6-4 forward who studied criminal justice, averaged 13.7 points and 5.2 rebounds as a junior and 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds as a senior. Renee Boyd Beckham, who knew Gray from their days in high school, junior college and Savannah State, shared her memories. “Mo’ and I played basketball together in high school, junior college, and we were recruited to play basketball at Savannah State together. It was good to have someone from home with you in a strange place. He was my brother who kept me out of a lot of situations that weren’t good for me. That constant reminder in my ear that we were there to finish college and play basketball.”

Gray is survived by his sons Christian and Phillip and daughter Desuanda as well as other family members. Funeral services for Gray will be April 2 at 12 noon at Majestic Life Ministries located at 821 S. Kirkman Road in Orlando.


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