Slam dunks offer high-flying thrills at Governors Challenge contest
Athletes at the Governors Challenge showed off their skills in the slam dunk competition on Friday night. Watch their epic dunks in this video.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has found its new mens basketball head coach, the school announced on Saturday.
Cleo Hill, Jr. has been hired as the new head men’s basketball coach, replacing former UMES head coach Jason Crafton. Hill has been the head coach at Winston-Salem State for the previous six seasons.
“We are excited about the future of Hawk basketball as we welcome Cleo Hill, Jr. to UMES. During our national search, the hiring committee received an influx of interest from qualified candidates. After a thorough and timely review of each candidate, Coach Hill stood out as the right person to lead our men’s basketball program,” Vice President of Athletics at UMES Tara A. Owens said in a statement announcing the hire.
“Coach Hill has a proven track of building winning programs with success at Cheyney, Shaw and Winston-Salem State. He has a tremendous reputation as a coach and has a great vision for Hawk basketball. Under his leadership, we will continue to reach new heights of success on the court, in the classroom and in the community.”
Cleo Hill, Jr.’s long record of winning in college basketball
Hill brings 17 years of head coaching experience with him to Princess Anne, as he’s been the head coach at Winston-Salem State, Shaw University and Cheyney University. Competing in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in the NCAA’s Division II at Winston-Salem State, Hill won the CIAA Tournament in 2020 and 2023. In his final season with the Rams, his team went 19-9 and finished with the top record in the CIAA.
Hill also went 116-67 from 2008 to 2015 during his seven seasons as head coach at Shaw University.
“I am ready for the opportunity to lead our men’s basketball program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. I appreciate the campus community, President Heidi M. Anderson, Vice President Tara Owens and the search committee for their efforts throughout the hiring process,” Hill said in a statement.
“My past experiences and success as well as my passion for building programs have prepared me for this next step in my coaching career. Our goal is to build Hawk basketball into a perennial championship contender while winning in the classroom and positively representing UMES in the community. I am enthusiastic about the future and look forward to developing a team that our alumni, student body and fans will be proud of.”
Hill will be taking over a UMES program that went 9-20 during the 2023-24 season. Two years ago, during the 2022-23 season, UMES went 18-13, which was their first winning season in eight years.
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