$20 million going to athletics deficit, facilities…ECU strength and conditioning coach Jeff Connors to retire in July…Trott, Kirkpatrick and Shankweiler to join Houston at ECU…Ahlers, Houston see promise in each other…S. Alamance catcher Edwards pledges to East Carolina…ECU Announces 2019 Softball Signing Class…American Athletic commissioner on Central Florida’s playoff snub: Not playing ‘JV’ football …Colorado hires Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker…USC lands Kliff Kingsbury as Helton’s offensive coordinator…ODU receives $3 million gift for football stadium reconstruction…Kemba Walker Quietly Became an N.B.A. Superstar…Redskins Sign an Out-of-Work Quarterback. It’s Not You-Know-Who.

Pirate Press: ECU Headlines

Football Recruiting: Big defensive end’s long journey stops at ECU Bonesville.net

ECU Announces 2019 Softball Signing Class ecupirates.com

Greenville Daily Reflector

• Ahlers, Houston see promise in each other
• $20 million going to athletics deficit, facilities
• Kirkpatrick to lead ECU offense
• WOODWARD: Unique situation nets rare, optimistic result

VIDEO: ECU’s Mike Houston: ‘In time, we will be North Carolina’s football program’ Raleigh News and Observer

ECU introduces Mike Houston as new football coach Washington Daily News

ECU strength and conditioning coach Jeff Connors to retire in July WNCT 9

WITN 7

• SOURCES: ECU’s Houston snagging three assistant coaches from JMU 
• SOURCES: Kirkpatrick new offensive coordinator at ECU

247 Sports

• Steve Shankweiler returning to ECU for fourth tour of duty
• Mike Houston’s expectations for ECU are higher than yours
• Defensive Coordinator Bob Trott following Mike Houston to ECU
• Donnie Kirkpatrick returning to ECU

Sources: Kirkpatrick, Trott To Join Mike Houston’s New Staff at ECU Rivals.com

Trott, Kirkpatrick and Shankweiler to join Houston at ECU The Breeze

Report: Coaches Trott and Kirkpatrick to join Houston at ECU djournal.com

Three JMU assistants expected to join Houston at ECU WHSV

Sources: Kirkpatrick, Trott To Follow Houston Daily News-Record

S. Alamance catcher Edwards pledges to East Carolina Burlington Times News

College football coaching changes carousel: Tracker, grades, breakdowns for new 2018-19 hires CBS Sports

Grading Every Hire of 2018’s Coaching Carousel SI.com

 

Around the American Athletic Conference

theamerican.org

• Cincinnati, Houston & Memphis Protect Home Court
• Lisa Stockton Earns 500th Win at Tulane in Tuesday Night Action

BCSNN

• AAC Daily: Mike Aresco Begins Speaking Up For The American
• Tulane DB Coach Recognized as a Top Coach By AFCA’s 35 Under 35

The Associated Press

• Fisher 15 points as TCU wins 67-59 to snap SMU win streak
• Barrett scores 26 to help Tulane beat UT Martin 87-74
• Samuels’ 3s lead No. 21 Villanova past Temple 69-59

American Athletic commissioner on Central Florida’s playoff snub: Not playing ‘JV’ football USA Today

American Athletic commish on UCF being left out of Playoff: ‘What do they have to do?’ Saturday Down South

2018 American Athletic Conference College Basketball Power Ratings bangthebook.com

USF’s Sterlin Gilbert headed to McNeese State Tampa Bay Times

The history of the Crosstown Shootout, as shown through Enquirer covers Cincinnati Enquirer

Q&A Preview: Crosstown Shootout Edition ft. Banners on the Parkway Down the Drive

UConn rolls to victory over Lafayette New Haven Register

Report: UConn men, Florida could play home-and-home series Hartford Courant

Villanova survives a poor shooting night, rallies past Temple Philly.com

Shakwon Barrett scored 26 as Tulane runs past UT Martin New Orleans Advocate

New Orleans Times Picayune

• Tulane stops losing streak with big night from freshman Shakwon Barrett
• Tulane gains commitment from Hahnville 2019 receiver Jha’Quan Jackson

Dallas News

• SMU adds JUCO OL to AAC’s top recruiting class 
• Rising 2021 Skyline WR Quaydarius Davis commits to SMU over P5 offers 
• SMU and TCU’s annual clash will serve as key non-conference litmus test

Memphis Commercial Appeal

• Memphis football: Tigers assistants earn 31.8 percent salary increase for 2018-19 season
• Tiger Basketball Podcast: What to make of Memphis, Penny Hardaway 8 games into the season

5 things to know about Wake Forest’s opponent: Memphis Winston Salem Journal

DaQuan Jeffries powers TU to 74-71 win against OSU Tulsa World

Houston Chronicle

• Cougars extend home winning streak to 21 with win over Lamar
• New contract puts UH’s Briles among highest paid assistants

Abey’s career will come full circle with second start against Army Annapolis Capital

How Jaime Echenique added a three-point shot and why it matters so much for WSU Wichita Eagle

 

Regional Headlines: The Carolinas and beyond

Raleigh News and Observer

• Nostalgia tour a hit. NC State slams Western Carolina in return to Reynolds Coliseum
• The Valvano name will always be attached to NC State’s Reynolds Coliseum
• No. 14 North Carolina bounces back from loss with 97-69 win over UNC-Wilmington
• No. 3 Duke pulls away late to beat pesky Hartford
• How a pair of cleats can make a difference for two former NC State football stars

Winston Salem Journal

• Sources: Two App State assistants expected to join Scott Satterfield’s Louisville staff
• App State athletics director lays out criteria for next Mountaineers football coach
• 5 things to watch in Thursday’s Charlotte-Wake Forest men’s basketball game
• N.C. State fans cheer Valvano once more

Norfolk Virginian Pilot

• ODU receives $3 million gift for football stadium reconstruction
• Finishing above .500 “a big deal to me,” says coach Justin Fuente
• ODU holds off William & Mary, completes “rivalry week” sweep

Columbia The State

• The five biggest surprises from South Carolina’s football season
• Cold-shooting Gamecocks lose another halftime lead, fall at Wyoming
• Clemson among the top few teams in the country when it comes to paying assistants

Charlotte Observer

• Why Charlotte 49ers believe they found ‘the right guy’ in new football coach Will Healy
• Duke is regaining its defensive swagger. That will matter plenty come March.

Maryland football will have to move quickly on recruiting, staff after Mike Locksley hire Washington Post

From Roses to Cheez-Its, Your Guide to All 40 College Football Bowls New York Times

The Associated Press

• Devin White is first LSU linebacker to win Butkus Award
• Iowa’s Hockenson wins Mackey Award as nation’s top tight end
• Maryland lawmakers meet on university player’s death
• Mizzou extends football coach Barry Odom’s contract
• Colorado hires Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker
• AP Top 25 Podcast: Bowl preview from Cure to Sugar
• Tagovailoa, Allen win coaches SEC player of year awards
• USC lands Kliff Kingsbury as Helton’s offensive coordinator
• AP Player of the Year finalists: Murray, Tagovailoa, Haskins
• Column: Meyer will not coach in college again. Believe it
• Ryan Day paid coaching dues before getting Ohio State job
• Charlotte hires Will Healy as football coach
• Clemson’s Wilkins wins top scholar-athlete trophy
• Maryland hires Alabama coordinator Mike Locksley as coach