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News Nuggets, 12.27.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Vanderbilt football star slain by gunfire in Tampa

TAMPA — Vanderbilt running back Kwane Doster was shot to death early Sunday when someone fired at the parked car he was in, police said.

Doster, 21, of Tampa, died at Tampa General Hospital after being shot near the Ybor City nightlife district, police spokesman Joe Durkin said. Detectives were trying to find the killer and determine a motive.

Doster and two friends had stopped their car while ``cruising around'' when another car pulled up beside them, Durkin said. Several shots were fired at Doster's car, and one hit him in the chest while he was sitting behind the driver. No one else was hurt.

``I don't believe any words were exchanged,'' Durkin said, adding that investigators didn't know if Doster was the intended target. Police believe three people were in the other car.

``Kwane's death is a terrible and tragic loss to our Vanderbilt family,'' Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said. ``Everyone who knew Kwane, from his fellow players and students, his coaches and their families, and even fans, have suffered a personal loss today.''

The junior running back ran for 427 yards and one touchdown this season for the Commodores (2-9). He became the first Vanderbilt player named the Southeastern Conference's freshman of the year after a school record 798 yards rushing in 2002.

For his career, Doster had 1,621 yards rushing, 256 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.

Tulsa coach resigns with C-USA on horizon

TULSA — John Phillips resigned Saturday as Tulsa's basketball coach after a 2-5 start in the program's final year in the Western Athletic Conference.

Phillips led Tulsa to the NCAA tournament in his first two seasons, but the Golden Hurricane slipped to 9-20 last year and have lost four of their past five games this season.

The hard times for Phillips have mounted as the school's athletic teams prepare for a move to Conference USA in 2005-06.

In a statement, Phillips expressed his desire that the ultimate result of his decision to step down will be an upturn in the program's fortunes.

``The last couple of months have been very difficult for me, my family and the players,'' Phillips stated. ``Sometimes, change can bring about growth. My hope is that all TU fans will support the players through the remainder of the season and we will all witness tremendous progress.''

Assistant coach Alvin Williamson will take over on an interim basis. The school offered Phillips a chance to stay on as assistant athletic director.

``Obviously, this is not the way that I envisioned becoming a head coach,'' said Williamson, who also played at Tulsa. ``Coach Phillips has been very influential in my coaching career. As coaches, we're going to put our entire energy into this basketball team and our next opponent.''

Phillips was hired in April 2001, inheriting a strong program built up by former coaches Tubby Smith, Bill Self and Buzz Peterson. Tulsa went to the NCAA tournament six times in eight years before Phillips took over.

With a roster mostly recruited by Self and Peterson, Phillips led the Golden Hurricane to a 27-7 record in his first season. The Golden Hurricane lost to Smith's Kentucky team in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The next year brought a WAC tournament title and another trip to the NCAAs. Tulsa upset fourth-seeded Dayton in the first round before a last-second loss to Wisconsin.

Phillips' run of success ended there. Tulsa finished tied for eighth in the WAC last season, its first 20-loss season in 16 years and the first time the program had missed postseason play entirely since 1998.

The Golden Hurricane opened this season with a loss to Wright State, then were blown out by crosstown rival Oral Roberts. The final straw was a 91-85 home loss Wednesday to Lamar — a team that hadn't won a road game in more than a year.

Phillips was 61-42 in three-plus seasons at Tulsa.

Williamson, 31, is in his fourth season on the Tulsa coaching staff after previous stints as an assistant at Tulane, Illinois State and Washington State.

``Coach Phillips has helped me progress as a basketball coach, and he has helped these basketball players grow as young men and players,'' Williamson said. ``We will do everything possible to continue instilling the values of hard work, teamwork and unity. We have a great basketball tradition to uphold at Tulsa, and we will work diligently to keep it.''

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:07 PM