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News Nuggets, 04.30.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Wolfpack assistant named head coach of Catamounts

CULLOWHEE — North Carolina State assistant Larry Hunter was hired Friday as the new head coach at Western Carolina.

The 55-year-old Hunter joined Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek's staff in 2001 after 25 seasons as a head coach.

He spent 12 seasons at Ohio University, compiling a 204-148 record before he was fired after the 2000-01 season.

Hunter replaces Steve Shurina, who was assigned to other duties within the university.

The Catamounts were 48-97 the last five seasons under Shurina.

Former MLB star Gwynn sanctioned by MWC

SAN DIEGO — San Diego State baseball coach Tony Gwynn was suspended Thursday for one game after publicly criticizing the way the Mountain West Conference rescheduled a snowed out series at Air Force in March.

Gwynn, regarded as one of the most easygoing players during his career with the Padres, was to serve the suspension when the Aztecs hosted Nevada-Las Vegas on Friday night.

In suspending Gwynn, the conference said it considered the fact that Gwynn had been privately warned earlier in the season regarding public criticism of umpires.

``I was trying to stand up for my team in what was an unusual situation. In the process I became too exuberant and expressed myself in an improper manner. I'm ready to accept my punishment and move on,'' Gwynn said in a statement released by San Diego State.

After a three-game series at the Colorado academy on March 24-26 was postponed by snow, the two teams were scheduled to play three straight doubleheaders at San Diego last weekend.

Air Force asked the league to waive its makeup policy, and the MWC Joint Council agreed to reduce the series to four games.

The decision angered Gwynn, who told the San Diego Union-Tribune that it was ``an absolute joke.''

``You want to know why this conference gets no respect in baseball? It's because of stuff like this,'' Gwynn told the newspaper. ``It's hard to get credibility when they do stuff like this. We've got people around the country laughing at what's going on in the Mountain West Conference.''

San Diego State appealed, and the league then overturned the waiver and directed that all six games be played. Air Force ultimately forfeited two games, saying it didn't have enough pitching.

``Public remarks of this nature, which criticized the institutions, administrators and governance structure of the Mountain West Conference, as well as disparaging MWC baseball, are not acceptable,'' Commissioner Craig Thompson said.

``There are established internal channels for communication of concerns and expression of positions," Thompson added. "We expect those guidelines to be followed.''

Gwynn is in his third season as coach at his alma mater. The Aztecs are 17-25 overall and 11-7 in the conference.

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 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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