“We are pleased to add Julius Smith to our coaching staff,” interim athletics director Jim Norris said in a press release.

“Julius has a wealth of experience and will be a nice addition to the solid staff we’ve formed this summer. Everyone on the search committee was impressed with Julius and confident he will be an outstanding teacher/coach for our program.”

Source: BUBearcats.com

“We are very excited to get a person with Ron’s experience and credentials,” Interim Athletic Director Jim Norris said. “Everyone on the search committe was very impressed with Ron in a variety of areas, including his commitment to educating young people and his passion for basketball. We’ve been told he’s a first-class person, a solid family man and a real people-person. We think he’ll be a great fit for our program.”

Interim Head Coach Mark Macon told the Press & Sun Bulletin that Brown’s first duty would be to “hit the [recruiting] trail.  We need players.”

Sources: BUBearcats.com; Press & Sun Bulletin

Sources: Press & Sun Bulletin, BU Pipe Dream, YNN

• Press & Sun Bulletin: “This could be the day the public will get some answers about what happened inside Binghamton University’s athletics program.  Top officials in the state university system are scheduled to reveal the findings of a four-month investigation into troubles that got six men’s basketball players kicked off the team and their coach suspended, prompted claims that a female employee was sexually harassed, and cost the athletics director his job.  SUNY’s executive committee will meet this morning to discuss Judge Judith Kaye’s probe of the program, and likely will release the report later in the day, said SUNY spokesman David Henahan. He said SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and Trustees Chairman Carl Hayden are scheduled to answer questions in a 2 p.m. conference call with reporters.  The report is expected to contain recommendations for BU, though details weren’t available Wednesday night.”

• Press & Sun Bulletin: “It was a different story Saturday, when the Bearcats allowed a game-closing 11-0 run in a 61-49 loss at Maine. BU hopes to avoid a repeat when it visits University of New Hampshire in an America East Conference contest at 7 p.m. Thursday. The two teams met 12 days ago at the Events Center in a game won by BU, 76-73, in overtime. In that Jan. 30 game, Greer Wright scored 29 points and Dylan Talley converted a three-point play with 21 seconds left in overtime for the Bearcats (11-14, 6-4 America East). It was one of three games during BU’s four-game winning streak that the Bearcats won by six points or fewer. With the exception of its 80-63 victory at University of Maryland, Baltimore County on Jan. 27, all of BU’s other America East games have been decided by single digits. Wright hopes to continue his torrid play since the start of BU’s America East schedule. The junior transfer from City College of San Francisco is averaging 19.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in America East play. Those represent increases from his season-long averages of 15.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.”

Some updates on the SUNY audit.  Sounds like we are getting the report in March or April.

• WICZ (Video): “Norris doesn’t know what to expect of the audit though.  What he does know is that the review team has finished work on campus and the audit may be submitted as early as mid-March.  I guess they’re in the phase right now of writing it up and getting ready to submit,” Norris said.  Norris was appointed to the position this fall after long-time Athletic Director Joel Thirer resigned following the university’s suspension of six men’s basketball players.  Former coach Kevin Broadus remains on paid leave. The university is in the process of finding a permanent Athletic Director.  Norris says he’s focused on creating uniform standards and making sure each team complies with NCAA guidelines.”
• WBNG (Video): “Interim Athletic Director Jim Norris gave an update today during the Binghamton Rotary Club meeting at Terra Cotta.  Between players being expelled from the men’s basketball team, Coach Kevin Broadus’s suspension and a program-wide audit, the college’s athletic department has had a rocky ride over the last several months.  Norris says despite the drama, athletes have been keeping their morale up, thanks to community support.  ‘It has spoke to our student athletes, and they feel that support. We played several games over the break with no students, and the events center was 3 quarters full. So our kids, they absolutely notice that,’ said Norris.”