West Virginia State's football team added a pair of assistant coaches Tuesday, announcing the hirings of LeFloyd Phillips and Matt Kloss. Phillips will coach running backs while Kloss will coach receivers.
Phillips is a former West Virginia State running back from Dunwoody, Georgia, who played four years in Institute and one year for current head coach Jon Anderson. He worked with State's defensive backs as a student assistant in 2014.
Kloss played at both Northern State University and the University of Minnesota. He joined St. Cloud University's coaching staff in 2014 as an assistant and has worked with the Huskies' tight ends, running backs and receivers, and also served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. He was the team's passing game coordinator last season as St. Cloud averaged 476.5 total yards.
"Both of these coaches fit the criteria we were searching for," Anderson said. "They build relationships, recruit at a high level, and are detailed with their X's and O's."
Phillips replaces Tim Bleil, who was hired as running backs/tight ends coach at Texas A&M-Commerce. Kloss replaces Colin Doran, who was hired as running backs coach at Webber International in Babson Park, Florida.
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UC SOFTBALL: Two University of Charleston players were named to the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association All-America team Tuesday, the school announced. Pitcher Alli Burdette was named to the third team, while third baseman Kelly Browning received honorable mention.
Burdette, a former South Charleston High standout, entered the Division II Women's College World Series with a 32-4 record, a 1.46 ERA and 198 strikeouts. Browning entered the WCWS with a .363 batting average, 23 doubles and 53 RBIs.
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MARSHALL BASEBALL: Wake Forest scored three runs in the top of the third inning and defeated the Thundering Herd 3-1 Tuesday at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley. The game was called after the seventh inning due to fog.
Wake's John McCarren (7-2) got the win, allowing just one run on five hits. He struck out five in 5 1/3 innings. Marshall's Josh Shapiro (4-4) took the loss, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings.
Tyler Ratliff went 2 for 3 with a home run and an RBI and DJ Gee and Leo Valenti both doubled for Marshall (30-18).
Gavin Sheets doubled in two runs and Ben Breazeale had an RBI for the Demon Deacons (32-20).
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FORMER UMPIRE VISITS NITRO: Nitro native Larry Barnett, a Major League Baseball umpire for 31 years, will be visiting the Nitro Historic Museum at 1 p.m. Saturday for a discussion and autograph session.
Barnett, an umpire in the American League from 1969-99, umpired in four All-Star games, seven AL championship series and four World Series. He was the youngest umpire in MLB history, entering the major leagues at the age of 24.
For more information, contact Greg Tidd at 304-755-7814. Refreshments will be served.