News and Notes from East Carolina, Conference USA and Beyond

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

06.21.06: Troth returns to the fold as ECU assistant ... College of Charleston, Herrion settle on buyout ... Another national award for Houston's Lincoln

06.20.06: ECU announces long-term pact with Nike ... Pirates release women's soccer schedule ... Three C-USA linemen on Outland Trophy list

06.19.06: USM-Memphis game shifts to Sunday for ESPN ... Tar Heels AD Baddour gets contract extension ... U.S. Women's open to have distinct Duke flavor

06.18.06: Rice rallies in its College World Series opener ... Houston's Lincoln gets 2006 Howser Trophy ... C-USA's top scorer backs away from NBA draft

06.17.06: ECU grad Millican wins N.C. women's amateur ... College World Series: Tigers win in comeback ... LSU's Carter sweeps national track honors

06.16.06: Ex-ECU assistant named Campbell grid coach ... Pirate softball ace Keli Harrell named All-State .. Report: Back woes nix Redick draft workouts

06.15.06: Camels expected to name football coach ... Rice leads C-USA contingent on A-A team ... K-State, UCLA announce football dates

06.14.06: ECU's Smith among 7 C-USA All-Americans ... Duke star Redick charged with drunk driving ... UAB selects Shoop to guide baseball program

06.13.06: Owls carrying C-USA banner to Omaha ... ECU's Ray shares Coastal Plain League honor ... Terms of Huggins' K-State contract reported

06.12.06: ECU ticket office temporarily relocates ... Irish safety's ring debut: Bell rung quickly ... Miners seventh in NCAA men's track

06.11.06: Miami loses Berry- recruited QB to baseball ... Clemens award finalists have C-USA flavor ... Buckeyes announce series with Toledo

06.10.06: ECU network announces blowtorch flagships ... "The Buzz" remains in Pirate broadcast lineup ... Former LSU athlete turned pro wrestler dies

06.09.06: ECU's "Voice" revving up for benefit "Ride" ... Pirates bow out at NCAA track & field meet ... ODU makes plans to add I-AA football

06.08.06: MLB Draft: Smith selected by A's, Mathews by Giants ... ECU's Hunt, Krug take Scholar Athlete honors ... NCAA nixes course credits from 'diploma mills'

06.07.06: ECU's track elite at NCAA meet in Sacramento ... Super region pairings pit Rice against Sooners ... Cleared USC quarterback says he's rejoined team

06.06.06: NCAA change on grad transfers gets reaction ... Duke reinstates men's lacrosse with conditions ... Cardieri resigns as baseball coach at USF

06.05.06: Owls carry C-USA banner against Bears ... Laval steps down as LSU baseball coach ... Date of "Civil War" changed for TV

06.04.06: C-USA players reap All-America honors ... "Flesh- eating" germ claims Tulsa gridder ... Blazers baseball coach hangs up cleats

06.03.06: ECU's Jake Smith named 2nd-team All-America ... Pirates get first signee in McPhaul golfing era ... Duke men's lacrosse program to be reinstated

06.02.06: Bucs' new pitching coach has LeClair pedigree ... Three gridders depart WVU program ... ECU announces blue chip tennis signees

06.01.06: Pirates announce kickoff times, TV games ... ECU excels among C-USA's academic elite ... Rice's Degerman makes Academic All-America

The Big Ten Conference has reached two milestone media agreements that will provide the organization with its greatest media exposure ever and ensures long-term vitality for its member institutions' broad-based athletic programs, it was announced Wednesday by Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany, according to the league's web site.

The conference has signed a new 10-year national rights contract with ABC/ESPN and has reached a landmark deal with Fox Cable Networks to create the Big Ten Channel, a national network devoted to Big Ten athletic and academic programs. The ABC/ESPN contract takes effect, and the Big Ten Channel is expected to launch, in August 2007.

Rob Derr, a former record-setting athlete at East Carolina, has been named the head diving coach for both the men's and women's swimming and diving programs at James Madison University, according to a release from the ECU athletic media relations department.

"I'm extremely excited to take this first step in my college coaching career," Derr said. "Upon my interview visit, I fell in love with the campus, was impressed with the enthusiasm of the athletics program and now greatly look forward to becoming a Duke. Diving has always been a major part of my life. I love being around the pool, and I love to coach."

Derr set four ECU diving records before his competitive collegiate career was hampered by injuries. As a sophomore in 2003-04, Derr set the varsity record for one-meter (six dives), three-meter (11 dives) and platform dives. His first school record came during his freshman campaign on the one-meter (11 dives) board. He was named the "Outstanding Rookie Swimmer" at ECU in 2002-03 after setting four freshman records.

He served as a student coach for the Pirates while recovering from two shoulder surgeries, the last coming in the Fall of 2005. He worked his way back into competitive shape in time to dive for the Pirates in the Conference-USA Men's Invitational last February in Houston, TX, finishing as high as third on the one-meter board.

Wayne Tinkle has been named the 26th head basketball coach at Montana, according to the university's web site.

Tinkle replaces Larry Krystkowiak, who had a two-year record of 42-20 at Montana and was the only coach in school history to guide the Grizzlies to two straight NCAA tournament appearances. Krystkowiak left UM to take an assistant coaching position with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Tinkle has been an assistant coach at his alma mater the previous five seasons. He served as an assistant coach last season for Krystkowiak, two years with former mentor Pat Kennedy (2002-04), and one season with Don Holst (2001-02.

Tinkle, 40, played for the Grizzlies from 1985-89 and was a three-time Big Sky Conference all-league selection from his sophomore through his senior seasons.

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 other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.