Aug. 22, 2007

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Interim Head Coach Meredith Smith thinks he has a "great opportunity." While his appointment is that of Interim Head Coach, he doesn't see it as a problem at all.

"A lot of people see [Interim] as a negative, but the title gave me a chance to keep going, and keep coaching, I think the success we can have this season will give me an opportunity to keep the job on a permanent basis," Smith said.

Smith, beginning his first year as a head coach at the college level, served as an assistant the past three seasons under Larry Lessett Jr. The team totaled only 13 wins in those years and when Lessett left at the end of last season the University wanted an alumnus to take a shot at rebuilding the program. Anxious to keep some continuity and to not get behind in recruiting and player development, they named Smith the Interim Head Coach with plans to start a search in January. A search they expect Smith (class of 1964) to be a part of.

Just like any new coach Smith had some work to do quickly. He named Mike Farrare his top assistant almost immediately. Farrare, who served as a volunteer assistant coach last season is also an alumnus. Farrare (class of 1981) is well known in athletic circles on the Eastern Shore, having been heavily involved in local AAU programs and coaching at the junior varsity and varsity levels in nearby Wicomico County, Md.

The latest addition to the staff is Shawn Smith. No relation to Meredith Smith, Shawn Smith comes out of the Philadelphia area where he played at LaSalle University, starting at point guard for three seasons. He averaged a combined 10 points per game and six assists while tallying about two steals per game. Prior to his college career Shawn Smith played at Simon Gratz High School, winning a National Championship in both 1991 and 1993 playing with future NBA star Rasheed Wallace.

No stranger to the camp circuit and AAU programs in Philadelphia, Shawn Smith brings with him a positive attitude and winning mindset. "I am very excited to be here," he said. "I bring a winning tradition to UMES. I want to keep building young people into men and help increase our strengths and improve our weaknesses."

Shawn Smith served most recently as a special education teacher while serving as a counselor and director at several basketball clinics and camps. He was the Head Coach at Rines Basketball Academy before leaving for UMES. "I want to be able to compete in the conference," he stated. "I want to help Coach [Meredith] Smith build a program and a winning tradition here."

Shawn Smith has three children, Nyseem (12), Aaliyah (6) and Takiar (2).

Also new to the UMES program will be several new players. Gone are seniors Corey Brown, Antonio McMillion, Shondale Robinson and Art Valentine. Also gone are Jahmal Bivins and former All-MEAC Rookie Team member Jesse Brooks.

In however, are several new players. First and foremost is the Hawk's lone commitment in the off-season, Ishmawiyl McFadden. A product of Simon Gratz H.S. in Philadelphia, McFadden is a 6-5, 200lb. forward who has an impressive resume. An intelligent player, McFadden was a member of the National Honor Society, he averaged 13.3 points per game his senior season and earned a first team All-Public League selection. His team went to the Public League Finals and to the PIAA semifinals boasting a season ending 25-7 mark. McFadden was also a All-City Honorable Mention selection averaging nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks per game.

New to the court but not the program will also be Ahmad Nicholson. Nicholson signed with the Hawks last season but sat out. He averaged 13.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game as a senior (2005-06) at Camden Catholic H.S, there he led the Fighting Irish to a State Championship his freshman year (2003). He holds the highest career 3-point shooting percentage (48%) in the school's history and had a career high 34 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists against Woodrow Wilson High School. Nicholson was voted team MVP in 2005-06.

Joining McFadden and Nicholson this season on the Hawks will be several other standouts. Another Philadelphia native Mardell West will see some time. The 6-5, 210 lb. forward played at Roxborough H.S. In-state players include Marc Davis, a 5-10 guard who played with Ed Tyson in at Walbrook H.S. in Baltimore and Davven Miller from nearby Pocomoke City H.S. Miller (6-2, 205 lb.) and Davis will see time at the guard spot this season. Roland Dunston is another new guard. The 5-11, 175 lb. freshmen is from Bear, Del. and played at Glasgow H.S.

Returning this season is Mr. All-Everything Ed Tyson (6-2, 200lb). The rising junior guard had a breakout year last season averaging 16.4 points per game and 4.3 rebounds. He will be counted on once again spur the UMES offense.

The Hawks return two other starters from last year in the form of Aleksandar Popovic and Milutin Mirjacic. Both hailing from Serbia, Popovc averaged 5.1 points per game and 4.8 rebounds. He tallied a team high 23 blocks at his center position. While his game is more of a forward, the 6-10, 210lb. junior held his own in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) last season. Mirjacic (6-7, 200 lbs.), a rising sophomore guard, averaged two points and three rebounds per game, seeing limited minutes despite his starting role.

UMES returns three more players. Fellow Serbian Danijel Krleski averaged less than five minutes a game in 22 contests and still managed to average a little over a point a game. The rising sophomore guard (6-4, 185lb.) is deadly quick and has a shot to match. Opponents can count on seeing more of him this season.

Also returning is junior Brandon Moore. A 6-9 forward, Moore also played the center position. His long arms hauled in almost two rebounds a game and accounted for 0.9 points per game.

The young Hawks have one senior, B.J. Nimocks. The junior college transfer averaged 0.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last season, his first in DI. The 6-7, 210 lb. forward is a solid on ball defender and usually draws one of the opponent's better players.

The last addition to the program is a new schedule for the Hawks. Several new opponents, a big tournament, and the always tough MEAC opponents highlight the schedule.

UMES opens the season at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond Va. on November 9. They then return home to go a bit out of order, playing their lone exhibition game. A scheduling conflict meant that DIII Shenandoah University won't be able to meet UEMS in Princess Anne until November 13th, after the season opener at VCU. Last year in regular season play UMES topped Shenandoah 88-64.

In a return game, Stony Brook comes to the Hytche Center on November 18th. The Seawolves were one of the Hawk's four wins last season in a 64-58 road decision.

Then it is off to the Mid-West as UMES plays at Bradley University and at Iowa University on the 18th and 20th of November. Those two games are part of the South Padre Island Invitational. They conclude that tournament in South Padre Island Texas on the 23rd and 24th of the month with games against Austin Peay State University and Florida Gulf Coast University. The Hawks close the month out at West Virginia on the 27th.

December sees the first MEAC game for the men as Delaware State comes to town on the first on the month for a 4:00 pm showdown. Games at George Washington, where the Hawks only trailed by four at the half last season, and at Old Dominion are regional contests on the fifth and eighth of December. Another opponent from last year, Kennesaw State comes to town on the 11th and Navy comes to the Hytche in a return game on the 22nd. Those two games sandwich a return trip to Wagner in Staten Island N.Y.

UMES closes out their non-conference dates with a trip to Nebraska on the fourth of January. The Hawks enter their MEAC schedule on the 12th, sort of, when they travel to new MEAC member Winston-Salem State. That game does not count however in conference standings. From there on out it is MEAC games the rest of the way with one exception. UMES travels to Dartmouth for a return game on January 23rd. The Hawks meet rival Delaware State on the sixth March in Dover to finish out the regular season. They play a Homecoming game against Florida A&M on the 23rd of February.