District college notebook: Coleman named football coach at Waynesburg

Waynesburg named alum and former defensive lineman Dr. Cornelius Coleman as its head football coach.

He replaces Chris Smithley, who was transferred to a new position, Assistant Director of Athletics Development, after serving as head coach for four years.

Coleman also will work as assistant provost for Undergraduate Learning Experiences.

“I’m honestly speechless and am so grateful,” Coleman said. “I’ve been looking for opportunities like this for the past few years to become a head coach, share my knowledge and help young men grow academically, athletically and socially.”

Coleman coached defensive linemen for two years at Duquesne, was a defensive quality control coach for one season at Pitt, coached a season at Saint Vincent, and coached four seasons at Robert Morris, again overseeing defensive linemen.

He assisted with Steelers training camp in 2017 through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

For seven years, he was the recruiting coordinator at Averett (Va.). Coleman has been a regular member of the American Football Coaches Association Minority Committee, and participated in the NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy in 2012 and ‘15.

As a player at Waynesburg, he was an All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference First Team selection and an honorable mention All-American as a senior in 1999.

He led the Yellow Jackets in sacks and tackles for loss.

Coleman went on to play professional indoor football for the Dayton Skyhawks and Roanoke Steam.

Another honor for Zollinger

Shippensburg field hockey coach Tara Zollinger, a Hempfield graduate, and her assistants were named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division II Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year for a third time.

The assistants are Jordan Page and Alexandra Pennington, and volunteer Mary Spisak. A national powerhouse, Shippensburg went 20-0 for its first undefeated season since 1977 and won its sixth NCAA Division II National Championship. The Raiders have won 11 straight NCAA Tournament games, including eight in a row under Zollinger, a graduate of Maryland, where she won two national titles as a player.

She also coached at Syracuse where she won a third national crown.

Sullivan takes over Mill Rats

Seton Hill assistant baseball coach Tyler Sullivan is taking over as field manager of the Johnstown Mill Rats of the Prospect League.

A Cleveland native, Sullivan played in the Prospect League in 2015-16 for the now-defunct Butler Blue Sox.

Sullivan began his playing career at Evansville (Ind.) before he transferred to Seton Hill after two seasons and won two PSAC titles across three seasons. He was the conference MVP in 2018.

He has been an assistant with the Griffins for three years.

Seton Hill reunion

Three former Seton Hill football players are headed to Germany to play professionally together.

Quarterback Christian Strong, wide receiver/running back Jarvis McClam and defensive back Fardan Allen are joining the Cologne Crocodiles of the German Football League. Strong, a record-setting passer at Seton Hill, returns to the Crocodiles after an all-star season where he threw for 3,470 yards and 33 touchdowns. He was the team MVP.

McClam spent last season with the Langenfeld Longhorns of GFL2. He rushed for 338 yards and four touchdowns while had 797 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Allen played last season for the Sioux City Bandits in the Champions Indoor Football League. He was named the league’s defensive rookie of the year.

Strong passed for 9,305 yards for the Griffins and also holds program records in attempts (1,289), completions (741) and passing touchdowns (62). McClam, a four-year starter for the Griffins, was an all-region and all-conference selection. He has the Griffins’ single-game rushing record of 291 yards.

Maddox in national bowl

Cal (Pa.) senior linebacker Marvin Maddox will play in the seventh annual FCS National Bowl on Dec. 12 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Maddox had 31 tackles this season, three for loss, and two sacks. The Vulcans’ defense ranked among the top 10 nationally in total yards allowed, rushing yards allowed and scoring defense.

Maddox, a native of Florida, began his career at Tennessee State.