The Sports Ledger www.TheSportsLedger.com
Alabama Ledger www.AlabamaLedger.com
PAGE 6 April 2026 E-Edition
Vols Conclude Season with Elite Eight loss to Michigan
CONTRACT EXTENSION - Vanderbilt Men's Basketball Head Coach Mark Byington has agreed to a contract extension with the University. The announcement was made after Byington led the Commodores to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time in nearly a decade. After going 20-13 in Byington’s first season, an 11-game improvement that ranked among the nation’s most impressive turnarounds, Vanderbilt lived up to the coach’s “Bilt Tough” motto by reaching new heights in 2025-26. The Dores went 27-9 this season, finishing just one victory shy of the single- season program record. The Commodores also matched the best start in program history with a 16-game winning streak to begin the campaign. ACCC COACH OF THE YEAR - Gadsden State Community College Head Men’s Basketball Coach Deddric Tarver has been named the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Coach of the Year. Under Tarver’s direction, the Gadsden State men’s basketball program delivered an exceptional season marked by strong conference performance, disciplined play, and continued growth both on and off the court. His leadership has helped elevate the program while developing student- athletes who excel academically and athletically. The ACCC Coach of the Year award is voted on by conference coaches and recognizes excellence in leadership, team performance and overall contribution to the sport. AUBURN BASKETBALL NAMES GM - Auburn Head Coach Steven Pearl has named Brian Kloman as the new General Manager of the Auburn University men’s basketball program. A veteran in the field of Player Personnel and Strategic Initiatives, Kloman joins Pearl’s staff from Louisville and worked directly alongside Pat Kelsey for the last 11 years. Prior to Louisville, Kloman was a member of Kelsey’s staff that went 75-27 at College of Charleston and 152-65 at Winthrop. Kloman joins an Auburn program that has won 20 or more games in five consecutive seasons and will join Pearl for his second season at the helm of the Tigers. SUPER BOWL HEADED TO LAS VEGAS - The National Football League (NFL) has announced that Las Vegas will host Super Bowl LXIII in 2029 at Allegiant Stadium. Super Bowl LXIII will mark the second time the championship game has been in Las Vegas. The city debuted as a first-time Super Bowl host city in 2024, welcoming more than 330,000 visitors to the region and generating more than $1 billion in economic impact, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). As part of the lead-up to Super Bowl LXIII, Las Vegas will host a highly anticipated lineup of events, including NFL Honors, Super Bowl Experience presented by Jersey Mike’s, Super Bowl Opening Night Fueled by Gatorade and expansive community initiatives, such as NFL Source, the league’s procurement program for local and underrepresented businesses. Spanning the Las Vegas metropolitan area, these events will offer countless opportunities for both residents and visitors to enjoy memorable, family-friendly experiences. SIDELINE SPORTS
The University of Tennessee men's basketball 2025- 26 season came to an end with a 95-62 setback against top-seeded Michigan in NCAA Elite Eight on Sunday, March 29. The Volunteers were in the program's third straight appearance in the Midwest Regional Final. Tennessee (25-12, 11-7 SEC) could not overcome a rocky shooting performance against the third-ranked Wolverines. Senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who broke the program single-season steals record in the defeat, paced the team with 21 points in its 37th and last game of the year. The first 10-plus minutes were played within a six- pont window, as neither team led by greater than three. Trailing by two, Michigan (35-3, 19-1 B1G) then went on a 21-0 run—it included a three-point play, three 3-pointers and six made field goals—in 4:42 to go up by 19, 35-16, with 6:10 left in the session. The Volunteers went 6:11 without a make from the floor, missing 10 in a row. After Michigan pushed its lead to 21, Tennessee scored the next six points in just 54 seconds. The Wolverines, however, responded with the final seven of the half, capping it with a 3-pointer in the closing seconds, to make it 48-26 at the intermission. Midway through the second half, the Volunteers made four straight field goals—three were by Gillespie, one of which was a three-point play on a transition dunk—but could not get the necessary stops at the other end to climb back. The stretch extended to 7-of-9, as Tennessee found its rhythm offensively, but the deficit proved to be too large. Jacksonville State University Vice President for Athletics Greg Seitz has announced the hiring of Ricky Austin as the new head coach of the Gamecock women's basketball program. Austin replaces Rick Pietri, who recently announced his retirement following a highly successful tenure leading the program. "Ricky Austin represents everything we value in a head coach at Jax State," said Seitz. "He is a proven winner, a developer of people, and a leader who understands how to build a championship culture. His impact extends far beyond the court, and we are excited about the future of our program under his leadership." Austin arrives at Jax State following one of the most decorated coaching careers in Alabama high school basketball history. Over nearly three decades at Spring Garden High School, he compiled more than 1,000 career victories and led his teams to multiple state championships, including three consecutive titles in 2023, 2024, and 2025. A member of the 2026 Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame class, Austin's career has been defined not only by wins, but by the lasting influence he has had on his student-athletes and community. His teams made 17 Final Four appearances and produced more than 40 All-State players while maintaining a standard of excellence year after year. In addition to his success at the high school level, Austin has been heavily involved on the national stage through grassroots basketball, serving as a coach with the Alabama Southern Starz Nike EYBL program. His experience at the EYBL level has provided him with valuable insight into elite player development, high-level competition, and the evolving recruiting landscape. Austin's family has longstanding and significant ties to Jax State, particularly within the women's basketball program. His wife, Dana, and his sister-in-law, Jana McGinnis, both have their numbers retired after stellar playing careers as Gamecocks.
In addition to leading the Volunteers in scoring, Gillespie finished with a game-best six steals. That increased his season total to 79, the most by a Tennessee player in a single campaign. Senior forward Felix Okpara totaled 10 points and a co-game-high seven rebounds, five of which came on the offensive end, for the Volunteers. Michigan graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg, the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American, led all scorers with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting. He added seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal. Sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr., who went 8-of-11 at the line, had 12 points and five rebounds. Freshman guard Trey McKenney posted 12 points, while Junior center Aday Mara had 11 points. Additionally, junior guard Elliot Cadeau logged eight points and a game-high 10 assists, the latter the most by a Tennessee foe all year. Tennessee recorded a 19-8 advantage on the offensive glass, but it led to just a 16-15 margin in second-chance points, as it shot 31.6 percent (24-of-76) overall and allowed a 51.8 percent (29-of-56) mark at the other end. The Wolverines also got to the line 37 times, connecting on 27 shots from the stripe. The Volunteers' 2025-26 campaign included a fifth straight 25-win record, a fourth consecutive Sweet 16 berth and a third Elite Eight trip in a row. Tennessee is now 34-29 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including 30-26 in regulation, 0-4 in the Elite Eight, 15-8 under head coach Rick Barnes, 1-3 in Illinois, 1-1 in Chicago and 0-4 against Michigan.
Jax State Names Ricky Austin Head Women's Basketball Coach
Courtesy of Jax State Athletics
Dana Austin was a member of Jax State's 1990-91 Gulf South Conference Championship team and earned All- America honors that season. She remains the only player in program history to surpass 2,000 career points and still ranks among the program's all-time leaders in single- season scoring and assists. Dana later served as head coach of the Gamecock women's basketball program for 10 seasons from 1993 to 2003, further cementing the Austin family's legacy within the program. Jana McGinnis, meanwhile, is the all-time winningest coach in Jax State history after a remarkable 31-year tenure leading the softball program, making the Austin- McGinnis family one of the most accomplished in university athletics history. "I am incredibly honored for the opportunity to lead the women's basketball program at Jax State," said Austin. "This is a place that means a great deal to me and my family. I'm excited to invest in our student- athletes, build strong relationships, and compete for championships. I've always believed in focusing on the process and trying to win each day, and that approach will continue here." Austin's coaching philosophy is rooted in consistency, discipline, and relationships-principles that have defined his career and helped shape generations of student- athletes
Courtesy of NFL
• REEL 1 - Members of the Arab Varsity Baseball Team take a break during the Knights recent game against the Boaz Pirates. • REEL 2 - Guntersville and Alexandria were two of teams competing in a recent track meet in Albertville. • REEL 3 - Florida's Isaiah Brown (#20) dunks the basketball during the Gators 73-72 loss to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. (UF Photo) • REEL 4 - Alabama forward Amari Allen (5) during the Elite Eight Pre-Game on March 27, 2026. (UA Photo) Photos by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger HIGHLIGHT PHOTO REEL
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker