news of note
(Continued from page 7) game. Black said his rebounding skills gained him some attention around the county, and caught the eye of UT men’s basketball head coach Richard Schmidt and former assistant coach Lisa Beamer. He was offered a full scholarship to UT. During his four years at UT from 2004–2008, two of which he served as a team captain, the Spartans finished with a winning record, including a Sunshine State Conference Championship in the 2007-2008 season. His most prized accomplishment at UT was being named the conference’s Male Athlete of the Year — an honor that encompasses not just basketball but all collegiate sports. “This is such a prestigious award, because it summarizes who we are as athletes and speaks volumes about who we are as [people],” he said. “I was very surprised. To be even considered in this category was very humbling. I would have never expected this, but it just goes to show no good deed goes unnoticed.”
Black had committed plenty of good deeds while at UT. He was involved with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and spent time volunteering in the community and mentoring youth at Just Elementary and his former high school. He also worked under UT’s sports information director as a student assistant. His success on the court in America has translated well overseas. Black has averaged no fewer than 13.9 points and 6.6 points per game in any of his five seasons. As for life after basketball, while coaching is an option, Black said he wants to get a master’s degree in criminology and perhaps work in a runaway shelter or halfway house. He wants to take his experiences from a tough childhood and use them to do good. “I want to be that safety net for any discouraged child I may come into contact with,” he said. “I have a strong passion for working with and helping kids through tough times by sharing my life experiences.” — Daniel Feingold ’12
making progress The first piece of the stadium at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex was erected on Oct. 22 and continues to come together. The facility, which will be used for numerous intramurals and other sports, will be home to the UT men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. Construction is set to be completed by the end of the men’s lacrosse season this spring. 8 UTjournal winter 2013
Kelly Gallagher
UT’s First Women’s Lax Coach Kelly Gallagher has been hired as UT’s first women’s lacrosse head coach. Gallagher brings a total of 15 years of lacrosse experience to Tampa, including coaching stints with Limestone College, University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and Muhlenberg College. As the top assistant at Limestone, Gallagher helped the Saints to a 17-2 record in 2012. The Saints had five players in the national top-five among statistical rankings. At UDM Gallagher helped coach teams that had a runner-up finish in the National Lacrosse Conference in 2009 and a semifinalist appearance the following season. Gallagher competed for Washington College (MD). There she helped lead the Shorewomen to a runner-up finish in the 2003 Eastern College Athletic Conference Regional Lacrosse Championship. The UT women’s lacrosse team will begin competition in Spring 2014.