Tennessee's Rick Barnes, Kellie Harper, Hendon Hooker, Vanderbilt's Scotty Pippen Jr. honored

Tennessee's Rick Barnes was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's 2021-22 men's basketball coach of the year, Kellie Harper was the women's coach, Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker was the football player of the year and Vanderbilt's Scotty Pippen Jr. was the men's basketball player of the year.

East Tennessee State's Randy Sanders, who retired at the end of the season, was the football coach of the year and Belmont's Destinee Wells was the women's basketball player of the year.

Barnes, in his seventh season, led Tennessee to a 27-8 record with wins over four top-10 opponents.

The Vols won the SEC Tournament for the first time in 43 years and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. They were eliminated in the second round after losing to Michigan 76-68.

Barnes will enter the 2022-23 season with the sixth-most Division I wins among active head coaches (754).

Even after losing several key players to injuries Harper led the Lady Vols to an 18-1 start and their most overall (25) and SEC (11) wins since 2017-18.

They also finished with their highest national ranking and first NCAA Sweet 16 since 2015-16.

Hooker became Tennessee’s first Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist since 2006 while leading the Vols to a 7-6 record and a Music City Bowl berth.

He completed 206 of 303 passes for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns and rushed for 616 yards and five scores.

Hooker set the Vols' single-season school records for completion percentage (68%) and passing efficiency (181.4).

Pippen, who is entering the NBA Draft, led the SEC in scoring (20.4 points per game). He was the first player to average 20 points in back-to-back seasons since LSU's Ronnie Henderson in 1995 and 1996.

The two-time All-SEC first team selection led Vanderbilt to a 19-17 record, two wins in the SEC Tournament and the quarterfinals of the NIT. He set the Commodores' single-season scoring record with 736 points

Wells was second in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring (16.7 points) while ranking in the top 65 nationally in total assists (140) and assists per game (4.5). She became only the second player in OVC history to earn conference tournament MVP as both a freshman and sophomore.

Sanders, a former UT quarterback and offensive coordinator, led ETSU to an 11-2 record, the Southern Conference championship and the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Bucs opened the season with a 23-3 win at Vanderbilt.

Sanders was 26-17 in four seasons at ETSU.

The awards will be presented July 14 at the 2022 TSWA Hall of Fame ceremony at Cumberland University.

Trevecca's C.J. Penha transferring to Boston College

Trevecca's best basketball player, forward C.J. Penha, is transferring to Boston College for his final year of eligibility.

The 6-foot-7, Pickerington, Ohio native spent one season at Trevecca after transferring from Taylor.

He made the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association Midwest All-Region team after finishing second in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in scoring (20.3 points), rebounding (10.1), and free throw percentage (79.4%).

The Trojans' starting point guard Chris Rogers is transferring to Cedarville. The Harrisonburg, Virginia, native also has one year of eligibility remaining.

Rogers started 57 games at Trevecca. He averaged 9.0 points and 3.3 rebounds last season.

Fisk hires new women's basketball coach

Victoria Crawford is Fisk's new women's basketball coach.

Crawford replaced Janine Davis, who was not retained after her third season. The Bulldogs were 9-19 last season.

Crawford is a Birmingham, Alabama, native who spent the last three years as the coach at Lincoln (Illinois) College. She led her team to a 7-17 record last season.

Lincoln officials announced in April the school is closing at the end of the semester.

Crawford played at Memphis (2000-04) where she set the program record for steals as a senior.

She is taking over a team with 11 returning players, including Zipporah Davis, the top returning scorer who averaged 11.3 points, along with Maya Allen, who averaged 10.5.

"The city of Nashville and the state of Tennessee is loaded with some amazing student-athletes," Crawford said. "My staff and I look forward to serving this community and competing at a high level on the court. I am ready to get to work and help build a winning tradition."

After playing professionally in Europe Crawford began her coaching career at Miles College. She also was an assistant at Southern Miss before landing her first head coaching job at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham.

TSU basketball picks up IUC transfer

Illinois at Chicago starter Zion Griffin is transferring to Tennessee State.

The 6-6 Chicago native averaged 11.1 points and 4.0 rebounds last season.

He spent his first two seasons at Iowa State where he played in 17 games as a freshman and 30 as a sophomore.

His best game at Iowa State came when he had 11 points and six rebounds against Mississippi Valley State.

Tommy Frensley celebration of life is May 14

A celebration of life for longtime Hillsboro and Donelson Christian Academy basketball coach Tommy Frensley will be on May 14 at 2 p.m.

Frensley died on March 30. He was 83.

The event will be at the Hillsboro Gym where the court is named in Frensley's honor.

Frensley spent a total of 36 years as a boys head basketball coach — 29 at Hillsboro and seven at Donelson Christian Academy. His career record was 632-304.

Frensley, who played basketball at old Howard High and Belmont, was The Tennessean's Nashville Interscholastic League Coach of the Year in 1972. He was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Hillsboro Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

Vanderbilt's Kendal Cheesman transferring to Belmont

Kendal Cheesman is leaving Vanderbilt women's basketball after one season and transferring to Belmont.

The 6-2, Tampa, Florida, native played in 17 games for the Commodores. Her best game came against Gardner-Webb when she scored 10 points. She had two blocks against Chattanooga.

Cheesman finished the season with 22 points, four steals, four blocks and two assists.

As a high school senior she was the 2020-21 Gatorade Florida Player of the Year.

Also, former Brentwood Academy standout Sydni Harvey, who spent the last four years as a starter at South Florida, is transferring to Belmont.

Harvey averaged 10.5 points and helped lead South Florida to NCAA Tournament berths the last two seasons.

She was an All-American Athletic Conference selection as a junior.

Vol State's Johnny Lynn gets 1,000th win

Volunteer State softball coach Johnny Lynn got his 1,000th career victory recently.

It came in a 3-2 win over Calhoun Community College. Pitcher Sidney Link got the win and improved to 17-1.

Lynn, who was a basketball star at Beech and Auburn, is in his 28th year at Vol State where he has led the Pioneers to six state championships and one junior college world series.

Vol State finished the regular season with a 46-7 record and ranked 13th in the national junior college top 25.

Belmont's Jamilyn Kinney lands coaching job before graduation

Before graduating Saturday former Belmont basketball player Jamilyn Kinney landed her first coaching job.

Kinney was named coach of The New School’s girls basketball team in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Monday. She is from Van Buren, Arkansas, which is about 50 miles from Fayetteville.

Kinney started in the last 82 games of her Belmont career. She made the All-OVC Tournament Team last as a junior. She averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 assists last season.

Kinney became the second Belmont athlete this year to get hired as a coach before graduating.

Luke Smith, a senior on the Bruin's men's team from Knoxville, was named coach of the Knoxville Catholic boys team following the retirement of coach Michael Hutchens after the season.

Veteran basketball coach Milton Harris dies at 75

Longtime Metro high school coach Milton Harris died on April 23. He was 75.

Harris, a TSU graduate, was the first boys basketball coach at Martin Luther King. After three seasons there he became the coach at Pearl-Cohn and in 1993 took over at McGavock where he had begun his career as an assistant.

Harris was on the McGavock staff when the Raiders won the Class AAA state championship in 1976.

Harris also coached track and several other sports.

TSU duo invited to NFL minicamps

Former TSU safety Cory Rahman was invited to the Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp and tight end Rodell Rahmaan was invited to the Seattle Seahawks minicamp.

Rahman transferred from Southeastern University after the 2020 season, earned a starting assignment in TSU's season-opening game and had six tackles and an interception against Grambling State.

Rahmaan played at Urbana and Bowling Green before transferring to TSU for the 2021 season. He was the Tigers’ leading receiver with 29 catches for 484 yards and six TDs.

Oakland's Claira McGowan transferring to Lipscomb

Former Oakland basketball star Claira McGowan, who spent last season at Murray State, is transferring to Lipscomb.

McGowan, a guard, played played in 23 games and averaged 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds at Murray State.

At Oakland McGowan averaged 14.9 points and 3.8 rebounds as a senior and 16.1 points and 3.7 rebounds as a junior.

The Tennessean listed her on its 40 players to watch in 2020.

Hall of fame umpire Roy McDonald dies at 92

Local hall of fame umpire Roy McDonald died on Monday. He was 92.

McDonald was a West High graduate who played football, basketball and baseball.

He started umpiring high school and college baseball games in 1965 and continued for 21 years.

He was selected to work three NCAA regional tournaments, two NAIA World Series and five SEC tournaments.

McDonald was the first Nashville umpire to work an NCAA Tournament.

He was inducted into the Nashville Umpire Hall of Fame in 1993.

McDonald served as president and treasurer of the Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association 2001-02.

There will be a memorial service June 4 at Hillwood Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. with visitation at noon.

Ashley Cozart gets 500th win

Former Ezell-Harding and Trevecca softball standout Ashley Cozart, now the coach at North Alabama, got the 500th win of her career when the Lions beat Central Arkansas 3-2.

Cozart is in her ninth season at North Alabama. Her career record is 500-172. She spent four seasons at Lindsey Wilson where she posted a 191-45 record and began her career as the coach at Antioch.

North Alabama (34-16) clinched a berth in the Atlantic Sun Tournament with the win over Central Arkansas.

Amadou Sylla is eighth player to leave Tennessee Tech

Amadou Sylla became the eighth player to transfer from Tennessee Tech's basketball team. He is headed to UNC Asheville.

The 6-8 forward, who transferred to Tech from Iowa Western Community College, started in 10 games last season and averaged 5.4 points and 5.4 rebounds.

The other seven players leaving the program include Jr. Clay, Keishawn Davidson, Kenny White Jr., Dane Quest, Austin Harvel, Caleb Christopher and C.J. Gettelfinger.

Metro Parks golf courses hiring

All Metro Parks and Recreation golf courses — Ted Rhodes, Two Rivers, McCabe, Shelby, Harpeth Hills, and Percy Warner — are hiring for seasonal positions.

The pay is $11 per hour. Employees also receive playing privileges and discounts at the golf courses.

To apply contact Wane Evans at 615-862-8400 extension 72925 or wayne.evans@nashville.gov.

Anthony Torres hired as Belmont assistant soccer coach

Former Belmont defender Anthony Torres, who spent the last six years as a volunteer assistant for the Bruins women’s soccer team, was promoted to assistant coach for the men’s team.

Torres also was director of player development for the women from 2019-21.

The Batavia, Illinois, native started 53 games and saw action in 63 in his playing career. He went on to play for Nashville SC in 2016.

If you have an item for Midstate Chatter contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Rick Barnes, Kellie Harper, Hendon Hooker, Scotty Pippen Jr. honored