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July 17, 2009

DURHAM, N.C. - DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University head women's basketball coach Joli Robinson announced the hiring of Antonio Davis and Leah Frierson as assistant coaches on Friday. Davis and Frierson will join Robinson on the Eagles' sideline this upcoming season.

Davis comes to NCCU from South Carolina State University, where he spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the women's basketball program. Prior to his stint at South Carolina State, he spent seven years as the head women's basketball coach at Saint Augustine's College.

He took a short break from coaching before heading to Saint Augustine's. Davis was a teacher and athletic director at North Rowan Middle School from 2000-01.

Before becoming an athletic director and teacher at North Rowan, Davis had successful careers as head coach at Kentucky State from 1993-98 and Livingstone College from 1988-91. During his tenure at Kentucky State, the Thorobrettes became one of the best teams in the country, earning their first NCAA Tournament appearance, claiming consecutive 20-win seasons and earning a national ranking.

"Coaching against Antonio in the CIAA and having the opportunity to work together now is going to be special," said Robinson. "One thing about Antonio that I always remembered was how hard his teams played defense and how they played 40 minutes of intense basketball. He is very knowledgeable and through his years of experience as a head coach and assistant, he has established a lot of contacts that will be very helpful in recruiting."

In between his successful campaigns at Kentucky State and Livingstone, Davis served as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Livingstone for the 1992-93 season. He also served as the head coach of the women's team at Morristown College in Tennessee from 1987-88.

Davis was not only a successful coach, but he made a name for himself on the hardwood. He attended Livingstone College, where he became one of the best players in CIAA history. He averaged 35 points per game, which ranked him first in the nation in scoring. He also led the nation in free throw shooting twice during his collegiate career. In 1982, he was selected to the All-CIAA team.

Shooting 94 percent from the free throw line during his career with the Blue Bears, he earned one of the highest percentages in college basketball history. He is Livingstone's leading scorer, having scored more than 1,800 points in his career. In the summer of 2005, he was inducted into the Livingstone College Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding career with the Blue Bears.

Davis earned a bachelor of arts degree in history and later went on to North Carolina A&T State University, where he earned a master of science degree in history.

Frierson comes to NCCU from Livingstone College, where she spent one season as head coach of the Blue Bear women's program. Prior to Livingstone, Frierson was named assistant coach at St. Augustine's College, where she served under Davis during the 2006-07 season.

Before arriving at St. Augustine's, Frierson took on the position of director of basketball operations at North Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill., where she served as the coordinator and liaison for community service, marketing and facilities for the 2005-06 season.

"Leah is going to be a great asset to our coaching staff," said Robinson. "With her experience on the Division I level, as a player and a coach, she understands what is needed. Her strong contacts with coaches through her experiences will definitely be a big asset for us as we continue our move to Division I. She brings excitement and a strong work ethic."

Her coaching career began in 2003 when she spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under head coach David Johnson at St. Andrew's Presbyterian College. During her tenure with the Knights, they recorded their first-ever postseason victory in 2004, while claiming school records for overall and conference wins for the 2004-05 season. That same season, the Knights had their most successful season at the Division II level, earning a 15-13 record.

After graduating from Belleville East High School (Ill.) in 1998, Frierson continued her basketball career at Belleville Area College. In 1999, she led her team to a 33-3 finish and the NJCAA Championships, where they finished second. The following year, she helped the program earn a 20-10 record and reach their third-straight NJCAA Region XXIV semifinals. She became the school's all-time rebounding leader and earned both All-Region XXIV and Great Rivers Athletic All-Conference honors during both of her final two seasons.

In 2001, Frierson earned a scholarship to continue her basketball career at Austin Peay State University. As a senior, she helped her team capture their second-straight Ohio Valley Conference title, where they went undefeated in conference play.

Frierson earned her associate of arts degree from Southwestern Illinois and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in communications with a minor in psychology from Austin Peay. In 2006, she earned a master of arts degree in education from the University of Phoenix and is currently pursuing a master's degree in sports administration from the University of North Carolina Pembroke.

"Having two coaches that have had the opportunity to be head coaches on the collegiate level and have experience on the Division I level is great," added Robinson. "Both of them have strong work ethics and knowledge of the game. As I have talked with both of them throughout this process, they have the same philosophies and understanding that a head coach searches for."