
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 3, 1995                   TAG: 9503030114
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BELLAIRS CHOSEN SC'S TOP COACH

Bart Bellairs was chosen the Southern Conference's basketball coach of the year Thursday by his peers, after guiding VMI to its best record in five years.

The Keydets were 10-16 overall, 6-8 in the conference heading into Thursday's game against Georgia Southern in the first round of the conference tournament in Asheville, N.C.

The 10 victories matched VMI's combined total of the past two seasons and is the best since the Keydets went 14-15 in 1989-90.

Bellairs, an assistant for six seasons at James Madison, took over last year when Joe Cantafio resigned after 12 seasons to become head coach at Furman. Bellairs received three votes, and Cantafio, East Tennessee State's Alan LeForce and Mack McCarthy of Tennessee-Chattanooga each got two. Billy Donovan, first-year coach at Marshall, received one vote.

Western Carolina's Frankie King was chosen the league's most valuable player and led the voting for the All-Southern Conference team. Also named to the 10-man squad was VMI senior forward Lawrence Gullette.

Chuck Vincent of Furman was named freshman of the year. Bryan Taueg of VMI made the All-Freshman team.

In other sports news in the region:

Radford scored four runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat Virginia Commonwealth 7-4 in a nonconference baseball game in Richmond.

Kelly Dampeer, a former Northside High School standout, drew a one-out walk in the 10th off VCU relief pitcher Peyton Martin. Dampeer stole second and, after a flyout to left, scored when Rams shortstop Chris Libbey dropped a pop fly that would have ended the inning. The Highlanders went on to score three runs and hold on for the victory.

Radford reliever Terry Rooney picked up the victory and Dub Salyers earned the save. Martin took the loss.

Jeff Collins went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in for Radford. Donnie Fields also had three hits.

Virginia has hired Melissa Aldrich as its head volleyball coach.

Aldrich, a former assistant coach at Clemson, replaces Karen Uhler, who resigned in November for personal reasons.

by CNB