THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, March 10, 1995                 TAG: 9503100448
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   41 lines

AVERY QUITS AS COACH AT HAMPTON SCHOOL'S WOMEN'S COACH ALSO RESIGNED

When Hampton University moves to Division I next season, it'll do so with two new basketball coaches.

Hampton athletic director Dennis Thomas announced Thursday that both men's coach Malcolm ``Zeke'' Avery and women's coach Tiny L. Laster have resigned.

Avery will become an assistant athletic director. Laster will coach the women's volleyball and softball teams.

Thomas said the resignations were not related to the school's move to Division I.

``This is just when it happened,'' he said.

Avery had just completed his eighth season at Hampton and compiled a career record of 139-82. The Pirates finished 19-7 this season.

``It's something I've really been contemplating for a while,'' Avery said. ``I guess you could say that coaching isn't what it used to be, with everything else that goes along with it. It isn't burnout. It's just that an opportunity that made itself available and I said yes to it.''

Avery's duties as an assistant AD are yet to be determined, he said. Thomas said Avery would help with fundraising, among other things. The position is a new one that is being created because of the added administrative and fundraising duties that go with the move to Division I, Thomas said.

Avery, a Norfolk native, coached for 11 years at Booker T. Washington High before coming to Hampton. He won state titles in 1985 and 1986.

Laster coached the Lady Pirates for seven years and had a career record of 129-77. Hampton won the CIAA tournament in 1994 but finished 10-18 this season. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Zeke Avery

by CNB