Cornell has named Bill Courtney its head men's basketball coach, the school announced Friday in a press release. Courtney, who spent 15 years as an assistant coach, helped Virginia Tech to the NIT quarterfinals this past season.
"Courtney has been part of teams that have made eight postseason appearances (three NCAA, four NIT, one CBI), won at least a share of four conference titles (Mid-American, Colonial and ACC) and posted 15 winning seasons with eight years of 18 wins or more," according to the press release.
Prior to his single season at Virginia Tech, Courtney spent three years at Virginia. He spent eight seasons at George Mason and recruited many of the players that led the Patriots to the 2006 NCAA Final Four, though he left prior to that season to spend a year at Providence College.
Courtney's hiring comes less than three weeks after Steve Donahue accepted the head coaching position at Boston College. Courtney will have a major rebuilding process ahead of him, as the Big Red will lose nine seniors to graduation, including four starters.
Five Ivy Leaguers get NFL contracts
Three other Ivy League football players joined draftee David Howard '09.5 and signee Bobby Sewall '10, both with the Tennessee Titans, in latching on with NFL teams.
Penn linebacker and long snapper Jake Lewko, the Co-Ivy League Player of the Year and an AFCA All-American, also signed a free-agent contract with Tennessee.
Cornell wide receiver Bryan Walters signed a free-agent contract with the San Diego Chargers. The second team All-Ivy selection finished second in the Ivy League in receiving yards per game, behind only Buddy Farnham '10.
Harvard left tackle James Williams, a three-time All-American, signed a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Williams joins four Harvard alums on NFL rosters, including Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk, Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Green Bay Packers quarterback Chris Pizzotti and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Desmond Bryant.
Ivy Quick Hits
— The Ivy League women's lacrosse tournament will be held this weekend at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. On Friday, No. 2 seed Dartmouth (11-2, 5-2) will square off against Cornell (6-7, 4-3) at 4 p.m. and No. 1 seed Penn (12-3, 7-0) will face Princeton (6-9, 4-3) at 7 p.m. The championship game will be played Sunday.
— On the eve of Saturday's battle with Brown for a spot in the Ivy League men's lacrosse tournament, Dartmouth attackman Ari Sussman earned Turfer New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Player of the Week honors for tallying 13 points in wins over Vermont and Penn.
— Cornell goalie Ben Scrivens, a Hobey Baker Award finalist and a first-team All-American selection, signed a free-agent contract with the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs.
— Earlier this month, forward Colin Greening signed with the Ottawa Senators, the team that drafted him in 2005, and defenseman Brendon Nash signed a free agent contract with the Montreal Canadiens.
— Columbia's archers found success at the East Regional Intercollegiate Archery Championships. The recurve team of Sarah Chai, Alexandra Garyn and Sara Goshorn took the gold medal on Saturday. The following day, Chai won an individual gold medal in the event.
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