AU ROUNDUP: Rolle honored in Bahamas

Auburn assistant head track and field coach Henry Rolle has been honored by his native country of The Bahamas as the 2008 Coach of the Year by the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations.

Rolle coached three Olympic medalists at the 2008 Beijing Games, including former Tiger All-American Leevan Sands, who was also recognized by the BAAA as the Senior Male Athlete of the Year after earning a bronze medal in the triple jump at the Olympics.

Rolle also coached Kerron Stewart, who took home a pair of medals in Beijing, earning a silver medal in the women’s 100 meters and a bronze in the 200 meter. Marc Burns also collected a medal under Rolle’s guidance, winning a silver medal in the men’s 4x100-meter relay.

The Olympic achievements came just two months after Rolle coached two Tigers to All-American honors at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Amelia Anderson was fifth in the 400m hurdles while Danielle Gilchrist placed sixth in the same event.

Also during the 2008 outdoor season, Joanna Atkins set school freshman records in the 100m and 400m, and Cache Armbrister broke the school freshman record in the 200m under Rolle’s watch.

The BAAA also recognized former Tiger Shamar Sands as a finalist for the Senior Male Athlete of the Year award, and current Auburn freshman Nivea Smith as a finalist for the Junior Female Athlete of the Year award. Sands set a new Bahamian record in the 110-meter hurdles and also competed in the Olympic Games, while Smith won her third straight CARIFTA title in the 200 meters with a personal-best time of 23.01 seconds.

Evans honored by Dixie PGA
AU women’s golf coach Kim Evans was honored by the Dixie PGA with the Horton Smith Award, which recognizes a PGA member for his or her outstanding and continuing contributions and developing and improving educational opportunities for the PGA golf professional.

Voluntary contributions to National PGA and Section eduction programs are also considered for the award.

Evans was recognized for helping PGA members’ best prepare their junior golfers for collegiate golf teams.

She has conducted several seminars for PGA members on what their juniors need to do to be eligible to play college golf. She ahs also made several contributions that promote the PGA of America in local communities, including numerous golf clinics for men, women and juniors, speaking at local community groups and helping the Golf Coaches of America build a Habitat for Humanity House after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast.