FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2008
Media Contact: Michael Corby 904.632.3310

Neil Orr to serve as FCCJ interim Basketball Coach for 2008–2009; Coach Phillip Stitt moving on to Grambling

Assistant Coach Neil Orr, an FCCJ graduate and two–time Academic All–State has been named as Florida Community College at Jacksonville men’s interim Basketball Coach for the 2008–2009 season, according to FCCJ Athletic Director George Sanders. Orr replaces Coach Phillip Stitt, who has accepted a position as Lead Assistant Coach at Grambling State University in Louisiana.

Stitt leaves FCCJ after two years to be reunited with Grambling Head Coach Rick Duckett, who was Stitt’s mentor and former boss at Winston–Salem State University. Stitt said leaving FCCJ was a difficult decision but one he had to make.

“We hate to see Stitt go,” said Athletic Director Sanders, but he sees Orr’s availability as a plus for the team, as an FCCJ graduate (1993) and an assistant coach for two years. “Orr is familiar with these kids. He helped recruit the incoming freshmen,” Sanders said. “This is an opportunity for a smooth transition.”

Orr intends to carry on Stitt’s tradition of and strong academics and basketball. “I want to get these young men graduated and on to four–year schools,” Orr said.

Orr earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bethune–Cookman College. His résumé includes five years as assistant coach and one year as interim head coach at Edward Waters College, three years as assistant at University of North Florida and one year as assistant at Bethune–Cookman. He was also head coach and athletic director at Orange Park Christian School.