Panther Club Luncheon Kicked Off Homecoming Weekend
By Cyndi Byars // October 28, 2013
Coaches Preview 2013 Basketball Season
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BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – More than 150 enthusiastic Panther Club supporters, alumni, players and coaches gathered for Florida Tech’s Panther Club Tip-Off Luncheon.
The Tip-Off Luncheon kicked off a weekend of Homecoming festivities, including a pep rally and the school’s homecoming game against Warner University.
“It’s Florida Tech’s first homecoming weekend with a football game,” said Kelvin Queliz, Assistant Sports Information Director.
“We are very pleased to bring in college basketball analyst Pete Gillen as our featured speaker. Gillen is an accomplished coach, and a member of the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. He was head basketball coach for the University of Virginia for seven years, and Xavier College’s coach for nine years.”
Florida Tech President Anthony Cantanese welcomed attendees, and Father Doug Bailey delivered the invocation.
Those in attendance included Florida Tech Athletic Director Bill Jurgens, team physician Dr. Schuyler DeJong, and women’s basketball team guards Rosie Hyne and Kayk Wilson.
Also in attendance were former Florida Tech Baseball coach Les Hall, Andy Ziegler, Captain Winston Scott and Dr. Bob Niebuhr.
BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW
Men’s basketball head coach Billy Mims and women’s basketball head coach John Reynolds previewed the upcoming season.
Coach Mims introduced several members of his team, his assistant coaches, and Paul Van Scott, Florida Tech’s sports broadcaster. Mims led the 2012-13 men’s basketball team to a perfect 9-0 mark. Over the last six seasons, Mims has guided the Panthers to an 83-23 record at the Clemente Center.
Coach John Reynolds introduced Assistant Coach Delicia Lewis, as well as several players from his team. During Coach Reynolds tenure at Florida Tech, the Panthers have won six regular season Sunshine State Conference Championships and four SSC Tournament Championships.
Featured speaker Pete Gillen spoke on principles of success, and shared stories from his years of coaching college basketball.
The women’s basketball team season begins November 2 with a home game against Warner University.
The men’s basketball season begins with an exhibition game at the University of Miami on October 30.
For additional information visit FloridaTechSports.com or call 321-674-8032.
