FORMER PANTHER JOHNSON JOINS 49ERS COACHING STAFF Former Prairie View A&M University football player Marquis Johnson has been hired as a strength and conditioning assistant for the National Football League's San Francisco 49ers.
 
Johnson was a tight end and defensive end for the Panthers from 2004-08, graduating with a bachelor's degree in human performance. He earned his master's degree from Eastern Michigan, where he entered the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant and later became interim head strength and conditioning coach (2008-10).
 
A Houston native, Johnson spent six years as head strength coach at several Texas high schools: Galena Park (TX) High School (2010-12), West Brook (Beaumont, TX) High School (2012-14) and Memorial (Port Arthur, TX) High School (2014-16). Johnson was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Tennessee in 2016.
 
TENNIS TEAMS TO OPEN LEAGUE PLAY The Prairie View A&M University tennis teams will open Southwestern Athletic Conference play this weekend in the first of two conference roundups.
 
This weekend's event will be held in Jackson, Miss and hosted in conjunction with Jackson State. The Panther teams will take on Alabama State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff Friday. Both PVAMU teams will face Alabama A&M Saturday morning, with the Lady Panthers facing Southern Saturday afternoon.
 
BASEBALL CONTINUES ROAD TRIP AT UTRGV Panther baseball continues its season-opening road trip at Texas Rio Grande Valley in a four-game series starting Friday at Texas Rio Grande Valley. Friday night's game and Sunday's game will be televised on Spectrum Sports.
 
Due to rain earlier this week, the Panthers' scheduled Tuesday home game against Incarnate Word was moved to a road game at UIW Wednesday. The Cardinals will make the now make the return trip to Tankersley Field Tuesday April 25.
 
CF Corbin Jamison leads the Panthers with a .471 batting average (8-for-17) with three RBI and two stolen bases to begin the season.
 
Season tickets for the upcoming PVAMU softball and baseball seasons are available online at pvpanthers.com/homerun.
 
SOFTBALL IN ABILENE CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT The Prairie View A&M University softball team will play four games this weekend in the Abilene Christian Tournament.
 
PVAMU will face both Northern Colorado and Abilene Christian twice during the weekend. The Lady Panthers won their first game of the season last Saturday in winning game one of a doubleheader at Houston Baptist.
 
LF Keona Hunter leads the Lady Panthers with a .353 batting average (6-for-17) with three runs scored and three stolen bases.
 
Softball will now open its home schedule Monday, March 20 vs. Jarvis Christian in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at the newly renovated PVAMU softball complex.
 
Season tickets for the upcoming PVAMU softball and baseball seasons are available online at pvpanthers.com/homerun.
 
CLASS OF 2016 SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION FRIDAY, MARCH 24 The newest class of enshrines into the Prairie View A&M University Sports Hall of Fame will be inducted during ceremonies on Friday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Willie A. Tempton, Sr. Memorial Student Center Ballroom located on the PVAMU Campus.
 
This class of Prairie View A&M legends includes the 2009 SWAC Champion football team, the 2006 SWAC Champion volleyball team, Samuel Barner (football), Catherine Burnley (soccer), and Marvalyn Judge (basketball/softball/cheerleader).
 
To purchase tickets or place ads for the souvenir program, visit www.pvpanthers.com/hof2016.
 
SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE OPENS TUESDAY Panther football will open 2017 spring practice Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Panther Stadium.
 
Under third-year head coach Willie Simmons, PVAMU football will practice three times a week over a six-week period, with the Purple and Gold game scheduled for Saturday, April 8 at 2 p.m. at Panther Stadium.
 
Get your 2017 season ticket information here.
 
BASKETBALL TO PLAY FINAL CONFERENCE REGULAR SEASON ROAD GAMES IN ALABAMA The Prairie View A&M University basketball teams travel to Alabama for important Southwestern Athletic Conference contests as the regular season will conclude Saturday, March 4.
 
Both teams swept their home contests last weekend and will look to continue that push on the road Saturday at Alabama A&M in a 4 p.m. doubleheader and Monday at Alabama St. in a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader. All games will be broadcast live on KPVU 91.3 FM.
 
The Lady Panthers (10-16, 5-9) are currently in the eighth spot, just one-half game behind Miss. Valley State (9-17, 6-9). If the teams finish tied, PVAMU will get the seventh seed based on point differential in the two matchups, as the Lady Panthers and Devilettes split their two head-to-head meetings this season.
 
Alabama A&M (2-21, 0-14) will not qualify for the eight-team SWAC Tournament. Two-time defending tournament champion Alabama St. (11-13, 10-4) is one-half game behind currently conference leader Grambling St.
 
In men's play, the Panthers (10-18. 7-7) are in a three-way tie fourth with Grambling St. (12-15, 7-7) and Jackson St. (11-16, 7-7). All three teams are one game ahead of seventh-place Alabama St. (8-18, 6-8), which is one-half game ahead of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-21, 6-9). Alabama A&M (1-24, 1-13) is out of contention for the SWAC Tournament.

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