Conferences: Georgia State University has announced plans to become a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, perhaps participating in CAA athletics events as early as fall 2006. The Atlantic Sun Conference, Georgia State's current league, requires a two-year notification from institutions intending to leave. Georgia State would become the 11th member of the CAA. Current members are the University of Delaware; Drexel University; George Mason University; Hofstra University; James Madison University; the University of North Carolina, Wilmington; Old Dominion University; Towson University; Virginia Commonwealth University; and the College of William and Mary. "Georgia State's broad-based program fits nicely with those of our existing members," said CAA Commissioner Thomas Yeager. Georgia State President Carl Patton said while the university has enjoyed its 20-year association with the Atlantic Sun, joining the CAA provides Georgia State the opportunity to compete with other institutions that are similar in size and scope. "This change also is great for metropolitan Atlanta and will bring many first-time visitors and CAA alumni to the city," he said.

Milestones: Two Fordham University head coaches recorded milestones a day apart recently. Baseball coach Dan Gallagher earned his 500th career win at the school with a 6-4 win over the University of Dayton in the first game of an Atlantic 10 Conference doubleheader March 27. Gallagher is in his 21st year as the head coach of the Rams. The next day, softball coach Bridget Baxter notched her 200th career win with a doubleheader sweep over the University of Hartford. Baxter, who is in her third year at Fordham, compiled 129 career wins in four years as the head coach at Cabrini College ... Ohio University baseball coach Joe Carbone became the school's all-time leader in wins when he notched his 465th victory March 24 with a win over Cleveland State University. Carbone, who passed Bob Wren in wins at Ohio, credited his players. "I have never won a game here," he said. "The wins are for all the players, managers, graduate assistants -- all those guys who have been a part of this team." Carbone, who played for Wren from 1968 to 1970, is in his 16th season as head coach at his alma mater. He will finish this season in fourth place on the Mid-American Conference all-time wins list ... Lipscomb University baseball coach Wynn Fletcher might remember the Bisons' 4-1 victory May 12 at the University of Tennessee at Martin more for the circumstances than the milestone. The 200th triumph of Fletcher's career was played in conditions more suited for swimming than baseball. The game was called after five innings due to the weather. Rain had fallen throughout the game, but the Tennessee-Martin coaching staff wanted to get the game in because Lipscomb had made the trip. "It was the messiest playing surface I have ever seen, but it was a lot of fun," Fletcher said. The players autographed a game ball and presented it to Fletcher during a stop in Jackson for dinner. "I never knew when I won my 100th game," Fletcher said. "The only things that really interest me are whether we are getting better and are we going to have a chance to play in a postseason tournament. Wins and losses mean a lot. But we are still in a transition here and we're going to make progress inch by inch, not mile by mile."

Miscellaneous: A group of Northern Illinois University student-athlete leaders called PAWS (Providing Athletes With Support) raised more than $8,000 recently to help the battle against cancer. PAWS president and soccer student-athlete Vraham Kadkhodaian and others began organizing the event last Thanksgiving and then began distributing pledge sheets to intercollegiate athletics staff personnel and fellow Huskies student-athletes who solicited donations. Contacts also were made with the American Cancer Society and representatives from Colleges Against Cancer. About 100 volunteers walked a two-and-a-half mile course April 15 and raised $8,134. The donation, in the memory of Kathy Lang, a longtime associate in the Northern Illinois athletics business office who lost a courageous four-year battle against cancer last November, was presented to representatives from the American Cancer Society during halftime of the annual Northern Illinois spring football game ... Sonny Pittaro and Tom Petroff, the two head coaches who have guided the Rider University baseball program since 1961 -- combining for 900 wins, 12 NCAA tournament berths, and a College World Series appearance in 1967 -- had their numbers retired May 22 at Richard F. Daly field. Current head coach Pittaro, the all-time winningest coach of any sport at Rider, is retiring this season after 34 years and 766 wins -- more than two-thirds of the total number of baseball victories in the 61-year history of the sport at Rider. Pittaro, 65, will be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2005. "His involvement on the national level for the betterment of collegiate baseball provides testimony of his dedication and love for the game," said Curt Blake, Rider director of athletics. Petroff led Rider to the College World Series in 1967 and compiled a 155-85 record during his nine-year tenure that began in 1961. He already has been inducted into both the Rider and ABCA Halls of Fame. "Tom's been a friend, a mentor and a special person," said Pittaro. "His knowledge of the game just knocks your socks off. It's special to have his number retired at the same time that mine will be -- and it's long overdue (for his)." Pittaro recently completed a term as president of the 7,000-member ABCA in 2002, and he currently serves on the ABCA's board of directors ... Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus golf coach Lonnie Barton led his men's squad to its first Northeast Conference title this year, a feat made more remarkable by the fact that Barton is battling cancer. Barton, who was diagnosed with the disease in summer 2001 and has undergone chemotherapy treatment until recently, is the only NEC coach to be named league coach of the year for both the men's and women's teams.

-- Compiled by Gary T. Brown