Facilities: Historic Millhiser Gym at Richmond will be renovated to a men’s and women’s basketball practice facility and a centerpiece for hospitality events for the school. HKS, Inc., based in Dallas, will serve as architects. The gymnasium opened in 1921 and was built with funds donated by Clarence and Regina Millhiser in memory of their son, Roger, a student at Richmond. It served as home for Spider men’s basketball games from 1922-1947. Restoration plans include a new floor, basketball goals, heating and air conditioning, sound system, enhanced lighting and windows and the installation of an automated floor covering device for hospitality events.

Conferences: Samford officially joined the Southern Conference on July 1, the 12^th member of the 88-year-old league. John Iamarino, southern conference commissioner, said he was “delighted” that Samford joined the conference, citing an institutional profile consistent with other league members, strengthened football and basketball scheduling and a new, southern market for Southern Conference exposure. “Most importantly,” he said, “It gives us another institution committed to operating a good competitive program while not sacrificing its academic integrity in any manner.”

Miscellaneous: The College Sports Information Directors of America will partner with Sports Systems Services as its official convention online registration provider beginning with the 2009 event. The company is expected to make the registration process more efficient … Akron announced that its men’s basketball team would be outfitted in shoes, uniforms, warm-ups and accessories from Nike with the LeBron James “LJ23” trademark. James played high school basketball at Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary High school from 1998-2001.