Occidental linebacker Josh Jansen and quarterback Tyler Paopao were selected in the CFL draft on Thursday, April 25, the only two Division III players taken. Only players with Canadian citizenship are eligible to be drafted.

Jansen, 6-0 and 246 pounds, was drafted in the third round by the Montreal Alouettes as the 23rd overall pick. The second linebacker overall taken in the draft, Jansen was named All-SCIAC three times and was fifth in Division III in total tackles with nearly 15 a game.

Paopao (6-0, 195) was selected in the sixth round by the Ottawa Renegades. Since Paopao will be a senior in the 2002 season, his rights were allocated to the Renegades and he will available to play in the CFL in 2003. Paopao was the Tigers' quarterback in 2001 and was also selected first team all-SCIAC.

Ottawa's head coach, Joe Paopao, is Tyler's father. The Renegades are an expansion team in 2002. "With the (last) six selections, we chose to draft all futures," said Ottawa general manager Eric Tillman, "meaning we expect them to return to their universities in 2002, based on remaining eligibility. This group of six, however, should make tremendous contributions to our organization in years to come."

"We're very excited for both of them, they're both great players," said head coach Dale Wildoff. "We're glad people will get to see what quality of football we have at Occidental College."

The Tigers finished 8-1 in 2001 and won the SCIAC championship.

NEW YORK – The Tennessee Titans selected UW-Stout cornerback Tony Beckham with the 17th pick of the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft, making him the first Division III draft selection since 2000, and the Atlanta Falcons took Widener wideout Michael Coleman with the sixth pick of the seventh round. Keith McMillan got Beckham's reaction in Around the Nation, plus a look at proposed new seeding criteria for the 2002 playoffs and some tidbits from the 2002 schedules.

It was the first time two Division III players had been selected in the same draft since 1992, when the draft was still 12 rounds.

Beckham, who impressed scouts in the Blue-Gray game and the workouts leading up to it, also saw his stock rise during the Gridiron Classic and was taken 115th overall. The last Division III player drafted was Rowan defensive tackle Tim Watson, by Seattle in the sixth round, 185th overall, in 2000. Beckham had just one interception and seven passes broken up this past season as opponents elected to throw away from his side. The 6-3, 195-pounder averaged 24.1 yards per kickoff return.

If Beckham sticks, he will be the second player to go from UW-Stout to the NFL in as many seasons, following defensive lineman Jeff Hazuga, who signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings last April.

Coleman caught 74 passes for 1,681 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Pioneers, who went 12-1 and advanced to the national quarterfinals in 2001. He also returned kickoffs for an average of 20.6 yards. The 5-11, 195-pounder also returned kickoffs for an average of 20.6 yards. He was taken 217th overall.

On Friday, Rowan wide receiver Scott Lipford signed a free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers, who had already signed Menlo wideout Nate Jackson.

Free agent signings previously released and confirmed include St. Norbert linebacker Jerimiah Janssen, who signed with the New York Jets; Hardin-Simmons wide receiver Kirk Rogers, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs; and Brockport State linebacker Jason Johnson, with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The New York Giants signed Montclair State quarterback Ed Collins. UW-La Crosse had two players sign with the Green Bay Packers: defensive back and return man Jeremy Unertl, and long snapper Mike Kraemer, a defensive end for La Crosse. Widener wide receiver Jim Jones signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The standard NFL rookie contract is a three-year, non-guaranteed deal, contingent upon making the team in training camp.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Neal Mitchell has been named head coach at Greensboro College, announced athletics director Kim Strable. He replaces Marion Kirby, who compiled a 16-32 mark in GC's first five years of intercollegiate football.

Mitchell arrives from Colorado College where he has coached since 1997. He served as assistant head coach last year for the Tigers, and as the defensive coordinator for the past five seasons.

In 2001, Mitchell's defense recorded shutouts of Principia and Trinity Bible and held opponents to just 293 yards per game. Colorado College finished 3-6.

"Neal Mitchell is a high-energy, charismatic leader who truly understands that football is a value-added dimension of higher education," said Strable. "He is committed to pursuing qualified student-athletes whose passion is learning – both on and off the playing field."

A 1992 graduate of Washington U., Mitchell was a four-year starter at defensive end and an all-conference selection as a senior. He received his Master's of science in physical education from Trinity (Texas) last year.

Mitchell's coaching resume also includes stops at Vanderbilt (1994) as an administrative assistant, Louisiana State (1995) as a graduate assistant and Washington U. (1996) as defensive line coach.

While at LSU, Mitchell was on a staff that led the Tigers to a bowl game win against Michigan State. During that same season, LSU recorded its first winning season in six years. At Washington U., he was part of a conference champion team.

Mitchell and his wife, Jennifer, have a 3-year-old son, Jack, and a newborn daughter, Abbey.

"Successful football teams run the football and can stop the run on defense," said Mitchell. "I also believe in putting student-athletes in the best possible situation for success. If that means learning new schemes, then that's what our staff will do."

GLASSBORO, N.J. – Rowan has selected John "Jay" Accorsi as its head football coach, it was announced April 2 by athletic director Joy Reighn. Accorsi, 38, takes over the head position from K.C. Keeler after nine years as an assistant coach with the Profs. The past two years Accorsi has been the defensive coordinator. He switched over to the defensive side of the ball in 1995. Accorsi started with the Profs as a graduate assistant in 1993.

"I am extremely pleased and excited to name Jay Accorsi as the new head football coach at Rowan University," stated Reighn. "Jay knows the players and program better than anyone and he fully understands the expectations and mission of our football program. This program will not skip a beat under his direction and his leadership abilities will enable us to accomplish our ultimate goals."

"It has always been a goal of mine to become a head football coach at the collegiate level," said Accorsi. "I am very anxious to continue the winning tradition here at Rowan University. We have a great group of returning players for next year and with the blend of what looks to be another tremendous recruiting class, the program's future looks very bright."

Prior to Rowan, Accorsi was an assistant football and baseball coach at Nichols from 1989-93. He coached the wide receivers and quarterbacks. In baseball, Accorsi coached the outfielders and infielders.

Accorsi graduated from Nichols in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He earned a master's in sports science from the U.S. Sports Academy in 1992 and a master's in business administration from Rowan in 1997. At Nichols, Accorsi was a running back for four years and was captain of the football team his senior year.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Marion Kirby, the only football coach Greensboro has ever had, resigned his position April 1, announced Athletic Director Kim Strable.

Kirby led the Pride to its second consecutive 5-5 season last year – tied for the best finish in the history of GC football. In his five seasons leading GC, Kirby compiled a 16-32 mark.

"I"ve been preparing for upcoming seasons the past 35 years," Kirby said. "The fire just wasn"t there this time."

Kirby joined Greensboro after an illustrious 30-year high school head coaching career that saw his teams compile a 278-65-8 record.

"Coach Kirby was able to build competitive teams from scratch, and we're proud of the product he leaves us with. Most people never knew that we did not conduct a coach search when we hired Marion," said Strable. "I knew he was the man we needed to start our football program, and he never disappointed me."

Kirby was hired in August 1996, in preparation for the 1997 season. In addition to recruiting coaches and players, Kirby needed to find a place to play and practice. When he took over the program, Greensboro "did not even have a chin strap," said Kirby.

GC"s 1997 team, composed primarily of freshmen, finished 0-9 against a competitive Division III schedule. In 1998, the Pride went 3-7, winning three of its last four games. The following year, Greensboro went 3-6.

"I"m pleased with the job we did," Kirby said. "Sure, we would"ve liked to have won more games, but we built a competitive program. We had two straight 5-5 seasons and have a good nucleus of players returning next fall."

"I never say never, but I don"t think I"ll return to coaching," Kirby said. "There are some other opportunities out there."