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MAIN PHONE NUMBER: 903.927.3300
MAIN FAX NUMBER: 903.923.0021


Janet Eaton, Director of Athletics

Janet Eaton, a coaching veteran with over 14 years of experience, entered her first year on the Lady Wildcats staff in July 2008. Prior to Wiley College, Eaton worked at Lamar University out of Beaumont, Texas where she served as interim head coach.

While serving as the interim head coach, she led the Lady Cardinals to the seventh position in the Southland Conference Tournament. Overall, Eaton's record as interim head coach was 2-3. Before coming to Wiley, Eaton served as assistant women's basketball coach at Lamar, as well as director of athletics and head women's basketball coach at Xavier Preparatory High School in New Orleans, La. While at Xavier Prep, she was named Metro Coach of the Year, Co-Catholic Coach of the Year and the Orleans Parish Coach of the Year. Eaton also guided her 2002 team to district, bi-district and regional championships.

Eaton spent 5 years at St. Bernard High School before accepting the job at Xavier Prep. She was coach of the year in 1998 and 1999, leading her team to district and bi-district titles in both years. In addition to coaching, Eaton's credentials include collegiate playing experience. From 1992-94, she played shooting guard under legendary Coach Mary D. Teamer at Dillard University. Originally from Eastabuchie, Mississippi, Eaton was a prep star at South Jones High School under Phillip James. She helped to lead South Jones to the 1988 Mississippi High School State Championship, completing the season with an undefeated 37-0 record.

Eaton earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Health and Physical Education from Dillard University in 1994. She also received a Master's of Education from the University of Phoenix in 2001. She has one son..


Andre Payne, Associate Director of Athletics

Andre Payne, is a native of Auburn, Alabama. Mr. Payne came to Wiley College with several years of coaching experience.  In his first season (2006-2007) at Wiley College, Payne and the Wildcats captured a Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Title (the first title for men's basketball in almost ten years). The Wildcats also qualified for the National Tournament for the first time in 37 years.

Under Andre Payne’s leadership, Wiley College Athletics Department has continued to flourish academically while significantly improving athletically.  The athletics department continues to maintain a higher GPA than the general student-body on campus. Men's basketball was awarded the Champion of Character award in 2007.  Baseball qualified for the regional tournament for the first time since joining the RRAC.  Volleyball has become one of the elite teams of the conference, going from the bottom of the conference to finishing second in the 2007 season.  Women's basketball finished the 2007-2008 season with 29-7 record, qualifying for Nationals for the first time in Wiley's history. 

Payne began his coaching career as the assistant coach for men's basketball at Texas College in 1999.  Two years later in 2001, he accepted the position of head coach, making him the youngest head coach at a college or four- year university.  During his tenure at Texas College, Payne served as the chairperson for the RRAC coaches’ committee. 

Payne graduated from Auburn High School in 1993 and was named the district's MVP.  Coach Payne has a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Alabama A & M University and a masters degree in Human Performance & Sports from New Mexico Highland University. Coach Payne is married and has two sons.

Coach James H. Hodges, Assistant to Director of Athletics



A native of Houston, Texas, Coach James H. Hodges enters his 12th year as an employee of the Wiley College Department of Athletics. James Hodges attended Jack Yates High School from 1941-1945 and continued to pursue his undergraduate education at Wiley College, obtaining the Bachelor of Science in 1950 from Texas Southern University. He received his Master’s of Education in 1965.

Coach Hodges has worn many hats; in 1968, he began his officiating career with the Southwestern Athletic Conference officiating both basketball and football. In 1972, he was the Assistant Principal at Marshall High School. Coach Hodges reunited with the Wiley College Family in 1996 as the Director of Athletics. Today, he is still mentoring and encouraging other coaches on staff to continue the Wiley Pride and adhere to traditions. Hodges is the Assistant to the Director of Athletics and Coordinator of the Alumni Gymnasium facility.

James Hodges has been happily married to his wife Rubye of 40 plus years and has three children and six grandchildren.

 

Habtom G. Keleta, Sports Information Director



Mr. Habtom Keleta, a native of Ruston, Louisiana, entered the Wiley Wildcat family in August 2009. After graduating from Ruston High School in 2002, he received a band scholarship to Ouachita Baptist University, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. While in college, he began his broadcasting career by doing color commentary for the Arkadelphia Badgers football team.

At Ouachita Baptist University (OBU), Mr. Keleta moved forward in planning his career. He wrote for the school’s newspaper, Signal. By his junior year in college, he was a key component of the woodwind section by playing the saxophone in the university's marching band. He excelled to Sports Editor of Signal, Play-by-Play Commentator for the OBU Tiger and Lady Tiger basketball teams, and was Play-by-Play Commentator for the Arkadelphia Badgers and Lady Badger’s basketball teams.

In May 2006, Mr. Keleta received his Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications, with a minor in Speech Communication from Ouachita Baptist University. Shortly after graduation, he began working for various radio stations in Arkansas.



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