VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) Mike Helfer, who spent eight seasons at Southern Polytechnic State, was named head coach at Valdosta State on Thursday.<br>
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Helfer replaces Jim Yarbrough, who resigned to take the head coaching job at Southeastern Louisiana.<br>
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Helfer led Southern Poly to a 32-4 record last season and had 186 wins in eight seasons there. He also guided the Hornets to regular season and conference titles and a No. 1 ranking in the NAIA during the season for the first time in school history.<br>
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He inherits a team that finished fourth in the eastern division of the Gulf South Conference and had an 18-9 record last year.<br>
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(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
