MCCOMB — Area Alcorn State University alumni and fans will have the chance to meet some of the school’s newest faces tonight.

The McComb Days Inn will host M. Christopher Brown, the school’s president, as well as several of the Braves’ coaches.

New football coach Melvin Spears, new men’s basketball coach Luther Riley and women’s basketball coach Tanya Edwards will also present.

Celia Pearson, secretary of the Pike County Chapter of the Alcorn State University Alumni Association, said the audience will get a chance to meet and greet the newest faces of Alcorn State.

“The president is going to speak and the coaches are going to be introduced and speak,” Pearson said.

“Alcorn has been through quite a bit of upheaval, and people will get a chance to introduce everyone. There’s a large alumni base in the southern part of the state.”

Pearson also said the coaches for each team will try to drum up support for the school’s various athletic programs.

“They hope to have winning seasons, and they want people to come out and attend the games,” Pearson said.

“The football coach and (men’s) basketball coaches are new. The women’s basketball coach isn’t new, but a lot of people haven’t met her yet.”

Pearson also said making their presence known in the community will hopefully help with recruiting in the area.

“We’re looking for both athletes and scholars,” she said. “We want to get our name out there in that part of the state and try to encourage more kids to go to school, preferably at Alcorn.”

McComb was picked as host for the meet and greet because it was a good central location for the various alumni groups in the area, Pearson said. That includes chapters in Tylertown, Brookhaven, Liberty, Wilkinson County, Lincoln County, Marion County, Copiah County and Lawrence County, as well as McComb.

Social hour will be at 6 p.m, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Admission is $20.