by Elton Alexander, Plain Dealer Reporter , Plain Dealer

The Akron 2009-10 men's basketball schedule, while not yet official, seems to be nearly set in the debut season for 7-foot recruit Zeke Marshall, ranked as one of the nation's top centers in the incoming freshman class.

Look for the Zips to play North Carolina State, Drake and Howard in a season-opening tournament in Florida. Also on the docket will be games with Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Niagara, Texas A&M, Malone, North Carolina-Greensboro, St. Francis, Valparaiso, Austin Peay, Wyoming and Rhode Island.

Kent State's men's schedule is close to being finalized, and will include Norfolk State, Samford and Rochester College, along with games against Pittsburgh, Xavier and UAB.

Musical chairs: Dambrot announced Tuesday the addition of former Ohio State assistant coach Dan Peters to his staff in the position of director of basketball operations, and the promotion of former Akron director of basketball operations Rick McFadden to assistant coach.

McFadden's promotion fills a spot left vacant by the April departure of associate head coach Jeff Boals for an assistant job at Ohio State.

More hiring: Akron women's basketball coach Jodi Kest announced the hiring of Curtis Loyd as associate head coach.

Loyd, formerly an assistant and director of player development at the University of Virginia, has 13 years of coaching experience in the Atlantic Coast, Pacific-10 and Mountain West.

Making his mark: New Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher is starting to put his imprint on the league office as he has released three longtime employees in Gary Richter, assistant commissioner for media relations; Aimee DuPree-Chambers, assistant commissioner for special events; and Krista Plummer, director of sport programs.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexander@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

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