For the second straight year, an HBCU basketball coach has taken home a prestigious award as Norfolk State’s Robert Jones was named the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year.
Jones was one of 20 finalists for the award among a field that included Saint Peter’s head coach Shaheen Holloway, who led the first-ever 15-seed to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
April 1, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LA — The 2022 Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year award.
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— College Insider Inc. (@collegeinsider) April 1, 2022
This past season, Jones led Norfolk State to the best record in the MEAC during the regular season at 24-7, including 12-2 in MEAC play.
Also read: First-place Coppin State splits twin bill versus MEAC foe Norfolk State
He has coached Norfolk State to three 20-win seasons in his nine years since taking over the program.
The Spartans cruised through the MEAC tournament defeating Delaware State, Morgan State and Coppin State to clinch an NCAA Tournament berth for the second consecutive season.
Established in 2009, the Hugh Durham award is given out to the top head coach in a mid-major Division I basketball program.
Jones is the third HBCU head coach to ever win the award joining Prairie View’s Byron Smith and former Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman.
Jones is not done passing down his leadership just yet this season as he will be coaching in the HBCU All-Star Game set to take place on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET airing on CBS TV Network.
