More Than Just A Recruiter: Conference Champion Edition
Justin W. Brantley • March 19, 2020
With the abrupt ending to the 2019/2020 college basketball season, there are a bunch of coaches that will not receive the platform and public recognition they deserve. Black men all around the country led their teams to special seasons and it’s important to highlight their success and accomplishments. In an industry where young black assistant coaches are viewed, portrayed and pigeonholed as “Recruiting Specialists” I am taking ownership of correcting that false narrative. I’m here to lead the charge of acknowledgement, recognition & promotion of the leaders who look like me and develop young men that look like my sons. Representation matters, and these men are trailblazing inspirations to the young black coaches hoping to one day lead a program themselves. Join me in giving the following 12 coaches a virtual round of applause!
Anthony Grant (Dayton) - A10
- 29-2 Record
- 18-0 Conference Record
- 17-0 Home Record
- 1st in the Nation Field Goal % (52.5)
Anthony Grant Coaching Tree
- John Brannen (Northern Kentucky, Alabama)
- Allen Edwards (Wyoming)
- Donnie Jones (Stetson)
- Brett Nelson (Holy Cross)
- Tony Pujol (North Alabama)
- Reggie Witherspoon (Canisius)
Click here to learn more about Coach Anthony Grant.
Frank Haith (Tulsa) - AAC
- 21-10 Record
- 13-5 Conference Record
- 15-3 Home Record
- 29th in the Nation 63.5 points allowed per game
Tulsa has long been the springboard for Elite College Coaches (Danny Manning, Bill Self, Tubby Smith, and Nolan Richardson to name a few.) and when Coach Haith stepped in to replace the departing Danny Manning, it appeared that Tulsa was getting an already established Elite Head Coach vs. a rising star who would soon depart for a bigger name program. After 6 seasons, it is very clear that the University of Tulsa administration chose the right man for the job. He has already lasted longer than Manning, Self, Smith and Richardson did at the helm of the program. During his 6-season tenure at Tulsa he’s led the Golden Hurricane’s to a 116-76 (.655) record.
Frank Haith Coaching Tree
- Mike Balado (Arkansas State)
- Butch Estes (Barry)
- Dennis Felton (Cleveland State)
- Billy Kennedy (Texas A&M, Murray State)
- David Leitao (DePaul)
- Barclay Radebaugh (Charleston Southern)
Clickhereto learn more about Coach Frank Haith.
Leonard Hamilton(Florida State) - ACC
- 26-5 Record
- 16-4 Conference Record
- 13th in the Nation Steals/Game (8.81)
This year the Seminoles looked poised to build upon the success from the 2018/2019 year in which they finished 29-8 and set the school record for most wins in a season prior to falling to Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. We will never know if this would have been FSU’s 3rd straight trip to the Sweet 16. We will never know if this is the year they would have gotten to the big game. But, one thing we do know: Florida State is no longer just a football school and for that they can thank the 2019/2020 ACC Coach of The Year, Leonard Hamilton.
Leonard Hamilton Coaching Tree
Leonard Hamilton Coaching Tree
- Tim Carter (South Carolina State, UTSA, Nebraska-Omaha)
- Larry Drew (Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks)
- Weldon Drew (Langston)
- Andy Enfield (USC, Florida Gulf Coast)
- Michael Fly (Florida Gulf Coast)
- Dwight Freeman (Norfolk State)
- Dennis Gates (Cleveland State)
- Juwan Howard (Michigan)
- Kyle Keller (Stephen F. Austin, Tyler JC)
- Dickey Nutt (Southeast Missouri State, Arkansas State)
- John Phillips (Tulsa)
- Bill Self (Kansas, Illinois, Tulsa, Oral Roberts)
- Corey Williams (Stetson)
Click here to learn more about Coach Leonard Hamilton.
Ritchie McKay (Liberty University) - ASUN
- 30-4 Record
- 13-3 Conference Record
- 17-0 Home Record
- 2nd in the Nation 53.4 points allowed per game
The future was bright and promising when Coach McKay took over as the Head Coach at Liberty University in 2007. He was able to lure future NBA player Seth Curry to campus and began to build a culture of winning and excellence. At the end of his second season, Coach McKay was hand-picked by Tony Bennett to be the Associate Head Coach at the University of Virginia. During his time in Charlottesville, Coach McKay helped to stabilize the program and build them back up after going 10-18 the year before his arrival (the worst season since 1968 when they went 9-16.) He managed to help guide the Cavaliers to 3 NCAA Tournament appearances, 1 regular season ACC Championship, 1 ACC Conference Tournament Championship and a Sweet 16 appearance.
Ritchie McKay Coaching Tree
- Dale Layer (Liberty, Colorado State)
- Joel Sobotka (Portland State)
Shantay Legans (Eastern Washington) - Big Sky
- 23-8 Record
- 16-4 Conference Record
- 13-2 Home Record
- #4 in the Nation Assists per game (17.5)
Coach Legans is the youngest head coach in this group of Conference Champions. He is setting an example to young black men all around the country that age is less of a factor than preparedness. Shantay is a leader and has been that way dating back to his playing days when he served as team captain on the 2002 Fresno State team. It’s heart-breaking to see Coach Legans miss out on a shot at his first NCAA tournament as a Head Coach, but it’s clear he has figured out how to generate success at Eastern Washington and will get another opportunity soon.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sky Coach of the Year, Shantay Legans.
Mike Jones (Radford) - Big South
- 21-11 Record
- 15-3 Conference Record
- 11-4 Home Record
- 43rd in the Nation Field Goal % (46.4)
Coach Mike Jones just concluded his 9th season as Head Coach of the Radford University Highlanders. This is his first role as a collegiate Head Coach but you wouldn’t know that from the results that he is producing. This year he was on pace to return to the NCAA Tournament and build on last season’s First Four win vs. LIU Brooklyn. Back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances for Coach Jones is a sign that Radford is becoming a Big South powerhouse. If they are able to keep a larger school from stealing him away, Coach Mike Jones will look to continue to build on the success in 2020/21.
Coach Jones’ story is valuable for young coaches looking to break into the industry. He began his career as a high school coach then became an assistant and took advantage of the opportunities in front of him. He took the stairs and is now reaping the benefits. Named the 2019/2020 Big South Coach of the Year, Mike Jones’ has been rumored for a few job openings so it will be very interesting to see what he does this off-season.
Click here
to learn more about Coach Mike Jones.
James Jones (Yale) Ivy League
- 23-7 Record
- 11-3 Conference Record
- 10-1 Home Record
- 33rd in the Nation Assists per game (15.5)
Coaching success runs in the Jones family. His brother Joe is the Head Coach at Boston University, who you will read about next. With BU qualifying for the NCAA Tournament after an upset over Colgate it appeared as though we were poised to see both Jones brother’s in the field of 64. That’s a big deal to me. What shows a direct contradiction to the stereotype of Black Coaches only being great recruiters than two Black Head Coaches having massive success at High Academic schools? If recruiting was your only superpower it would be very difficult to do battle in the Ivy & Patriot leagues with the lack of Athletic Scholarships serving as your kryptonite.
James Jones has been the Head Coach of Yale Basketball for 20 years and has won over 330 games and 5 Regular Season Ivy League Championships. He has 2 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 2016 when they made it to the Round of 32, with an upset of Baylor before falling to Duke by 7. Prior to the 2016 NCAA Tournament, the birth of the Yale Bulldogs had not reached the field of 64 in over 50 years (1962). Coach Jones has brought Yale Basketball back to life and back to relevancy. This year Yale had 7 losses and only one of them was by double digits. They played Oklahoma St, Penn St, & North Carolina to close games and beat Clemson and UMass in non-conference play. They finished the season 33rd in the country with 15.5 assists per game and 47th in the nation in assists, to turnover ratio (1.20). They took care of the ball and that showed in the Win column. The Bulldogs are set to return their two top scorers for the 2020/21 season, so I’m looking for them to continue their winning ways.
James Jones Coaching Tree
- Rob Senderoff (Kent State)
Joe Jones (Boston University) - Patriot League
- 21-13 Record
- 12-6 Conference Record
- 12-3 Home Record
- 56th in the Nation Field Goal % (46)
Coach Jones has been the Head Coach at Boston University since 2011 and has done very well in the Patriot League. He won the Patriot League title in 2014 and this year won the Patriot League Tournament securing his ticket to the big dance, but then the ball was cancelled. We will never know if this was Coach Jones’ & BU’s chance to play Cinderella, but what we do know is that the Jones Brothers understand high academic basketball! Most people will never know the challenges that come along with building an elite basketball program at a high academic institution, but the Jones Brothers appear to have it figured out.
This season, the Terriers started off slow but showed signs of promise and then peaked at the right moment. When they defeated South Carolina 78-70 on the road, I knew they had a chance. They finished the season 56th in the country in Field Goal Percentage (46%), 79th in Assist to Turnover ratio (1.13) and on a 4-game win streak and upset over Colgate in the Patriot League Championship game. With only one starter graduating this year, Boston University is in strong position to build upon this season’s success!
Joe Jones Coaching Tree
- Jim Engles (Columbia, NJIT)
- Carmen Maciariello (Siena)
- Jack Perri (Southern New Hampshire)
Click here
to learn more about Coach Joe Jones.
Mark Montgomery (Northern Illinois) - MAC-West
- 18-13 Record
- 11-7 Conference Record
- 11-4 Home Record
- 43rd in the Nation Rebounds per game (38.5)
In March 2011, Northern Illinois hired Coach Mark Montgomery to take over a struggling Huskies program. He had already assisted in the turnaround of the Central Michigan program (taking them from worst in the MAC to first in the MAC as an assistant in 2000/2001) and helped to build his Alma-Mater Michigan State to prominence, with 3 trips to the Final Four in his nine seasons as Assistant Coach & Associate Head Coach. Coach Montgomery had a 21-win season in 2015/16 and appeared poised to make NIU a perennial contender in the conference but struggled to replicate that success over the last couple of years. Could the 2019/2020 season be just what is needed in DeKalb to turn things around? The Huskies are losing their leading scorer and 3 starters from this year’s team but Trendon Hankerson (Sophomore; 7.5ppg), Darius Beane (Sophomore; 7.3ppg), and Tyler Coachran (Freshman; 5.5ppg) are all ready to step up and carry the load. We will all be watching as they take the court in 2020/21.
Click here
to learn more about Coach Mark Montgomery.
LeVelle Moton (North Carolina Central) - MEAC
- 18-13 Record
- 13-3 Conference Record
- 12-0 Home Record
- 20th in the Nation in Steals per game (8.39)
LeVelle Moton Coaching Tree
- Luke D’Alessio (Fayetteville State)
Byron Smith (Prairie View A&M) - SWAC
- 19-13 Record
- 14-4 Conference Record
- 12-0 Home Record
- 81st in the Nation in Assists per game (14.5)
Click here
to learn more about Coach Byron Smith.
Darrell Walker (University of Arkansas-Little Rock) - Sun Belt
- 21-10 Record
- 15-5 Conference Record
- 13-2 Home Record
- 35th in the Nation in Assists per game (14.9)
Darrell Walker Coaching Tree
- Butch Beard (Morehead State)
- Butch Carter (Toronto Raptors)
- Juwan Howard (Michigan)
- Tree Rollins (Washington Mystics, Greenville Groove)
- Damon Stoudamire (Pacific)
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