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| 2010 National Collegiate Basketball HoF Davey L. Whitney |
His teams won 711 games in 35 years of coaching but Davey Whitney did so much more than win
basketball games. The “Wiz”, who earned more letters than any other athlete at Kentucky State University, brought his Alcorn State University program to heights that never seemed possible.
The Braves dominated the Southwestern Athletic Conference with nine championships and little recognition until 1979, when Whitney guided his team to a berth in the NIT, one of the first for a historically black institution. Alcorn also upset in-state rival Mississippi State in the opening round.
The next year, Alcorn earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, one of four for Whitney coached teams, and topped South Alabama in the opening round. USA Basketball has recognized Whitney’s coaching talents on several national teams and he was the recipient of the NCAA’s first Journey Award in 1972.
Whitney’s coach teams won a total of 12 SWAC championships. Whitney’s Alcorn State Braves became the first historically black college team to win an NIT game, and one year later, Alcorn became the first historically black college to win an NCAA Tournament game.
Whitney started his coaching career at Burt High School in Nashville, Tenn., and coached at Texas Southern for five years before moving to Alcorn State University.
Press Release: NCBHOF
Legendary Coach Davey L. Whitney
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