Lincoln University (Mo.) Mourns the Passing of Coach Corbett

JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI -- The Lincoln athletic department mourns the passing of former head men's basketball coach Donald Corbett, who died from cancer at the age of 75. A member of both the Lincoln University Athletic Hall of Fame and the MIAA Hall of Fame,

Few head coaches have been able to equal the level of success enjoyed by Corbett during his eight seasons (1971-79) at the helm of Lincoln's men's basketball team. The all-time winningest coach in Blue Tiger history, Corbett led LU to 159 victories compared to 59 losses for a .729 winning percentage. Included in that total is a 71-25 record in the MIAA (.739), with both marks standing as the best by any coach in the program's history. Corbett guided the Blue Tigers to NCAA tournament appearances in five of his eight seasons, including the 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 campaigns.

Corbett led LU to three MIAA regular season titles (1972, 1975 and 1977) as well as the 1977 MIAA tournament championship. During his eight years at Lincoln, the Blue Tigers never won fewer than 17 games and never lost more than nine. Three times Corbett's squads finished with 22-6 records, with the 22 wins standing as the second-most by any team in program history. In both the 1971-72 and 1976-77 campaigns, Corbett coached Lincoln to 11-1 records in MIAA play, with the 11 conference wins remaining to this day a program record. Corbett joins the legendary Dwight T. Reed (1955-59) as the only two multiyear LU coaches to never have a losing season.

During his time with the Blue Tigers, Corbett coached some of the best players in Lincoln history, including Harold Robertson, who led NCAA Division II in scoring with a 34.5 average in 1977-78 and was twice the MIAA's scoring champion. Following that 1977-78 campaign, both Robertson and teammate Tim Abney were named All-MIAA first team selections. Among the other notable players coached by Corbett are LaMonte Pruitt, the MIAA's scoring leader in 1972-73, and James Hampton (1971-72), James Edwards (1974-75) and Vince Humphrey (1975-76), who all were MIAA single-season rebounding leaders. During his eight seasons at Lincoln, Corbett coached six players who were selected All-MIAA, including Pruitt, who earned the distinction three times, and Robertson, who was recognized twice. Both Robertson and Pruitt are also enshrined in the MIAA Hall of Fame.

Following his tremendous success at Lincoln, Corbett went on to coach at North Carolina A&T, where he posted a record of 249-133 (.651) over 14 seasons. Corbett took A&T to seven MEAC regular season championships and seven MEAC tournament championships, with those seven tourney titles tying the University of Kentucky for the most consecutive tournament championships. A six-time MEAC Coach of the Year, Corbett led A&T to seven NCAA tournament appearances. Due to his numerous achievements, Corbett is enshrined in the MEAC Hall of Fame and the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame, and the basketball court at North Carolina A&T bears his name.

Corbett attended Lincoln University and met his wife, Freda, to whom he was married for 44 years until her passing in 2009. He is survived by four children: Don Corbett of Raleigh, Derrick Corbett of Philadelphia, Pa., Darren Corbett of Greensboro, and Denise Corbett of Durham; his sister, Gail Garfield of Manhattan, N.Y., two daughter-in-laws, Wendy Gates Corbett of Raleigh and Ana Matore Corbett of Greensboro; and two grandchildren, Jalen Michael Corbett and Cameron Matthew Corbett, both of Greensboro.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS