Jan. 27, 2010

Boston, MA - In its continued effort to recognize some of the greats that have coached the game, CollegeInsider.com announced the creation of the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year award.

"Coach Jobe is one of the great coaches of our time," says CollegeInsider.com co-founder Joe Dwyer. "If he had coached at a high profile program he would be a household name. Today's game needs more people like Ben Jobe. He is a success as both a coach and a person. He truly is a legend in every sense of the word."

The 77-year old Jobe, who spent the majority of his career coaching at historically Black Colleges, won 524 games in 31 years. He is best known for his accomplishments at Southern University. During a ten-year stretch (1986-1995) he took the Jaguars to four NCAA Tournaments and one NIT appearance. In ten seasons he never posted a losing record at Southern.

"This is such an honor for me," says Jobe. "So many people have helped me throughout my career and they are the reason for this award. People like John McClendon, Clarence 'Big House' Gaines and so many others have helped to get where I am today. I have been truly blessed. This is the biggest honor I have ever had."

Jobe's coaching career began at Cameron High school in Nashville in 1959. His very first team won 24 games, a school record. One year later he went to West Africa to coach junior college ball. In Sierra Leone, his team posted back-to-back undefeated seasons.

He returned to the states to coach at Talladega in 1964. Throughout the 1960s and in the decades that followed, Jobe established himself as a program builder. He changed the fortunes of Alabama State and South Carolina State where he took the Bulldogs to five NAIA Tournaments in five seasons. In 1979 Jobe took over at the University of Denver. The program had suffered through 11 straight losing seasons, but under Jobe's guidance the Pioneers finished 15-12 in his first season. One year later Denver won 20 games and had its first postseason invite since 1947.

Jobe went on to the NBA's Denver Nuggets (assistant coach and director of player personnel, 1980-81); Georgia Tech University (assistant coach, 1981-82); and Alabama A&M University (head coach, 1982-86). At A&M he posted a record of 83-36 in four seasons, taking the Bulldogs to three SIAC championships and two NCAA Division II tournaments.

During the early 1970s Jobe was also a member of Frank McGuire's staff at the University of South Carolina, a staff that included Bobby Cremins and Donnie Walsh.

"It is an honor to be included in this prestigious panel to commemorate the impressive career of my friend, Ben Jobe," says Donnie Walsh, General Manager of the New York Knicks. "Ben was not only a great coach, but a wonderful mentor for generations of young athletes. I consider it a privilege to have a vote for Coach of the Year honors."

Walsh and Bobby Cremins are among the 30 members of the Ben Jobe Award selection committee, which includes Tony Bennett (Virginia), William Brown (Talladega), Tim Carter (South Carolina State), Paul Hewitt (Georgia Tech), Arthur Hightower (San Diego Chargers), Avery Johnson (ESPN), Leon Kerry (CIAA Commissioner), Floyd Keith (Black Coaches Association), Jim Larranaga (George Mason), Vann Pettaway (Alabama A&M), Tubby Smith (Minnesota), Mike Wilson (Washington Wizards) and Steve Yoder (New York Knicks).

The Ben Jobe Award will be presented annually to the top minority coach in Division I college basketball. The finalists for the award will be announced in early March and the winner will announced on Friday, April 2 at the Final Four in Indianapolis, IN.