LEXINGTON, Ky. – Norfolk State head coach
Robert Jones landed on the 2025 class of the Achieving Coaching Excellence Men's College Basketball Coaching Honor Roll, announced by the organization this weekend.
The recognition marked Jones' third time on the list, previously earning the accolade in 2022 and 2024.
"Congratulations to the men's basketball honorees for 2025!" Achieving Coaching Excellence CEO Kennedy D. Wells said. "Wed dedicate this year's class of honorees to the late Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, Honor Roll '24 '23. Rest in Power, Coach!"
Started after the 2019-20 season, the College Basketball Coaching Honor Roll annually recognizes leaders in women's and men's college basketball that demonstrate tenets of coaching excellence that include on and off the court performance, community involvement, and serving as champions for college basketball, their coaching peers, and the coaching profession.
Jones led the Spartans to a fourth consecutive 20-win season in 2024-25, becoming the first MEAC team in the conference's history to produce 20 or more wins in four straight seasons. Norfolk State defeated South Carolina State 66-65 for Jones' third MEAC Tournament title, receiving MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Coach honors.
Norfolk State inked a contract extension for Jones in the offseason, signing him through the 2031-32 season.
2025 Achieving Coaching Excellence® Men's Basketball Coaching Honor Roll
Head of the Class (HOTC)
Coach Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
University of Memphis
Honor Roll (HR)
Kelvin Sampson, University of Houston (HR '24 '23 '22 '21)
James Jones, Yale University (HR '24 '22 '20)
Robert Jones, Norfolk State University (HR '24 '22)
Ritchie McKay, Liberty University (HR '21 '20)
Fred Watson, Miles College (HR '22)
Tony Skinn, George Mason University
Duane Simpkins, American University
Takayo Siddle, UNC-Wilmington
Kevin Johnson, Southern University
Lonnie Blow, Jr., Virginia State University
Erik Martin, South Carolina State University
Chris Crutchfield, University of Nebraska-Omaha
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
