NORFOLK, Va. – The Advancement of Blacks in Sports (ABIS) organization has unveiled its 2025–26 Black Coaches Watchlist, with Norfolk State men's basketball head coach Robert Jones earning a spot on the list.

Jones was named one of 16 NCAA Division I men's head coaches selected for this year's watchlist. Also included is fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) head coach Kenneth Blakeney of Howard.

Jones guided the Spartans to a 15-17 overall record during the 2025-26 season, highlighted by a quarterfinal appearance in the MEAC Basketball Tournament. He also reached a career milestone on Feb. 21, recording his 250th career coaching victory as Norfolk State defeated South Carolina State 90-71 inside Joseph G. Echols Hall.

Now in his 13th season leading the Spartans, Coach Jones holds an overall record of 251–175. During his tenure, he has guided Norfolk State to 143 conference wins, five MEAC regular-season titles, and three MEAC Tournament championships.

Jones has also been named MEAC Coach of the Year three times and has coached 38 All-MEAC honorees, including three MEAC Players of the Year.

Now in its fifth year, the ABIS Black Coaches Watchlist has become a resource for athletics administrators and search firms seeking to identify and elevate coaching talent across college basketball.

"Our committee has robust discussions about the names that make our list," said Ingrid Wicker McCree, Chief Operating Officer of ABIS and a member of the Basketball Coaches Watchlist Committee. "The hard data we gather on the coaches and the anecdotal data we have about the coaches inform our selections. Ensuring that HBCUs and other divisions are represented is a significant part of the evolution of the watchlist. We are proud to do this work each year."

ABOUT ABIS
ABIS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring how sports drive equity, build community, and shape legacy beyond the game. Founded by Gary Charles, widely known as the "Godfather of Grassroots Basketball" in New York, the organization launched in September 2020.

ABIS partners with prominent sports figures, social justice advocates, and leaders across the industry. Its membership includes coaches, administrators, athletes, academicians, civil rights attorneys, social justice influencers, and diversity, equity, and inclusion advocates. For more information, visit www.weareabis.org.
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