Alabama A&M hires Otis Hughley, Jr. as head men’s coach

Alabama A&M announced on Monday the hiring of Otis Hughley, Jr. as its next head men’s basketball coach. Hughley has experience at the high school, college, professional and international stages, recently coaching the Nigerian women’s national team in the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

He served as the head coach at LeFlore HS in Mobile, AL for six years, winning a state championship in 2007 and coaching future NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins. He also worked with the Auburn women’s team in 2018-19.

“Not only does Otis bring a wealth of experience at every level possible, but he also knows Alabama having gone to school and coached in the state,” said AD Bryan Hicks. “His knowledge of the landscape and his ability to recruit globally and move players to the professional ranks is a combination that will benefit this program, and more importantly our student-athletes, for years to come.”

This is the first D-I head coaching job for Hughley, who previously helmed the men’s and women’s teams at Wallace Community College in Selma, AL in the 1990s. He then worked as an assistant at Wright State, Liberty, and Southern, the latter as associate head coach under the legendary Ben Jobe. He also worked for more than a decade with the famed Pete Newell Big Man Camp.

“It is an honor to be named head coach of the Alabama A&M men’s basketball program,” said Hughley. “I would like to thank Dr. Daniel Wims, Bryan Hicks and the entire search committee for the faith they have placed in me to lead this program and develop young men both athletically and academically. I am excited to get to work with our young men and immerse myself as part of the Bulldog Family.”

credit to Alabama A&M Athletics for the image