Southern University Alum Claims
Coaching Honors on Way to Playoffs

Avery Johnson, who played his final two collegiate seasons at Southern University in Louisiana, was recently named the National Basketball Association’s 2006 Coach of the Year, making him only the fifth Black head coach to claim the honor. Johnson, head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, has led the team to the Western Conference Finals in his first full season at the helm.

While at the historically Black college in Baton Rouge,  Johnson led the NCAA in assists as a junior and senior, according to the NBA.com. He was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year and the MVP of the conference tournament both seasons as well. He still holds several NCAA Division I records including the most assists in a single game, the highest single season assists average and the highest career assists average.

Says Greg LaFleur, Southern University’s athletic director, “Words can’t describe how proud we are and what Avery means to us. Now we can point him out to prospective students and say, ‘When you come to Southern, you can achieve anything.’ He has really given back to Southern both financially and with his personal time.”

— By Frank J. Matthews

© Copyright 2006 by DiverseEducation.com

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