TIERRA
TERRY
WSSU’s Tierra Terry wins Gaines Coach of the Year award
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (April 6, 2026) — Winston-Salem State University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Tierra Terry has been named the Clarence “Big House” Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
“This honor is incredibly meaningful, especially given Coach Gaines’ legacy and what he represents to the game and to Winston-Salem State University,” Terry said. “I’m grateful for our student-athletes, our staff and the support of Ram Nation. This recognition reflects the hard work and commitment of our entire program.”
Terry will be honored at the NSMA’s 66th awards banquet June 29, 2026, at Grandover Resort & Spa — a Wyndham Grand Hotel — in Greensboro, N. C.
The Clarence “Big House” Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year award is presented to head coaches in NCAA Divisions I and II who may not receive recognition from mainstream outlets. The awards are voted on by an NSMA committee at the conclusion of the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments.
Previous winners include Dawn Staley, who has won three DI national championships as head coach of the women’s team at the University of South Carolina. Joining Terry as a Gaines Award recipient this year is Jai Lucas, head men’s basketball coach at the University of Miami. The Hurricanes went 26-9 on the year.
The Lady Rams had a stellar season, embracing excellence both on and off the hardwood. They finished the year 28-4, going a perfect 13-0 at home and 14-2 in conference play earning Co-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division Champion honors before winning the first CIAA Tournament Championship in program history.
In their NCAA DII Tournament debut, the Lady Rams won their first two games in wire-to-wire fashion by 17 and 19 points, respectively, before losing in the Atlantic Regional Sweet 16 final round.
Terry was named CIAA Coach of the Year, and Breonna Roaf was named CIAA Rookie of the Year. Under Terry’s leadership, 13 Lady Rams earned a spot on the CIAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, which required a minimum 3.0 GPA, and the student-athletes performed community service by passing out water at the annual Mistletoe Run sponsored by the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina and reading to Ward Elementary students.
The Lady Rams’ success inspired the Winston-Salem community while garnering regional, statewide and national acclaim for the institution.
“The Clarence “Big House” Gaines Coach of the Year award is highly prestigious, particularly because of the legend after whom it’s named,” said Winston-Salem State University Interim Athletic Director Eric Burns.
“I’m sure Coach Terry will treasure this much-deserved accolade and use it as inspiration to push her student-athletes to continue their winning ways on and off the court in the upcoming 2026-27 basketball season and beyond. Because of Coach Terry, I am confident WSSU Women’s Basketball will keep rising.”
Clarence “Big House” Gaines coached basketball at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) for 47 years, from 1946 to 1993, compiling an 828–447 record.
He led the Rams to 18 20-win seasons, eight CIAA titles, and in 1967 led WSSU to a Division II NCAA Championship, making the Rams the first basketball program from a historically black college or university to capture an NCAA national championship.
Johnny Jones leaving Texas Southern to return to LSU
From HBCU Legends
Kyle Mosley, editor at online site HBCU Legends, received direct confirmation from Texas Southern Head Men’s Basketball coach Johnny Jones on Tuesday that he is departing the TSU program to join Will Wade’s staff at LSU as an assistant coach, ending weeks of speculation and bringing a significant chapter of HBCU basketball to a close.
The move ends an eight-year run for Jones in Houston, where he built Texas Southern into one of the most consistent programs in the SWAC. Under his leadership, the Tigers made four NCAA Tournament appearances, won nine consecutive postseason berths, and claimed the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament victory in 2021. Jones finishes his TSU tenure with a 133-125 record in conference play and a 90-49 mark in SWAC action.
Jones had previously pushed back on reports of his departure. When HBCU Legends first reached him in late March, he called early resignation reports “bogus” and “disappointing,” confirming only that he was “in discussions” with LSU but that “nothing is concrete.” Tuesday’s confirmation from Jones directly to HBCU Legends closes that chapter definitively.
The move is a homecoming in the truest sense. Jones is a Louisiana native who played at LSU from 1980 to 1984, appearing on the Tigers’ 1981 Final Four squad as a freshman. He later spent 12 seasons on Dale Brown’s LSU staff as an assistant, helping guide the program to another Final Four in 1986. He returned as LSU’s head coach from 2012 to 2017, going 90-72 and coaching 2016 No. 1 NBA Draft pick Ben Simmons — the most wins by any LSU head coach in their first five seasons. Wade succeeded Jones at LSU in 2017.
The announcement comes on the heels of Alabama State head coach Tony Madlock’s departure to join Penny Hardaway’s staff at Memphis and Mo Williams’s decision to leave as head coach at Jackson State to join his son Mason at Kentucky, making Jones the third prominent HBCU head coach to step down for a Power conference assistant role in recent weeks.
Jones brings more than three decades of Division I coaching experience to Baton Rouge — 34 years in total, including 18 as a head coach. His SWAC recruiting network, Louisiana roots, and HBCU credibility give Wade’s staff direct access to a talent pipeline few assistants can offer. He also carries name recognition from his time coaching NBA talent including Simmons, Ben Simmons, Tim Quarterman, Jordan Mickey, and Jarrell Martin during his LSU tenure.
Texas Southern, who finished 17-18 overall and 10-8 in the 2025-26 SWAC regular season before bowing to Alabama A&M in the SWAC Tournament quarterfinals, now faces a significant rebuilding moment in its coaching staff. HBCU Legends reached out to leadership at TSU without a response.
Jones had signed a three-year contract extension in 2024 that would have kept him in Houston through the 2029 season.
Fifth HBCU All-Star game caps exciting week of activities in college basketball’s final weekend in Indianapolis
Team Sam Jones defeated Team Bob Dandridge 96-89 Sunday at the fifth-annual HBCU All-Star Game at the Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis before the NCAA Div. I national championship game on Monday.
Senior guard Larry Howell of CIAA champion Fayetteville State was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after tallying a game high 23 points for Team Jones. Howell was 9 of 12 from the field and 3 of 4 from the 3-point line.
He added six rebounds and three assists.
Joining him in double-digit scoring for Team Jones were four others including Kentavious Dozier of Alabama A&M with 15 points, SWAC champion Prairie View A&M’s Dontae Horne with 12, Corey Wells of Prairie View with 11 points and 7 rebounds, and Tyler Shirley of Florida A&M with 10. Team Jones had players from the SWAC, CIAA and one player from Hampton.
The leading scorer for Team Dandridge was Aaron Nkrumah of Tennessee State with 19 points. Nkrumah was 12 of 12 from the free throw line. Also scoring double figures for Team Dandridge were Bryce Harris of Howard with 17, Xavier Long of Hampton with 15 and Anthony McComb III of Norfolk State with 12.
“The game was very competitive and very efficient offensively,” said legendary coach Cy Alexander, part of the scouting committee that chose the team. Alexander also did color commentary for the game that aired on Wish TV but will be re-aired on BET at a date to be determined.
Both teams shot over 40% from the field with Team Jones shooting 54.7% from the field and 89% from the line.
The game capped a full week of “Black Excellence” said Alexander, that included a social justice forum, a career fair and awards ceremony.
“It’s all a God-driven vision by HBCU All-Star Founder and CEO Travis Williams and his wife, Kya.”
