Tuskegee University has announced the hiring of its new men’s basketball coach. President Brian Johnson, Ph.D. and Athletic Director, Curtis Campbell, have selected former New York Knicks assistant coach, Jerry M. Dunn, to lead the Golden Tigers basketball team. Dunn replaces Leon Douglas, who resigned in July.
Dunn has more than 30 years of combined experience as a men’s basketball head coach, associate head coach and assistant coach of NBA and Division I men’s basketball programs. He has a successful track record of recruiting, scouting and developing young talent. He is committed to the academic success of his players. He achieved an average 98 percent graduation rate per season, with several students continuing a career in both U.S. and international professional basketball leagues.
"We are excited about the new addition of Coach Dunn to the Tuskegee University family. He is a coach with influence beyond basketball," Tuskegee University president, Dr. Brian L. Johnson said. "His accomplishments within the Big Ten Conference as well as the NBA are the types of achievement and success that we look forward to as Tuskegee’s well-known tradition is propelled into its new trajectory."
Dunn has served the New York Knicks since 2012 and was instrumental in the team advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Dunn created and implemented individual workouts for on court skill development. He also was an instructor for the Tim Grgurich NBA Skills Development Camp.
From 2007 to 2010, he served as the associate head men’s basketball coach for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he helped lead the men’s basketball team to an appearance in the 2009 NCAA tournament after an 11-year absence.
From 2003 to 2007, he served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at West Virginia University in Morgantown and helped the team win the 2007 National Invitational Tournament (NIT). In 2006, the team placed 3rd in the Big East Regular Season, and advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. In 2005, the team was runner up in the Big East Tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
From 1995 to 2003, he was the head men’s basketball coach at Penn State University. Coach Dunn led his team to its first Top Ten ranking and an NCAA tournament appearance in his first season. In 2001 he led Penn State to the Big Ten Tournament semi-finals and to a number 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament; Penn State beat number 2 seed, North Carolina, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in over half a century. Coach Dunn reached 50 wins and 100 wins faster than any other head men’s basketball coach in Penn State history.
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to be Tuskegee University’s head basketball coach," Dunn said. "My staff and family look forward to doing special things at a very special place. I am proud to represent the great Tuskegee brand and tradition."
Dunn has a bachelor’s degree in science and education from George Mason University.
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
