Director of Athletics Donnita Drain-Rogers has announced the appointment of Philip Stitt as the head men’s basketball coach at Langston University. Stitt has more than 25 years of coaching experience, including seven years at the NCAA DI level, ten years at the NCAA DII level and 11 years at the junior college level.
“I am
more than thrilled and excited to see the direction of Langston
University men’s basketball under Coach Stitt,” Director of Athletics
Donnita Drain-Rogers said. “We had a tremendous pool of candidates which
included over 60 applicants with various coaching backgrounds from
successful high school coaches all the way up to the NCAA DI level.
Through it all we had a great screening committee comprised of several
alumni, including former lettermen athletes, and current administrators
at Langston University. Coach (Philip) Stitt came through with shining
colors. He has a rich experience of coaching at other HBCUs
(Historically Black Colleges and Universities), tremendous championship
experience, and he’s a proven winner and recruiter.”
Stitt most
recently coached at Marion Military Institute (MMI) in Marian, Ala.
where he led MMI to a 77-33 record over the past four seasons. During
that time span, Stitt has coached two NJCAA All-Americans, two ACCC
All-Region 22 performers and three NJCAA Academic All-Americans while
consistently being ranked in the top 25 and clinching the ACCC/NJCAA
Region 22 Championship in 2015-16. Stitt has also received coaching
accolades during his time at MMI where he was named the NJCAA Region II
Coach of the Year, the NJCAA District 12 Coach of the Year and
Birmingham’s Tip-off Club’s Alabama Junior College Coach of the Year in
2015-16. Over the span of 28 seasons, Stitt holds a record of 100-68 at
MMI and a career coaching record of 215-156.
“I’m very excited,
particularly after meeting with President (Dr. Kent J.) Smith, Jr.,
Director of Athletics Donnita (Drain) Rogers and the search committee,”
the first-year head coach said. “Everybody has a passion for Langston
University and I’m looking forward to working in that type of
environment. One of the factors that stood out to me about Langston
University is the people. In this business, the people are important.
I’m excited to get started.’
Of Stitt, President Kent J. Smith,
Jr., said “During the screening process, Coach Stitt showed tremendous
attention to detail and his ability to recruit stood out. He also brings
impressive HBCU experience which will serve him well at Langston
University. I am confident that Coach Stitt will lead our Lions to
continued success on and off the court.”
Stitt’s coaching career
began in 1991 as an assistant at Florida Community College at
Jacksonville, Fla. After spending three seasons with the Stars, he moved
on as the assistant coach at NCAA DI Jacksonville University. In 1997
Stitt joined the coaching staff at Fayetteville State University in
Fayetteville, N.C. In his only season at Fayetteville State University,
the Broncos finished with a 17-10 record, tied for second place in the
CIAA Western Division. The next season, Stitt became an assistant at
Winston Salem State University (WSSU). At WSSU, he was part of five
20-win seasons, two CIAA conference championships, five NCAA Division II
tournament berths and two NCAA Division II Sweet 16 appearances. He was
also named the 2004-2005 CIAA Coach of the year.
Stitt returned to Florida Community College in 2006 to take over the program as head coach for two seasons before moving on to Grambling State University (NCAA DI) as the Associate Head Coach (2008-2009). Stitt has also served as assistant men’s basketball coach at Fayetteville State University (NCAA DII), North Carolina A&T State University (NCAA DI) and Florida State College at Jacksonville before arriving in Marion, Ala.
Director of Athletics Donnita Drain would like to thank the alumni, lettermen, and University supporters who assisted in the screening and interview process for this important search including Dr. James Mosely, Judge Kenneth Watson, Dr. Kevin Cox, Ms. Lateka Alexander, and Ms. Mariea’ Drain. The contributions of our alumni to the interview and screening process were invaluable, and their input further solidified the selection of Mr. Stitt as the next head coach of Langston University Men’s Basketball.
The Langston University Department of Athletics will hold a press conference to welcome Coach Stitt on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at the Langston University – Oklahoma City Campus located at 6700 N Martin Luther King Avenue in Oklahoma City.
