Coahoma Community College has announced that Richard “Dell” Cannon will lead the men’s basketball program.

Cannon, a Lyon, Miss. native and former Tiger, is a seasoned veteran of the hardwood, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Tigers.

Coahoma Community College President Dr. Valmadge T. Towner is confident that Cannon’s expertise and professionalism will bring transformative change to the Tiger Basketball program. He believes that Cannon’s experience will help shape a new age in Coahoma Athletics.

“Coach Cannon has a track record of success from the vantage point of being a supporter of head coaches. When you speak to his former supervisors, they speak highly of him,” said Towner. “He has been an integral part of helping teams win.”
Cannon comes to Coahoma from The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he helped produce the 2017-2018 SWAC player of the year and Black College All-American Martaveous McKnight and several All-Region and All-conference selections.
“I believe he is a viable candidate. He knows community college basketball. He knows the state of Mississippi. He’s a native here, played here, and coached here,” Towner added. “So, he is as ready on day one as anyone to help build upon the foundation we have, perhaps as any candidate we would come across.”

Cannon is excited to be back at his Coahoma home and is energized to revitalize the Tiger program.
“It feels great to be coming home. As a person who has always wanted to be a head coach, I think that it is everyone’s dream to go back to coach where they come from,” said Cannon. “Returning home is a dream. It’s surreal and hard to put into words.”
He noted that the timing of his return is divine, and God played the ultimate role in him being named head coach.

“I don’t think anyone has control of time. That’s all up to God,” said Cannon. “So, I feel that the time is right now because I am being told to come home. Coming home now is better than any time.”
Cannon is ready to put in the work to bring a winning tradition back to the Coahoma campus. He inherits a Tigers ball club that went 2-12 in conference play in the spring 2021 season. Despite this, he sees great opportunities to make an impactful change.
“First, we have to get the culture right. We have to establish a winning culture,” said Cannon. “So, when we establish the culture, we can go down the proper channels.”

“Quite naturally, we will start with recruiting and getting everyone involved. Number one, inside the program, we will be getting our athletes ready to work. We’re going to work,” added Cannon. “I have been blessed to know what real work looks like from a child on up. My parents, grandparents, and family have shown me how to work. I add that to what I know about sports.”

Reggie Hankerson, athletics director and track coach, is excited to welcome Cannon to the CCC campus and expects great things to come under Cannon’s leadership.
“I’m very excited to welcome Coach Dell Cannon back to the CCC family. He is an esteemed alum of the institution as well as a star basketball player for the CCC tigers. Coach Cannon brings experience from the D1 level and a wealth of connections which is key on the JUCO level,” stated Hankerson.

“Coach Cannon is not just a hometown guy. He’s known throughout the state and region as a relentless recruiter and a technician on the court. We feel that Coach Cannon is an excellent addition to our athletics program, and we are looking forward to him leading our Tigers to the next level, on and off the court.

Prior to Cannon’s time at UAPB, he held the role of assistant coach at Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena, Miss., where he helped guide the Delta Devils to two Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships in 2008 and 2012. The 2012 conference championship has a special meaning for Cannon because it was played with President Barack Obama in attendance.

Also, in his career at MVSU, Cannon produced two SWAC Tournament Most Valuable Players, one conference Player of the Year, two Black College All-Americans, ten all-conference selections, and had 12 players to move on to the professional ranks.
Throughout the span of Cannon’s career, he has benefited from observing the works of dynamic examples. He knows those lessons will fuel his determination in this new role.
“I’ve been blessed to be around some great coaches. I learned a lot from them, and I’m going to put it all together, and we’re going to win,” Cannon exclaimed.

Cannon holds a B.S. in Health and Physical Education (2007) and a Master’s in Administration and Leadership (2010), both from Mississippi Valley State.

https://coahomasports.com/news/2021/6/25/cannon-welcomed-home-to-lead-mens-basketball.aspx