The W Athletics has announced longtime college coach and former professional player, Bernard Hopkins, as its new head men’s basketball coach. Hopkins will begin his duties as the third hoops head coach in program history on May 19, 2026.
“We are very blessed to have someone with Coach Hopkins’ basketball pedigree come in to build on the success of this past season,” MUW Director of Athletics Buddy Foster said. “Coach Hopkins brings in a wealth of basketball knowledge and connections from his tenure as a coach, from his many years as a professional player, and from his own playing career as an NCAA Division I student-athlete. We look forward to having him assimilate with, and become a key member of, not just The W, but the entire Columbus community and Golden Triangle region.”
Hopkins comes to the MUW program after spending the past 11 seasons as the head coach at NJCAA Division I Hagerstown Community College, located 75 miles west of Baltimore, in the state of Maryland. During his tenure with the Hawks’ program, Hagerstown captured the NJCAA Region 20 championship three times (2019-20, 2021-22, and 2024-25).
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for this incredible opportunity, along with the administration, athletic department, and hiring committee at The W for trusting me to lead this program,” Hopkins expressed. “I am truly honored and humbled to be named the next Head Men’s Basketball Coach.
“I also want to acknowledge the success this program has already achieved. Winning the SLIAC championship is a testament to the hard work, culture, and commitment that have been established here, and I have tremendous respect for what has been built at The W. My goal is to build upon that championship standard by continuing to develop a culture rooted in discipline, accountability, relationships, player development, and daily excellence both on and off the court.”
Hopkins comes in with a pre-existing familiarity with The W’s program, having sent three top-notch players to the Owls from HCC over the past few years. The most recent of Hopkins’ former players to shine for the MUW roster was Trent Walker (2024-26), who was the 2026 SLIAC tournament MVP, as the Owls won this year’s conference crown and advanced to their first-ever NCAA III national tournament berth. Eric Bass Jr. (2024-25) played for MUW one season and was the Owls’ first man off the bench. Bass Jr. was voted the SLIAC’s 6th Man of the Year award, and had his brightest moments after hitting back-to-back game-winning baskets to lead the Owls over Westminster (66-65) and Webster (59-58) that year.
The first player Coach Hopkins sent to Columbus might well have been his most impactful, from a personal and coach’s perspective: his own son, Brye Hopkins. The younger Hopkins played two campaigns for MUW (2022-24) and was the program’s first-ever all-SLIAC honoree, after also playing two years for his father and serving as his assistant coach for HCC’s Region 20 championship team in 2021-22. Since completing his eligibility at MUW, Brye was Dean Burrows‘ student assistant for one season and, as a graduate assistant this past season, helped engineer the Owls’ SLIAC championship run
As for his own playing career, Bernard Hopkins also attended Hagerstown C.C. (1992-94), where he was the team’s MVP and a JUCO all-American as a sophomore. He is also a member of the HCC Hall of Fame.
Hopkins then transferred to NCAA Division I Virginia Commonwealth University, where he played from 1994-96, and still ranks among the school’s career leaders: sixth in rebound average (9.3 r.p.g.), sixth in double-double games (27), sixth in field goal percentage (57.1%), and eighth in scoring average (15.1 p.p.g.). In 1995-96, he led VCU to a 24-9 record and its first Colonial Athletic Association tourney title in 11 years. He was both the CAA Player of the Year and the 1996 CAA tournament MVP. VCU earned the 12-seed in the NCAA tourney, where the Rams lost, 58–51, to No. 5-seed Mississippi State in the first round at the Southeast Regional.
In 2005, he was elected to the VCU Hall of Fame and, in 2017, enshrined as an Atlantic 10 Conference Legend from VCU.
Following his senior season, he was invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a showcase for professional basketball organizations, where he earned tournament MVP accolades. He was drafted by the Continental Basketball Association’s Yakima Sun Kings, the third overall pick in the CBA draft. He played for the Sun Kings for one season, and was voted CBA Rookie of the Year, as well as selected to the All-CBA second team and All-Rookie first team.
Hopkins then embarked on a 14-year career of playing in Spain for several teams in the Liga ACB, the top professional division of the Spanish basketball league system. His career highlights include being named a Liga ACB All-Star in 1999 and 2001, a five-time Player of the Month, and a 24-time Player of the Week. In Liga ACB statistics, his 6,088 points rank him No. 17 in the league’s 43-year history, while his 2,806 rebounds rank No. 7 all-time. Both totals establish him as a “Historic Player” by the league’s standards.
And as Hopkins takes over the reins of the Owls’ program, current and future Owls, as well as the followers of The W, can look forward to Hopkins carrying on what is already a strong tradition for MUW men’s basketball.
“Our program will compete with energy, toughness, passion, and purpose,” Hopkins reiterated. “We will emphasize player development, defensive intensity, and a style of basketball that our students, alumni, and community can be proud of. Most importantly, we will focus on developing outstanding young men who represent the university with character, integrity, and professionalism.
“My family and I are excited to join The W community, and I look forward to building meaningful relationships with our players, alumni, students, supporters, and the greater Columbus community. I’m eager to get to work and continue the championship tradition of this program.”
