http://www.wssurams.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/042010aaa.htmlWINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Stephen Joyner, Jr., one of the nation’s finest young basketball coaches, has been named the head women’s basketball coach at Winston-Salem State University as announced by WSSU Director of Athletics William “Bill” Hayes on Tuesday.
The 30-year old Joyner, Jr., long regarded by his peers as one of the nation’s finest young coaches brings with him a wealth of basketball experience both as a standout player and as a coach.
“Stephen, Jr. is a perfect fit for our philosophy and desire to bring energy and excitement to our athletic program” WSSU Director of Athletics, Bill Hayes said. “He is a young, energetic coach who will bring a contagious enthusiasm to our women’s program that will help to ensure future success” Hayes added.
A 2001 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University with a degree in Business Administration, Joyner, Jr. was one of the top point guards in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association during his playing career with the Golden Bulls.
Playing under the tutelage of his father Stephen Joyner, Sr., a longtime head coach at JCSU, Joyner amassed 399 assists - an average of 4.53 assists per game - during his final three seasons (1998-2001) with the Golden Bulls.
He placed third in the CIAA with 104 assists (3.85 apg) as a sophomore, fifth in the league with 120 assists (4.14 apg) as a junior, and topped the conference with 175 assists (5.47 apg) as a senior while serving as team captain. During his senior campaign, JCSU captured the 2001 CIAA Tournament Championship, won the South Atlantic Regional title and advanced to the NCAA Division II "Elite Eight" in Bakersfield, Calif.
Following the completion of his playing career Joyner spent the 2001-02 season as an assistant men's basketball coach at Livingstone College under the guidance of his uncle, Ed Joyner, Sr. While at Livingstone College Joyner, Jr. also served as an assistant men's basketball coach for the Charlotte Stars AAU team.
At the completion of his coaching tenure at Livingstone College Joyner, Jr. spent four seasons on the North Carolina Central University women's basketball coaching staff.
Following his four seasons at NCCU and a brief coaching tenure at UNC-Asheville Joyner, Jr. would return home to spend two seasons at his alma mater, Johnson C. Smith University where he served a dual role as both the top assistant coach for the Lady Golden Bulls and as an assistant with the JCSU men’s basketball team. During his tenure at JCSU Joyner, Jr. helped to guide the men’s basketball team to the 2008 CIAA title and an NCAA Division II playoff appearance.
After two successful seasons at Johnson C. Smith Joyner, Jr. headed south to Tallahassee, Florida where he spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Florida A&M University women’s basketball team. Under head coach LeDawn Gibson, Joyner, Jr. helped to lead the Lady Rattlers to a 32-28 record during his two seasons on the bench.
A member of a family with deep coaching roots, Joyner, Jr.’s father, cousin and uncle are all basketball coaches at the collegiate level. Joyner, Jr.’s father, Stephen Joyner, Sr. is the head men’s basketball coach and Director of Athletics at Johnson C. Smith University.
Joyner, Jr.’s uncle Edward “Buck” Joyner is the head men’s basketball coach at St. Paul’s College and has also served as the head coach at Livingstone College and Joyner, Jr.’s cousin Edward Joyner, Jr. is the head men’s basketball coach at Hampton University.
“Stephen comes from a coaching family that has prepared him well for the challenges of being a head coach” Hayes said. “I am extremely familiar with his abilities as a coach. Stephen has been on the coaching staff at both North Carolina Central and at Florida A&M and I have seen, first-hand, the excitement and passion that he brings to the coaching profession”. Hayes added.
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