Is it now time to officially think about naming the Gym floor in NCCU's McDougald-McLendon Arena in honor of Coach LeVelle Moton? I for one person's opinion, say yes. He has paid his dues for NCCU Men's Basketball.
Well, my humble opinion and argument are this, although I genuinely do respect all your views and input. If we look at the history of NCCU Basketball over the years,
Coach John McLendon was Head Basketball for about 12 Years (1940-1952). He put NC College Basketball on the national map and helped to create the CIAA Tournament in 1946. Coach McLendon won the CIAA Conference Tournament twice (1946 and 1950). Before that, Coach McLendon won 4 CIAA Visitation Championships before the start of the official CIAA Tournament. He shares his name on the McDougald-McLendon Arena building with that of a Non-Basketball Coach.
Coach Floyd Brown was an outstanding NCC Eagles Basketball Player under Coach John McLendon. He became Head Men’s Basketball Coach after Coach McLendon resigned from NCC to coach at Hampton and Tenn. State. Coach Brown coached the Eagles for 18 years (1952 -1970) but never won the CIAA Tournament, (Even the few years when the CIAA tournament played on the campus of NCC). I think a few of his teams may have won the CIAA Southern Division regular-season championships. He never won the whole CIAA Tournament Conference Championship in 18 years.
Coach Michael Bernard was Head Men’s Basketball Coach for six years (1985-1991). He rebuilt the honor and winning tradition of NCCU Eagle Basketball that had been missing since the days of Coach Floyd Brown. Coach Bernard never won the CIAA Tournament while at NCCU. He did win an NCAA Division II Regional Championship and the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1989. I think that Coach Bernard also may have won a couple of CIAA Southern Division regular-season Championships (not sure). Still, he never won a CIAA Conference Tournament Championship.
Coach Greg Jackson became the NCCU Head Men’s Basketball Coach for nine years (1991-2000) after Coach Bernard became the coach at Norfolk State. Coach Jackson had outstanding teams while at NCCU and never had a losing season. Although Coach Jackson won several CIAA Southern Division Regular Season Championships, he never won the CIAA Conference Tournament Championship. In 1993, Coach Jackson won an NCAA Division II Regional Championship. He made a couple of trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament. After Coach Jackson departed NCCU for Delaware State, the NCCU Men’s Basketball Program went downhill again.
Coach LeVelle Moton became the NCCU Head Basketball Coach on March 25, 2000. Since that time, (10 years) Coach Moton has rebuilt the NCCU Division I Men’s Basketball Program into national respect and recognition. Coach Moton was also an outstanding student-athlete at NCCU, who played under Coach Greg Jackson. Coach Moton is currently a member of the NCCU and CIAA Hall of Fames. As an exceptional role model and supporter within his community, Coach Moton is extraordinary. His community commissioned a City Park named in his honor in Raleigh, NC. Since becoming head coach at NCCU, Coach Moton’s teams have won 5 MEAC Championships, and gone to the NCAA Division I Basketball tournament four times and the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 1 time. Coach Moton’s outstanding record as both a Hall of Fame Player and Outstanding Coach speaks for itself. @
https://nccueaglepride.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/levelle-moton/766 If we added
Coach William Burghardt to the list, he coached from 1937 – 1940. There have only been 6 out of 17 NCCU Men’s Basketball Head Coaches credited with overall winning records, in the History of NCCU Men’s Basketball, since 1927. If not mistaken, currently with ten years of service, Coach Moton ranks as the 3rd Winningest Head Basketball Coach in NCCU’s History, behind Coach Floyd Brown. So yes, Coach Moton deserves to have his
“Coach M Court” named in his honor at NCCU’s McDougald-McLendon Arena.
Take Care!
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