Davey Whitney
Encyclopedia
Davey 'Wiz' Whitney is an American college basketball
coach and the former head college basketball
coach at Texas Southern University
from 1964 to 1969 and Alcorn State University
from 1969 to 1989 and 1996 to 2003. He amassed a total record of 566 wins and 356 losses in 33 years of coaching at these institutions.
. He attended Kentucky State University
in Frankfort, Kentucky
, graduating in 1953. After college, Whitney started out playing in the Negro American League
for two years before starting career in coaching.
Tigers in 1964. He didn't fare well during his five years there. In 1969 he moved on to Alcorn State University, which had the reputation as a football school in the Southwestern Athletic Conference
(SWAC).
Whitney was instrumental in making the Alcorn State men's basketball program a force in the SWAC
during the 1970s through 1990s, winning 10 conference titles. He led the Braves to the 1979 National Invitational Tournament and upset Mississippi State University
in the first round
In 1980, Alcorn State became the first HBCU to win a game in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
Tournament, defeating University of South Alabama
in the first round. During his time at Alcorn, Whitney earned the nickname, 'Wiz'.
By the end of his career at Alcorn, Whitney has set many records, and set himself to be
the second winningest coach in HBCU college basketball behind the late Clarence 'Big House' Gaines
, who coached at Winston-Salem State University
.
The Davey Whitney Complex
, a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena built in 1975, is home to the Alcorn State University Braves basketball team, was named after Coach Whitney.
He has been inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
in 2010.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach and the former head college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach at Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University is a historically black university located in Houston, Texas, United States....
from 1964 to 1969 and Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University is an historically black university comprehensive land-grant institution in Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871-History:...
from 1969 to 1989 and 1996 to 2003. He amassed a total record of 566 wins and 356 losses in 33 years of coaching at these institutions.
Early life
Whitley was born in Midway, KentuckyMidway, Kentucky
Midway is a city in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States. Its population was 1,620 at the 2000 census. It is located midway between Frankfort and Lexington along the single-track railroad between them. It is part of the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is home to a...
. He attended Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University is a four-year institution of higher learning, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, the Commonwealth's capital. The school is an historically black university, which desegregated in 1954...
in Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
, graduating in 1953. After college, Whitney started out playing in the Negro American League
Negro American League
The Negro American League was one of the several Negro leagues which were created during the time organized baseball was segregated. The league was established in 1937, and continued to exist until 1960...
for two years before starting career in coaching.
Coaching career
Whitney started out coaching high school basketball in his home state in the early 1960s before moving on to his first collegiate job at coaching the Texas Southern UniversityTexas Southern University
Texas Southern University is a historically black university located in Houston, Texas, United States....
Tigers in 1964. He didn't fare well during his five years there. In 1969 he moved on to Alcorn State University, which had the reputation as a football school in the Southwestern Athletic Conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
(SWAC).
Whitney was instrumental in making the Alcorn State men's basketball program a force in the SWAC
SWAC
The term SWAC can mean: In Ghana, the Brahma Kumaris Youth Group uses SWAC Analysis, where SWAC means Strengths, Weaknesses, Attainments and Challenges.* School with a Circus...
during the 1970s through 1990s, winning 10 conference titles. He led the Braves to the 1979 National Invitational Tournament and upset Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
in the first round
In 1980, Alcorn State became the first HBCU to win a game in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
Tournament, defeating University of South Alabama
University of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. No other areas of the state were willing to support such a...
in the first round. During his time at Alcorn, Whitney earned the nickname, 'Wiz'.
By the end of his career at Alcorn, Whitney has set many records, and set himself to be
the second winningest coach in HBCU college basketball behind the late Clarence 'Big House' Gaines
Clarence Gaines
Clarence Edward "Big House" Gaines, Sr. was a college men's basketball coach with a 47-year coaching career at Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.-Early years:...
, who coached at Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem State University , a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, is a historically black public research university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.Winston-Salem State has been...
.
The Davey Whitney Complex
Davey Whitney Complex
Davey Whitney Complex is a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Lorman, Mississippi. It was built in 1975 and is home to the Alcorn State University Braves basketball team. It was named after coach Davey Whitney....
, a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena built in 1975, is home to the Alcorn State University Braves basketball team, was named after Coach Whitney.
He has been inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Kansas City, Missouri, is a hall of fame and museum dedicated to college basketball. The museum is an integral portion of the College Basketball Experience created by the National Association of Basketball Coaches , located at the Sprint...
in 2010.