HUNTINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Marshall University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Cornelius “Corny” Jackson has been named a finalist for the prestigious Joe B. Hall Award, presented annually to the top first-time head coach in Division I Men’s College Basketball.
The award, recognized by CollegeInsider.com, honors coaches who have made an immediate impact in their inaugural season.
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In his first year leading The Herd, Jackson guided the team to a 20-11 record, including an impressive 14-3 at home in the Henderson Center and 12-6 in conference play.
The team secured the fifth seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, showcasing Jackson’s leadership.
Under Jackson’s direction, Obinna Anochili-Killen earned the SBC Defensive Player of the Year award and was named to the all-Sun Belt Conference second team.
This recognition further highlights Jackson’s successful season with the team.
The Joe B. Hall Award is named after the legendary Kentucky Head Coach Joe B. Hall, who succeeded Adolph Rupp in 1972.
In his first season, Hall led Kentucky to a 20-8 record, won the SEC, and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.
Hall, who coached Kentucky from 1972 to 1985, is remembered for his remarkable career, including winning a National Championship in 1978. He passed away on January 15, 2022.
The Joe B. Hall Award recipient is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which includes current and former head coaches, as well as senior staff from CollegeInsider.com.
The winner will be announced during the 2025 men’s Division I Basketball Championship in San Antonio, Texas.
Marshall University is now preparing for the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Tournament, with its first game scheduled for Friday in Pensacola, Florida, against one of Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, or Georgia State.
