A lot can happen during the five months of college basketball action and frankly we’re here for it. In preparation for the excitement ahead, we’re continuing to roll through our series ranking every head coach. You’ll see national rankings but this year’s pieces only highlight one specific league at a time, meaning today’s gaze is solely on the MEAC.
Let’s be brutally honest, the highest quality of basketball doesn’t come from the MEAC, especially since these teams play most of their nonconference games on the road to fund their departments. However, the MEAC actually has some impressive coaching talent both in established names and a few coaches hoping to rise up in the years ahead.
343. Cleo Hill Jr. (Maryland Eastern Shore) (Last year: 356)
Overall record: 15-48
When Hill arrived at Maryland Eastern Shore in 2024, he had nearly two decades of head coaching experience under his belt. Hill had won games at Cheyney, Shaw, and Winston-Salem State, though life hasn’t exactly been easy with the Hawks. Last season was a step in the right direction with a 6th place finish in the MEAC, though it’s hard to be excited with a 9-23 record even if strides are being made.
338. Larry Stewart (Coppin State) (Last year: 336)
Overall record: 15-75
A former NBA forward with significant playing experience, Stewart originally played collegiately at Coppin State and is now back more than three decades later, beginning his fourth seasons leading the Eagles. He didn’t have a ton of coaching experience before returning to his alma mater and it’s hard to get pumped about that record, though last year’s tie for 6th in the MEAC is at least some progress.
320. Stan Waterman (Delaware State) (Last year: 303)
Overall record: 47-106
Before finding his way to the Hornets, Waterman was one of the best high school coaches in the state, winning 8 state titles across a 30-year run at Sanford School. In 2021, Waterman took the unusual leap from that gig to the D1 level at Delaware State and the results have been uneven. After a slow start, he took the Hornets to a CBI and had a 16-win campaign in 2025, but last year was a struggle that ended in last place in the MEAC by three games.
297. Erik Martin (South Carolina State) (Last year: 290)
Overall record: 49-79
There was a lot of basketball in Martin’s past before he took on his first head coaching shot. A former power forward, including time under Bob Huggins, he spent a decade playing professional ball before getting his coaching start at the high school level. His 16 years of D1 coaching experience all came on Huggins’ bench, largely at West Virginia, before South Carolina State handed him their job in 2022. What’s followed was a MEAC title in his third season, though the Bulldogs won just 10 games last year.
218. Kevin Broadus (Morgan State) (Last year: 220)
Overall record: 133-134
A player at Grambling and Bowie State four decades ago, Broadus has had quite the eventful coaching career dating back to 1990 at his alma mater. After helping Georgetown to the Final Four as an assistant, he took Binghamton to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 only to be dismissed after violations by the program. He bounced back a decade later with Morgan State and is coming off a 2nd place finish in the MEAC.
182. Kenny Blakeney (Howard) (Last year: 207)
Overall record: 97-107
Blakeney played at Duke in the early 90’s and then spent nearly two decades bouncing around various D1 staffs. He most notably was on staff with Delaware, Harvard, and Seton Hall before Howard gave his first head coaching job in 2019. Since then, he’s put the Bison in a fantastic position after a very slow start. He’s taken Howard to three of the last four NCAA Tournaments , even winning a game in the First Four this past season.
120. LeVelle Moton (North Carolina Central) (Last year: 127)
Overall record: 285-212
Absolutely an established coach in the MEAC, Moton played guard at North Carolina Central back in the 90’s and was a high school coach before returning to his alma mater. After a pair of years on staff, he took over as head coach in 2009 and has done really solid work ever since. He took the Eagles into this conference and has made 4 trips to the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina Central regularly finishes Top 3 in the league, though his last trip to the Big Dance is now seven years ago.
117. Robert Jones (Norfolk State) (Last year: 110)
Overall record: 251-176
After bouncing around earlier in his career, including a stint as a high school head coach, Jones has really found his home at Norfolk State. He originally joined the staff in 2007 and was part of that Tourney upset over Missouri a year before he got the top job in 2013. After a slew of early CIT bids, he’s taken Norfolk State to a CIT championship in 2024 and three NCAA Tournaments appearances, all since the pandemic, though last season was Norfolk State’s first under .500 in eight years.
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