Huntington, WV (WOAY) – Oak Hill Red Devil Alum named finalist for a national coaching award.
Marshall University head basketball coach Cornelius ‘Corny’ Jackson is among the finalists for the Joe B. Hall Award. The award is presented annually to the top first-time head coach in Division I men’s basketball each year, according to a news release from Marshall Athletics.
In his first season leading the Thundering Herd, Jackson led the program to a 19-12 record, including 14-3 in the Henderson Center, 12-6 in conference games, and the fifth seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
Under his leadership, Marshall’s, Obinna Anochili-Killen was named the SBC Defensive Player of the Year and all-SBC second team on Monday.
The award is named in honor of Joe B. Hall, the longtime Kentucky head coach who coached the Wildcats following the legendary Adolph Rupp at the school. In his first season, Hall finished 20-8, won the SEC and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.
Cornelius ‘Corny’ Jackson is an Oak Hill High School graduate, named All-American and was the 1996 W.Va. Player of the Year after averaging 28.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
