Jimmy Allen
Head Men’s Basketball Coach
434-791-5689
jimmy.allen@averett.edu

After only three seasons as the head men’s basketball coach at Averett University, Jimmy Allen has the city of Danville excited about Averett men’s basketball again. After back-to-back 20-win seasons, people have taken notice of the Cougars’ return to prominence.

Averett posted a school-best 20-7 record in 2006-07, en route to the team’s first USA South Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance since 1990. The Cougars’ accomplishments last season were impressive. They posted a win over Virginia Wesleyan College, ending a 29-game winning streak by the defending national champions. Additionally, AU began the season at 9-0 – the best start in the program’s 31-year history – and were ranked as high as 11 in the D3hoops.com national poll.

Allen has a career record of 53-29 after three seasons, which calculates to a winning percentage of .646. He led Averett to a 20-8 mark and a share of the USA South Conference Regular Season Championship in 2005-06, and went 13-14 during his first year – the 2004-05 season. The 13 wins were an incredible feat, considering that Averett was 0-25 the year prior to his arrival.

For three straight seasons, Allen’s teams have been selected by their peers in the USA South Conference as the winners of the Sportsmanship Award. In May of 2007, the team was also presented with the Community Youth Service Award by the Dan River Center for Voluntarism.

Twice named the USA South Conference Coach of the Year (2005 and 2007), Allen has developed six all-conference performers at Averett. In addition, 14 of his players have been selected to the All-Academic Team.

Before coming to Averett, Allen spent two seasons as the associate head coach at Wofford College under Mike Young. While serving on the Terriers' staff, Allen helped guide the program to their most successful season since joining Division I. In fact, the team posted 14 wins against what the RPI judged to be the nation's toughest non-conference schedule.

Prior to his stint at Wofford, Allen was an assistant coach under legendary head coach Don DeVoe at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. from 1996 to 2002. While assisting on DeVoe's staff, Allen helped lead the Midshipmen to Patriot League Championships and NCAA Tournament berths in 1997 and 1998. Navy enjoyed three 20-win seasons and a pair of 19-win seasons during his six-year tenure.

Allen's first coaching position came at his alma mater of Emory & Henry College under Bob Johnson where he served from 1993 to 1996.

Not only a successful coach, Allen also enjoyed a very successful collegiate playing career at Emory & Henry. He was a four-year starter at the point guard position and holds the program's record with 117 consecutive games played. Allen also ranks second among the Wasp all-time assist leaders.

Allen played in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, while Emory & Henry advanced to the “Sweet 16” twice and enjoyed four 20-win seasons. He graduated in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

In high school, he played basketball under two-time Virginia High School Coach of the Year Bill Pope at Northside High School in Roanoke. Allen and his wife, Katie, reside in Danville with their son, James.