18-year NBA veteran and Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach, Jerry Stackhouse, just became the first Black men’s basketball coach at Vanderbilt University.
"I am extremely excited to join the Vanderbilt family and build on the incredible accomplishments of its athletics program and men's basketball program," Stackhouse said in a statement released on the university’s website.
This will be his first time coaching college athletes, but with a six-year contract, the university, which currently holds one of the worst record in the SEC, is placing its bets on Stackhouse’s ability to turn their program around.
“Jerry brings a unique mix of experience as a legendary player and successful coach, and I fully expect he’ll take the program to new heights,” said the school’s athletics director, Malcolm Turner.
The appointment also makes Vanderbilt the only Power Five program with a Black athletic director, football coach and men’s basketball coach.