image via Tennessee State Basketball
Tennessee State men’s head coach Brian “Penny” Collins was named to the finalist list for the 2024-25 Ben Jobe Award.
In his seventh season helming the Tennessee State basketball program, Coach Collins led the Tigers to a 16-15 overall and 12-8 record thin the OVC, which was the best conference mark during his tenure at TSU. The Tigers also earned the no.3 seed in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and the quarterfinal bye that accompanies it.
The Ben Jobe Award is named after one of the giants of HBCU basketball coaches. Coach Jobe was most notably the head man at Southern University, where he compiled a 209-141 record in 12 seasons. He led the Jaguars to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 93-78 upset of no.2 Georgia Tech in the 1993 Tournament. Coach Jobe, who also coached at Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Talladega, Tuskegee, and South Carolina State. Also led Southern to 1 NIT appearance and his impressive resume includes 11 SWAC Championships and 5 SIAC Championships. Coach Jobe finished his coaching career with a 524–334 record.
The Ben Jobe Award is selected by a 10-member voting panel comprised of current and former head coaches and two collegeinsider.com senior staff members.
The 2025 winner will be announced in San Antonio, TX.
BEN JOBE AWARD FINALISTS
| Alvin Brooks | Lamar |
| Penny Collins | Tennessee State |
| Chris Crutchfield | Omaha |
| Travis DeCuire | Montana |
| Dennis Gates | Missouri |
| Penny Hardaway | Memphis |
| Cornelius Jackson | Marshall |
| Kevin Johnson | Southern |
| James Jones | Yale |
| Mike Jones | UNCG |
| Robert Jones | Norfolk State |
| Chris Markwood | Maine |
| Erik Martin | South Carolina State |
| Ritchie McKay | Liberty |
| Antoine Pettway | Kennesaw State |
| Richie Riley | South Alabama |
| Daniyal Robinson | Cleveland State |
| Kelvin Sampson | Houston |
| Patrick Sellers | Central Connecticut State |
| Takayo Siddle | UNCW |
| Duane Simpkins | American |
| Tony Skinn | George Mason |
| Shaka Smart | Marquette |
| Damon Stoudamire | Georgia Tech |
| Drew Valentine | Loyola Chicago |
