HAMPTON, Va. — Less than five days after parting ways with long-time coach Buck Joyner, Jr, the Hampton Pirates are hiring Ivan Thomas as their new head coach.
Hampton University made the announcement on Friday morning.
"We are thrilled to welcome Ivan Thomas as our new head men's basketball coach," President Darrell Williams said in the university's announcement. "His exceptional coaching pedigree, combined with his dedication to player development and community engagement, align perfectly with Hampton University's values. Ivan's vision for the program's future, coupled with his deep-rooted ties to Virginia, makes him an ideal leader to guide our student-athletes to success. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact he will have on our basketball program and the entire Hampton University community."
Thomas was the associate head coach at Georgetown University under Ed Cooley.
Joining the Pirates will be a homecoming for him. The Norfolk native went to high school at Norview and would later be the head coach at Kecoughtan High for seven years. He compiled a record of 127-60 and guided the Warriors to a pair of Peninsula District titles between 2008 and 2015.
Thomas then made the jump to the college level, taking the position of Associate Director of Player Development with Cooley at Providence.