Historic honor for Fayetteville State
Fayetteville State head coach Devin Hoehn has made HBCU basketball history. He is the first CIAA coach to win the Jack Bennett Man of the Year award and just the fourth HBCU coach overall to earn the honor.
The award is presented each year to a non-Division I coach who wins with integrity. It recognizes success on the court, but it also values leadership, character, and the example a coach sets for his players and program.
For Hoehn, the recognition caps a brilliant first season in Fayetteville. He took over the Broncos and quickly turned them into one of the best teams in Division II. Fayetteville State finished 23-7, reached the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Quarterfinal, and brought home the CIAA tournament title.
“As someone who has walked those CIAA sidelines, I have immense respect for what Devin Hoehn accomplished this season,” James Wilhelmi said. “He built a championship team at Fayetteville State while embodying the high standard of integrity that Jack Bennett set for all of us in this profession.”
A fast rise in the CIAA
Hoehn’s first season produced results almost immediately. Fayetteville State went unbeaten at home with a 10-0 record. The Broncos also won 17 straight games before their season ended in the regional quarterfinals.
That streak included the third CIAA tournament championship in program history. It also established Fayetteville State as one of the most exciting teams in Division II basketball this season.
The Broncos averaged 89.4 points per game and played with constant pressure. Their offense thrived on pace, rim attacks, and trips to the free throw line. Defensively, they created problems with steals, blocks, and turnovers that led to extra possessions.
That style made Fayetteville State tough to handle. It also showed how quickly Hoehn’s system took hold.
Building a winning blueprint
Hoehn did not arrive in Fayetteville without proof of concept. Before taking the FSU job, he led Bluefield State to a 19-11 record after the team had been picked 12th in the CIAA preseason poll. That season marked the first winning record in program history for Bluefield State, a West Virginia-based HBCU.
Before that, Hoehn helped build a winner at Nova Southeastern under mentor Jim Crutchfield. During his time there, the program made a dramatic jump and developed into a regional power.
His coaching philosophy is clear. He wants players with toughness, high basketball IQ, and trust in one another. He also wants a roster built for speed, decision-making, and discipline.
Now that approach has delivered a major award. More importantly, it has put Fayetteville State and the CIAA in a new place in the national coaching conversation.