HBCU coach shockingly announces retirement after 20 years

Horace Broadnak The coaching era at Savannah State University has come to an end — in the middle of the Tigers’ season. On Monday, January 6, Broadnak shockingly announced his coaching retirement after spending 20 years as the head coach of the Tigers. Assistant coach Clevan Thompson took over as interim head coach until the end of the season.

Savannah State Director of Athletics Opio Mashariki made the announcement thanks to Broadnak for his tenure as head coach at the school.

“I have tremendous respect and gratitude for everything Coach Broadnax has done, we congratulate him on his retirement and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Mashariki said.

After becoming the program’s 11th head coach in history on April 11, 2005, Broadnax has spent the past 20 years leading the Tigers to significant success. The Tigers have won 2 MEAC Championships (2012, 2018) and a SIAC Championship (2022) under Broadnax’s leadership.

The Tigers’ 2012 championship marked the school’s first MEAC championship with a 14-2 conference record. The team’s conference success eventually led to multiple postseason appearances. After earning a berth in the National Invitation Tournament in 2012, the Tigers earned two appearances in the College Insider.com (CIT) Tournament and an appearance in the 2022 NCAA Division II Tournament.

Broadnak’s winning ways date back to his time as a basketball player. He played college basketball at Georgetown University from 1982 to 1986 and was a point guard on the 1984 national championship team. However, all good things must come to an end.

Despite the Tigers having a 5-6 record at the time of Broadnax’s retirement, Broadnax was confident in his decision to retire.

“I am happy with my decision to retire here at Savannah State,” said Coach Broadnax. “The experience here has been very rewarding and I am extremely excited about my future as well as the future of the program.”

Now, the Tigers must prepare for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign without their famous leader. Despite the Tigers’ adversity, interim head coach Klevan Thompson is ready for the challenge.

“I am excited to take on a leadership role in this program,” said Thompson. “Coach Broadnak has left a positive mark on this program and I am ready for the challenge of leading the team and building on his legacy.”

Thompson, a 2003 graduate of Savannah State University, spent nearly two decades coaching boys basketball at Bethesda Academy. Under Thompson, the Blazers won two state titles and made eight state championship appearances.