HAMPTON, Va. (Dec. 27, 2025) … Former Hampton assistant football coach and interim head men's basketball coach Joe Buggs has passed away at the age of 88 after a long illness. A native of Newport News, Buggs attended Huntington High in the 1950s where he was a standout in football, basketball, baseball and track & field.
 
He attended Elizabeth City State University and was a two-time Black College All-American. After a tryout in professional football, he turned his attention to coaching.
 
He was an assistant football coach at Hampton under Dr. Walter Lovett and helped lead a resurgence on the field. The Pirates won just three games prior to Buggs joining the coaching staff. Three years later, Hampton contended for the CIAA championship and posted back-to-back seven-win seasons. He also served as interim men's basketball coach. Buggs coached the final five games of the 1974-75 season replacing Coach Solomon Frazier.
 
He also worked as an assistant football coach at North Carolina A&T and Norfolk State.
 
He moved to Greensboro, N.C., where he worked as head track & field coach at North Carolina A&T for four years. Returning to Virginia, he was head coach at Smithfield High for 10 seasons and then led Surry High to the Class 1 state title in 1999 as head coach. Buggs also was an assistant track & field coach at Huntington High, Menchville High and Hampton High.
 
Buggs was recognized for his contributions on the playing fields and developing young men by being elected to six Halls of Fame.
 
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carolyn and a son, Kermit.