Former Hampton Coach Joe Buggs Passes Away
12.27.25 | Football, Men's Basketball
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.
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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.
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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.
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He also worked as an assistant football coach at North Carolina A&T and Norfolk State.
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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.
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Buggs was recognized for his contributions on the playing fields and developing young men by being elected to six Halls of Fame.
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He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carolyn and a son, Kermit.
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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.
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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.
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He also worked as an assistant football coach at North Carolina A&T and Norfolk State.
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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.
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Buggs was recognized for his contributions on the playing fields and developing young men by being elected to six Halls of Fame.
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He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carolyn and a son, Kermit.
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