Hampton’s Ivan Thomas Named Finalist for Joe B. Hall Award

BOSTON, Mass. (March 3, 2025) … This afternoon CollegeInsider.com announced the finalists for the 2024-25 Joe B. Hall award. The award is presented annually to the top first-time head coach in NCAA Division I college basketball. Head Coach Ivan Thomas has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious award along with 15 other coaches.

In his first season with the Pirates, Thomas has changed the direction of the program. Hampton entered January above .500 for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign. The program also had its first undefeated month in 22 years. It has been nine campaigns since the Pirates have had multiple five-game winning streaks in a season.

Hampton's success continued in Coastal Athletic Association play. The Pirates secured its first road win against North Carolina A&T in nine years. Prior to Thomas's arrival, the program had never defeated Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra, Northeastern, Stony Brook, and UNCW. With Hampton's eight conference victories, the program secured its first winning regular season since the 2018-19 campaign.

The Joe B. Hall award is named after longtime Kentucky head coach Joe B. Hall. Hall was given the task of following the legendary Adolph Rupp. In his first season, he finished 20-8, won the SEC, and took his Wildcats to the NCAA Regional Finals.

Notable previous winners of this prestigious award include Illinois's Brad Underwood, Mississippi State's Chris Jans, and VCU's Ryan Odom. The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, Texas, site of the Division I men's basketball championship.

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