Edward Joyner Jr. was born to coach basketball. It’s in his genes. It’s in his blood. His father, the late Edward Joyner Sr., was the head coach at St. Paul’s and Livingstone for 16 seasons. He served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Pirates for two seasons before passing away on Dec. 6, 2017. He is the nephew of Stephen Joyner Sr., who is the director of athletics at Johnson C. Smith and has servedas head coach of the Golden Bulls for 35 seasons. Together, the three Joyners amassed more than 1,000 wins on the collegiate level.
Joyner had a stellar playing career at Johnson C. Smith playing under his uncle, leading the Golden Bulls to three CIAA division titles, two trips to the CIAA championship game, and three NCAA Division II Tournament berths. Twice, he was named Defensive Player of the Year and finished his career among the school’s top 10 assist leaders.
Joyner served as an assistant men’s and women’s basketball coach at his alma mater. In his 11 years with the men’s team, the Golden Bulls advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament seven times and reached the Elite Eight in 2001 after capturing the CIAA Tournament crown. The women’s team reached the CIAA title game three times in his five years on the staff and made one NCAA Tournament appearance. In addition, Joyner served as the assistant to the Dean of Students overseeing judicial affairs.
He moved to Hampton in 2006, serving as an assistant to Kevin Nickelberry for three seasons before taking over the head coaching duties in 2009. His second Hampton squad won the MEAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament while posting a 24-9 record.
In nine seasons as a member of the MEAC, the Pirates posted a 93-51 (.645) record in conference play and made six post-season appearances. Joyner’s Hampton teams won two MEAC regular-season titles and three MEAC tournament crowns. In his 14 seasons at the helm of the Pirates, he has seen Hampton move from the MEAC and to the Big South before landing in the CAA a year ago. After three competitive seasons in the Big South, Hampton struggled in 2021-22 due to the effects of the Covid pandemic.
Despite the moves, he has taken the Pirates to the postseason seven times in his 14 seasons as head coach: three NCAA Tournament berths, one NIT invitation, two CBI Tournaments and one CIT appearance where the Pirates reached the semifinals in 2019.
Joyner received his Master’s degree in sports administration from Hampton University in May 2016. He is married to the former Aerian Miller and they have three children: E.J., Andrew, and Layla.
