Virginia Union University has handed the keys to its men's basketball program to Luqman Jaaber, a 30-year-old regarded as a young gun in the coaching business.
Jaaber takes the place of Willard Coker, who guided the Panthers to a 55-25 record in three seasons, but whose contract was not renewed last week.
The new coach was named the 1999 Times-Dispatch player of the year as a senior at George Wythe. In 2005, he helped Virginia Union win a national championship under coach Dave Robbins, who regarded Jaaber as a coach on the floor. Robbins often would ask Jaaber to pass along a certain instruction to the team, only to find that Jaaber already had done so.
"We thought a lot alike," Robbins said.
For Jaaber, it wasn't so much a question of if he would become a head coach, but when. He served as an assistant under Coker during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. After two years, Jaaber left VUU with the intention of playing professionally. Ultimately, he stayed in Richmond and founded his own personal training business.
Jaaber has been married since age 20 and has four children.
"That gives you experience managing people and trying to get the best out of them," Jaaber said. "My whole life I've been mature for my age."
The new coach said he would like to keep assistant Terry Davis, but has not made a decision on Lonnie Dickerson, Jerome Furtado or Irving Carter.
Coker was told last Thursday that his contract, which was expiring, would not be renewed. VUU athletic director Michael Bailey said the decision had little to do with Coker's record. He cited recruiting good students as one of Coker's shortfalls.
Coker's teams also lost their first game of the CIAA tournament in each of the past two seasons.
Bailey formed a short list of candidates to replace Coker and discussed the position with Jaaber on Friday. Jaaber immediately showed interest in the job.
"He was on fire," Bailey said. "It was more than an interest."
Bailey said he was impressed by Jaaber from their first conversation. By Monday, the two had sealed the deal.
Jaaber agreed to a three-year contract. Because Virginia Union is a private school, it is not required to reveal the salary of its coaches.
Jaaber met with the team on Monday. He told them he saw what they were doing, and he saw what they were not doing.
"And I'm not impressed," he said. "There's talent here. But you have to develop it."
VUU loses its top player, senior guard/forward Braxton Byerson.
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