Larry Vickers named Kay Yow Coach of the Year.
Larry Vickers, the esteemed head coach of Norfolk State University’s women’s basketball team, has been honored with the prestigious 2025 Kay Yow National Coach of the Year Award. This accolade is presented annually to the top head coach in women’s Division I college basketball who embodies a winning spirit while displaying exceptional character both on and off the court.
A Season of Remarkable Achievements
Under Vickers’ leadership, the Spartans achieved a historic 30-5 overall record, including an unblemished 14-0 mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). This remarkable performance secured them a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest in the program’s history. Notably, Norfolk State became just the eighth team in MEAC history to go undefeated in conference play. The team’s non-conference successes were equally impressive, with victories over Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponents Auburn and Missouri. Transforming Norfolk State Women’s Basketball
Vickers, a former walk-on player at Norfolk State and former associate head coach of the men’s program, took the helm of the women’s basketball team during the 2015-16 season. At that time, the program had experienced only two winning seasons. Through a foundation built on hard work, discipline, and a staunch defensive strategy, Vickers orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, culminating in multiple MEAC titles and NCAA Tournament appearances.
Recognition and Accolades
In addition to the Kay Yow Award, Vickers has been named MEAC Coach of the Year for three consecutive seasons, becoming only the second coach in MEAC women’s basketball history to achieve this feat. His peers and the broader basketball community have consistently recognized his contributions to the sport.
The Legacy of Kay Yow
The Kay Yow Award honors the legacy of the late Kay Yow, the former head coach of North Carolina State University’s women’s basketball team. Yow was renowned not only for her impressive coaching record of over 700 wins but also for her character and resilience, notably coaching the U.S. women’s basketball team to an Olympic gold medal in 1988 while battling breast cancer. The award seeks to recognize coaches who exemplify similar qualities of perseverance, integrity, and excellence
A New Chapter at Auburn University
Following his successful tenure at Norfolk State, Vickers has been appointed as the head coach of Auburn University’s women’s basketball team. His hiring is a testament to his exceptional coaching abilities and marks a significant move by a Power 4 school to recruit a head coach from an HBCU league. This transition is expected to bring a fresh perspective and renewed vigor to Auburn’s program.
