Savannah State University’s men’s basketball program is set to embark on a new chapter as head coach Horace Broadnax announced his retirement on Jan. 6. Assistant coach Clevan Thompson will immediately step into the role of interim head coach.

“We thank Coach Broadnax for his leadership of the men’s basketball program here at Savannah State,” remarked Opio Mashariki, Director of Athletics. “I have immense respect and gratitude for everything Coach Broadnax has done. We congratulate him on his retirement and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

Broadnax, who was named the program’s 11th head coach on April 11, 2005, leaves behind a remarkable legacy after a 20-year tenure at Savannah State. Under his leadership, the Tigers achieved significant accomplishments, including three championship titles.

Notably, the 2011-12 season marked a historic milestone as the Tigers claimed their first-ever Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship with a standout 14-2 conference record, which earned them a spot in the National Invitation Tournament. Broadnax’s coaching prowess led the team to replicate this success in 2018 by securing another MEAC Regular Season Championship. The Tigers also appeared in the College Insider.com Tournament in 2013 and 2016. In recent years, Broadnax guided Savannah State to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Title in 2022, granting them an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Reflecting on his time at Savannah State, Broadnax shared, “I’m happy about my decision to retire here at Savannah State. The experience here has been very rewarding and I am extremely excited for my future as well as the future of the program.”

Thompson Takes Over

Stepping into the interim head coach position, Clevan Thompson is no stranger to Savannah State. A proud alumnus, he graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems. With nearly two decades of coaching experience, Thompson comes from Bethesda Academy, where he led the boys’ basketball team to 12 Final Four appearances, eight trips to the state championship game, and two state titles. He won the 2012 Georgia Independent School Association State Championship and the 2015 South Carolina Independent School Association Class AAA state title.

“I’m excited to take the leadership role of this program,” Thompson said in response to his new position. “Coach Broadnax has left a positive mark on this program, and I am up for the challenge in leading the the team and building on his legacy.”

As the Tigers prepare for their upcoming season, both Broadnax’s contributions and Thompson’s fresh vision will undoubtedly shape the direction of Savannah State men’s basketball. 

The information presented in this article was sourced from Savannah State University.