Averett University

EMORY, Va. — For Jimmy Allen, last Saturday is still hard to put into words. Allen, the men’s basketball coach at Averett University, was inducted into the Emory & Henry College Sports Hall of Fame this past weekend.

“It’s incredibly humbling,” Allen said. “It’s hard to honestly comprehend because Emory & Henry means so much to me and my experience at Emory & Henry means so much to me. So do the guys that I had an opportunity to play with and certainly coach (Bob) Johnson and what he’s meant to my life.

As a four-year starter at point guard for Emory & Henry, Allen led the Wasps to the Division III NCAA tournament all four seasons. During his senior season in 1993, Allen guided Emory & Henry to Old Dominion Athletic Conference regular season championship and a trip to the Sweet 16. He was also an All-ODAC tournament team selection in 1992.

“I was fortunate,” Allen added. “I played on really good teams. There are so many guys that I played with that are as deserving, if not more deserving.”

Allen, who was a two-year captain, ended his collegiate career as the Wasps’ all-time assists leader with 455 — a mark that still ranks second in the Emory & Henry record books. He also tied the state and school records for best free throw percentage in a game when he shot a perfect 12-for-12 during a game in 1992.

After graduating from Emory & Henry, Allen served as an assistant coach under Johnson for the Wasps from 1993-1996. He then became an assistant coach under Don DeVoe at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1996-2002. Prior to coming to Averett, Allen was an assistant coach at Wofford for two seasons.

Since taking over an Averett program that went 0-25 the season before his arrival, Allen has turned the Cougars into a perennial contender in the USA South Conference. In four seasons at Averett, Allen has a 67-44 overall record that includes two 20-win seasons, two conference tournament championships and two NCAA tournament appearances.

“There’s not a day that goes by that things Coach Johnson taught me don’t go through my head — not just from a basketball standpoint, but a every day standpoint,” Allen said. “Those things mean everything to me.”

Allen was one of six former players and coaches inducted into the 2008 class of the Emory & Henry Sports Hall of Fame.

"To be recognized in that way is about as nice of an honor as I could ever hope for,” he said.