Emory & Henry Names Jimmy Allen Next Head Men’s Basketball Coach

The Emory & Henry College Department of Athletics and incoming Director of Athletics Kyle Sensabaugh are pleased to announce that Jimmy Allen  has been selected as the next Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Allen returns to his alma mater with 31 years of coaching experience and a career head coaching record of 195-182 in 13 seasons.

“I am incredibly excited and grateful to have to opportunity to come back to Emory & Henry,” commented Allen. “I want to thank President John Wells, Vice President Ryan Bowyer, Kyle Sensabaugh and Susan Ratliff for this opportunity. This is an exciting time as E&H has transitioned to Division II and an even more exciting time with the leadership at E&H.”

A four-year letterwinner for the Wasps between 1989-93 under legendary head coach Bob Johnson, Allen led the Wasps to four-straight NCAA Division III Tournament berths including a Sweet 16 appearance as a senior. He was inducted into the Emory & Henry Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. Allen received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in accounting from E&H in 1993.

Allen joins the E&H staff after spending the 2023-24 season as the Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of New Hampshire alongside head coach Nathan Davis who was part of Johnson’s staff at Emory & Henry in 1997-98.

“I am so excited to welcome someone of Jimmy’s caliber home to E&H,” said Sensabaugh. “This is a monumental day for E&H men’s basketball. I can’t think of anything more fitting with the progress of the institution, our transition to NCAA Division II and setting Emory & Henry Athletics up for an incredible future.”

Before his time in Durham, New Hampshire, Allen was the head coach for Army West Point for seven seasons. In Allen’s last four seasons, he guided Army to a 59-57 overall record and a 36-32 Patriot League record, which signified the first four-year class to graduate with a winning league record since Army joined the Patriot League in 1979. The Black Knights won 17 games in Allen’s final season at Army – the second most wins since 1978.  At the end of the shortened 2020-21 campaign, the Black Knights received an invitation to the College Basketball Invitational. Before taking the reins at Army, he was an assistant for six years, serving the final season as associate head coach.

Before taking his post on the banks of the Hudson River, Allen led Averett University in Danville, Virginia for six years (2004-10). He was part of a turnaround that saw the Cougars go from 0-25 the year prior to his arrival to three USA South Athletic Conference regular season championships, three tournament titles and three Division III Tournament appearances. In 2006-07 and 2008-09, Averett won both the USA South regular season and tournament crowns in addition to reaching the NCAA Tournament. His 2008-09 squad reached the second round. Over his six years, Allen led the Cougars to a 97-70 overall record.

“I quickly learned from Anne Crutchfield that the key to being a good Director of Athletics is keeping great people around you and Jimmy absolutely fits that bill,” Sensabaugh continued.

Allen also had assistant stops beginning at E&H upon his graduation for three years before a six-year stint at the United States Naval Academy. He spent two seasons at Wofford College as an assistant for fellow E&H graduate Mike Young prior to being named the head coach at Averett University in Danville, Virginia.

“I got into coaching because of the impact that Coach Johnson, his family, and the people at Emory & Henry had on me during my time as a player and coach,” Allen added. “I am pumped about this opportunity and building a championship-level program with championship-level people!”