Steve Hawkins facts for kids
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Hawkins in a 2011 game against Oakland University
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| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Assistant coach |
| Team | Southern Illinois |
| Conference | MVC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | August 3, 1962 Ventura, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | South Alabama (1987) (BA) United States Sports Academy 1989 (MA) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1981–1983 | Villanova Prep. School |
| 1983–1984 | St. Bonaventure HS |
| 1984–1987 | South Alabama (asst.) |
| 1987–1988 | Quincy (asst.) |
| 1988–1990 | St. Andrew's (asst.) |
| 1990–1991 | Quincy (asst.) |
| 1991–2000 | Quincy |
| 2000–2003 | Western Michigan (asst.) |
| 2003–2020 | Western Michigan |
| 2022–2024 | Quincy |
| 2024–present | Southern Illinois (asst.) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 453–405 (.528) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2× MAC tournament (2004, 2014) 2x MAC regular season (2004, 2014) 8× MAC West Division (2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017) |
|
| Awards | |
| MAC Coach of the Year (2014) | |
Stephen Greg Hawkins (born August 3, 1962) is an American college basketball coach. He is currently an assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He started this job in 2024. Before this, he was the head coach at Western Michigan University and Quincy University.
Contents
Steve Hawkins' Coaching Journey
Starting Out as a Coach
Steve Hawkins was born in Ventura, California. After finishing high school, he started coaching basketball at high schools in the Los Angeles area. He coached at Villanova Preparatory School and St. Bonaventure High School in the early 1980s.
During this time, he also helped at basketball camps for UCLA. He even drove the famous Bruins coach, John Wooden. They often talked about basketball when they were stuck in traffic. Steve Hawkins kept in touch with John Wooden throughout his career. Wooden would even speak to Hawkins' teams at Quincy and Western Michigan.
Later, Steve Hawkins went to the University of South Alabama. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1987. He also got a master's degree in sports science in 1989 from the United States Sports Academy.
First Time at Quincy University
Steve Hawkins worked as an assistant coach at Quincy University from 1987 to 1988 and again from 1990 to 1991. He also coached at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in 1989.
In 1992, he became the head coach at Quincy. He led the team for nine seasons. After that, he joined the coaching staff at Western Michigan in 2000.
Leading the Western Michigan Broncos
On May 1, 2003, Steve Hawkins became the head coach at Western Michigan University. He had been an assistant coach there for three years before getting the top job.
Under Coach Hawkins, the Western Michigan Broncos basketball team did very well. They always finished high in their division in the Mid-American Conference.
In the 2003–04 season, his team won both the MAC regular season championship and the conference tournament. This big win sent them to the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. They played against Vanderbilt in the first round.
The Broncos also played in other postseason tournaments, like the 2005 National Invitation Tournament after the 2004–05 season.
In 2007, Steve Hawkins had a health issue and was in the hospital for a few days. He recovered and continued coaching.
The 2013–14 season was one of his best. The Broncos won the Rainbow Classic Championship, another MAC regular season championship, and the MAC tournament championship. They went to the NCAA tournament again. After this successful season, Steve Hawkins was named the 2014 MAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year.
On March 11, 2020, Western Michigan announced that Steve Hawkins would no longer be their head coach. He had led the team for 17 years.
Returning to Quincy University
On March 9, 2022, Steve Hawkins was hired again as the head coach for the Quincy Hawks men's basketball team. He coached there for two seasons. On April 15, 2024, he decided to leave Quincy to look for a new coaching opportunity.
Coaching at Southern Illinois University
On April 15, 2024, Steve Hawkins joined the Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball team as an assistant coach. He now works under head coach Scott Nagy.
Overall Coaching Record
Steve Hawkins has coached many games over his career. As a head coach, his teams have won 453 games and lost 405 games. This shows he has a winning record in college basketball.
