Charlotte, NC – The NJCAA has announced its newest inductees into the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for the class of 2020. A pair of former student-athletes join three prominent coaches in this year's class.
Nick Van Exel of Trinity Valley (TX), Jerry Venable of previous NJCAA-member Ferrum (VA), current Johnson County (KS) head coach Mike Jeffers, former Herkimer (NY) head coach Jack Alofs, and former Howard (TX) head coach and current Texas Tech assistant coach Mark Adams are the latest inductees into the Hall of Fame.
Nick Van Exel
Player – Trinity Valley (TX)
A two-year standout at Trinity Valley, Nick Van Exel used his time in Athens as a springboard to a remarkable professional career.
Van Exel's career at Trinity Valley began in 1989 and helped the Cardinals record 34 wins during his two-year tenure. A successful stint in Athens propelled the Kenosha, WI native to an opportunity with the Cincinnati Bearcats and head coach Bob Huggins. Van Exel's junior year saw the Bearcats reach the NCAA Final Four. Van Exel powered the Bearcats to an Elite Eight finish as a senior and was a finalist for the Wooden Award, given annually to the top player in America.
A stellar collegiate career resulted in Van Exel's selection in the second round of the 1993 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Van Exel's professional career spanned 13 seasons across six NBA franchises that included an NBA All-Star selection in 1998.
Van Exel began a successful coaching career in 2009 at Texas Southern and has evolved into a current assistant position with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Van Exel joins former standout Eddie Robinson and head coach Leon Spencer as Trinity Valley alums inducted into the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Jerry Venable
Player – Ferrum (VA)
Jerry Venable has left a lasting impact on the game of basketball through a number of avenues, a path that began at Ferrum (VA).
A two-year member of the Ferrum men's basketball program from 1966-68, Venable was named an NJCAA All-America selection as a sophomore. Following his junior college career, Venable carried his skills to Kansas State where he earned All-Big Eight and All-America honors. Venable currently ranks ninth on the Wildcats' all-time scoring list despite just two seasons in Manhattan.
Following four years as a student-athlete, Venable was selected in the 1970 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, but embarked on a career with the historic Harlem Globetrotters. A 13-year campaign with the world travelers, Venable provided a lasting impact both on and off the court through initiatives such as Ronald Regan's Drug Awareness Campaign. Venable's community involvement also included the launching of Learning Opportunities Through Sports (LOTS)
Venable was inducted into the Ferrum Hall of Fame in 2018 and currently serves as CEO of the Staunton Education Foundation which helps school aged children through the promotion of sport and educational activities.
Venable becomes the first Ferrum alum to be inducted into the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Mark Adams
Head Coach – Howard (TX)
On the heels of an NCAA Final Four appearance in 2019, Mark Adams joins the latest NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame class for his decorated tenure at Howard (TX).
From 2004-13, Adams accumulated 233 victories with the Hawks to coincide with three conference championships. Adams reached the pinnacle of NJCAA basketball with the 2010 national championship and NJCAA Coach of the Year honor. The title was the first in program history for Howard. Under Adams' tutelage, a pair of former student-athletes garnered NJCAA Player of the Year honors in Charles Burgess and current NBA star Jae Crowder.
After a successful campaign with the Hawks, Adams made the hour and a half trip north to Lubbock, TX to take over as the Director of Basketball Operations at Texas Tech for two seasons. Following a stint as an assistant coach at Little Rock, Adams returned to Texas Tech and has served as the assistant coach since 2016.
A decorated winner at all levels of collegiate basketball, Adams' first head coaching job came with NJCAA-member Clarendon (TX) from 1981-82.
Adams becomes the second Howard coach inducted into the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, joining Archie Meyers (2000).
Jack Alofs
Head Coach – Herkimer (NY)
Jack Alofs served as a staple for the Herkimer Generals for 20 years and left a lasting impact as not only a coach, but as an educator to the game of basketball.
Alofs recorded a career record of 391-55 and reached the height of his career in 1991 with the NJCAA DIII Men's Basketball Championship. Alofs oversaw the transition of the Generals' program when the NJCAA introduced divisional alignment, but Alofs recorded success on the court no matter the level. The Generals recorded a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship in Hutchinson, KS in 1987.
Alofs, who passed away in 2007, was also inducted into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 after twice earning New York State Junior College Coach of the Year honors.
Alofs' coaching legacy was embedded into his published book titled "Jack Plus 5: Secrets, Strategies, Experiences and Fundamentals in Coaching Winning Basketball".
Mike Jeffers
Head Coach – Johnson County (KS)
For 28 seasons, Mike Jeffers has roamed the sidelines throughout the always-competitive Jayhawk Conference. Jeffers' ability to lead Johnson County (KS) as one of the top programs in the country year-in and year-out has resulted in a spot in the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
With over 550 career wins at the NJCAA level, Jeffers has created a culture of winning that continuously raises the level of competition throughout the state of Kansas. Following four seasons at former NJCAA-member Brewton Parker (GA), Jeffers took over the Cavaliers' program in 1991. A 19-win season in his initial campaign was the beginning of a successful journey in Overland Park.
Over the course of the last 28 seasons, Jeffers has tallied nine Region VI titles, three Jayhawk Conference titles, and two coveted national championships. Jeffers led the Cavaliers to national titles in 2001 and 2009, earning NJCAA Coach of the Year honors in each season. Jeffers entered the 2019-20 season as one of the top-20 active winningest coaches in the NJCAA.
Jeffers' induction in the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame is the first for a member of the Johnson County program.