Custom Search LORMAN, Miss. – One month after terminating its previous coach, Alcorn State University has named former Prairie View A&M assistant coach Landon Bussie as the head men's basketball coach on the reservation.
Bussie
Bussie had spent the last six seasons at PVAM. He was a part of a Panthers squad that won back-to-back SWAC regular season titles in 2018-19 and 2019-20. PVAMU won the 2018-19 SWAC Championship, advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers were the top overall seed again in 2019-20, reaching the semifinals before the season was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Known as a superior recruiter, Bussie recruited the 2019-20 SWAC Player of the Year, Devonte Patterson. He also recruited and developed Gary Blackston, the 2018-19 SWAC Tournament MVP. Both Patterson and Blackston were BOXTOROW All-Americans.
Bussie worked alongside head coach Byron Smith, the back-to-back SWAC Coach of the Year in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Bussie aided the Panthers in finishing top-10 in the nation in turnovers forced per game three years in a row. The 2018-19 squad ended second in the country in turnovers forced with 17.9 per game. PVAMU led the conference in steals per game in 2018-19 and 2019-20, and allowed under 67 points per game in both seasons.
"Coach Bussie's drive and commitment to excellence is going to be key in taking our program back to the success that we've had in the past years," said director of athletics Derek Horne. "Coach Bussie has experienced success at Prairie View, being back-to-back regular season champions and also in his recruiting efforts. We're confident that Coach Bussie will take us back to our winning ways."