It will be a great day to honor a great coach, as the two schools Anderson served as head coach meet for the first time since 1972.
Affectionately know in college basketball circles as Coach T, Anderson had an amazing career that spanned him leading high school programs in Mississippi and Georgia for more than 20 years in the 1960'2 to the early 1980's, coaching at Auburn and Georgia before coming to Murray State (1995-98) as assistant in 1995 and later becoming head coach for five seasons (1998-03) and later 10 seasons as head coach at Jackson State (2003-13).
With the Racers first as an assistant under Coach Mark Gottfried, Anderson and the Racers went 40-12 in three seasons in the Ohio Valley Conference including two regular season championships and a pair NCAA Tournament appearances. As a head coach, Coach T kept the Racer tradition going by winning 103 games in five seasons with another pair of OVC championships and NCAA appearances. He was named OVC Coach of the Year for the 1998-99 season.
Known as an outstanding recruiter, Coach Anderson had a hand in coaching three OVC Player of the Year winners including: Marcus Brown 1994-95, De'Teri Mayes 1997-98 and Aubrey Reese 1999-00. And 10 players that were named All-OVC including Marcus Brown 1994-95, De'Teri Mayes 1996-97, 1997-98, Vincent Rainey 1995-96, 1996-97, Chad Townsend 1996-97, 1997-98, Isaac Spencer 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, Aubrey Reese 1998-99, 1999-00,
Rod Murray 1998-99, Justin Burdine 2000-01, 2001-02, James Singleton 2001-02, 2002-03 and Cuthbert Victor 2002-03.
Fans attending the Jackson State game on Dec. 15 will see a half time ceremony that will honor Coach Anderson's legacy at Murray State.
All former players and staff of Coach Anderson are invited to return to Murray State and share in the evening. Those interested in attending the game are asked to contact Steve Harrell, MSU Senior Associate Ad for External Relations, at (270) 809-3430 or email sharrell4@murraystate.edu.
