Norfolk State head coach Larry Vickers is leaving to lead Auburn women’s program
After leading Norfolk State’s women’s basketball program to its third consecutive NCAA tournament berth, head coach Larry Vickers is leaving to become coach at Auburn University.
Auburn announced Vickers’ hiring Sunday, a day after Norfolk State’s 82-69 loss to Maryland in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
In 10 seasons at Norfolk State, Vickers compiled an overall record of 177-99. Vickers, who was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for the third time earlier this month, has led the Spartans to four consecutive MEAC regular-season titles. Norfolk State ended its regular season with an undefeated 14-0 conference record, with out-of-conference wins over Power 4 opponents Missouri and Auburn.
During his tenure, Vickers brought former five-star recruit Diamond Johnson, who previously played at Rutgers and North Carolina State, to Norfolk State. Johnson, the 2024-25 MEAC Player of the Year, believes Vickers will continue his success at the Power 4 level because of his basketball IQ, the relationships he builds with his players and his defensive mentality.
“If he can do what he did at [an] HBCU, he’s gonna do even better at a P4,” Johnson said. “He’s gonna have another historical season. He’s a great X’s and O’s coach. I mean, the plays that we run, a lot of teams can’t guard it. Just imagine if you put that on Auburn in the SEC. … He knows what it takes to win – we can see that. He’s gonna find a way to win.”
Vickers is the latest women’s basketball coach from a historically Black college or university to transition directly from an HBCU to a Power 4 job since Cynthia Cooper-Dyke went from Texas Southern University to USC in 2013.
Vickers, a Norfolk State basketball alumnus, began his coaching career as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball program and was an assistant coach in 2012 when Norfolk State defeated Missouri in the NCAA men’s tournament.
Norfolk State men’s basketball head coach Robert Jones, who also was an assistant on the Spartans team that secured the upset victory, has built a close friendship with Vickers and is excited to see him get a big opportunity.
“[I feel] like a proud big brother, a proud friend, a mentor seeing someone getting a chance they deserve,” Jones said. “A lot of times as HBCU coaches we get pigeonholed. So credit to the Auburn administration for taking a chance.”
Norfolk State announced it will begin a national coaching search to replace one of the most storied coaches in the program’s history.
“Larry embraced the challenge of rebuilding the Norfolk State women’s basketball program, taking over a struggling team looking for a turnaround,” NSU Director of Athletics Melody Webb said in the statement. “Over the past 10 years he has defied expectations at every step, constructing one of the greatest dynasties that any HBCU has ever seen. He elevated our women’s basketball program to unprecedented heights, molding Norfolk State into the gold standard for success in the sport.”
Vickers will replace Johnnie Harris, who was fired this month after Auburn’s season ended with a loss in the first round of the SEC tournament. Auburn did not qualify for the NCAA tournament with a 12-18 overall record and 3-13 conference record.