UNCP Athletics

Having worn many hats during his previous 34 years in the UNC Pembroke athletics department, John Haskins embarks on his 37^th year in Pembroke in 2023-24, including his 20^th as the head coach of the Braves. Haskins also spent 10 years as the UNCP men’s basketball coach as well.

After serving one year as an assistant coach at UNC Wilmington and four more at Gardner-Webb, Haskins stepped joined the UNCP athletic family as an assistant men’s basketball coach for former athletics director Dan Kenney from 1989-92. During that stretch, the Black & Gold compiled a 63-29 (.684) clip, including an 18-13 record in 1989-90 that culminated in the Carolinas Conference title. That stretch produced five all-conference selections, as well as four all-district and a pair of NAIA all-American nods.

Haskins took over as head coach of the men’s team in 1992 following Kenney’s departure to Winthrop and was integral in UNCP’s transition over to the NCAA Division II ranks. Over the next 10 years, the Black & Gold produced seven all-conference players, one Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year selection (Frank Smith, 1993-94) and a pair of all-PBC Tournament laurels. Rosendo “Russ” Bryden became UNCP’s first National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) all-America selection following a 1995-96 campaign that saw the Braves reach the 15-win plateau.

Haskins compiled more than 100 wins (105-164) in 10 seasons as the men’s coach and helped the Braves to three winning seasons. He earned PBC Coach of the Year accolades after his final season as the men’s head coach in 2001-02.

As the skipper of the men’s golf team from 2002-05, Haskins helped lead the Braves to top-5 finishes at five different events, including medalist honors at both the 2002 and 2004 Lacey Gane Invitational. In his first season as head coach, he mentored Matt Drye to a spot in the NCAA postseason, while helping a pair of golfers – Greg Dobbins and Mark Long – to an NCAA postseason berth in 2004. The men’s golf team also concluded the 2004-05 campaign with a No. 34 national ranking.

Haskins has achieved unparalleled levels of success as head coach of the women’s basketball program in Pembroke, however. The last 15 seasons have produced a lion’s share of individual recognition, including 14 all-conference selections, seven all-state honorees and nine PBC weekly award winners. Former UNCP standout Danielle Richardson earned all-region and all-America honors following Haskins’ first season at the helm, while 18 players have earned PBC All-Academic Team distinction over the last 10 seasons as well.

Haskins has led the Braves to seven winning seasons, including a 22-win season during the 2022-23 year where the Black & Gold won the Conference Carolinas Tournament and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Haskins also had a 19-win season during the 2021-22 season which marked the most wins since the 1991-92 season. The Black & Gold also tallied 11 wins on the home floor, which marked the most since 2016-17. The Braves made a statement during the 2004-05 campaign that saw them turn in an 18-10 mark en route to the PBC North Division title. He skippered his squad to a school record 12 league victories en route to a 16-12 record in 2011-12 as well. Haskins led the Braves to a program-record, 11-game home winning streak in 2016-17, as UNCP did not lose in Pembroke from Nov. 30 to Feb. 21. Having compiled more than 200 wins (239-276) already, Haskins became the winningest coach in UNCP women's basketball history passing Lalon Jones (1984-89) to become the most successful coach in the 40 years of the program.

An all-conference player at Lees-McRae, Haskins averaged more than 15 points as a sophomore for the Bobcats. He made the move to UNC Wilmington after earning his associate’s degree at LMJC and averaged better than 8.0 points and nearly 3.0 rebounds per game over his last two collegiate playing seasons and helped lead the Seahawks to a cumulative 38-18 record. He captained the Seahawks to a 19-10 clip as a senior.

Haskins earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from UNC Wilmington in 1980, and went on to earn his master’s degree in education from Appalachian State in 1981.

In 2014, Haskins was inducted into Sanderson High School Athletic Hall of Fame.  

Haskins and his wife, Kelly, have two children, Morgan and Connor. Morgan earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from East Carolina University and Connor is a graduate of UNCP and record-breaking placekicker on the UNCP football team.

HEAD COACHING RECORD