Radford University Athletics

2nd Stint (1997-2000 / 2011-pr.)
Radford, 1992

Chris Hawkins, one of the finest players to suit up in a Radford uniform, will begin his fifth season at his alma mater in 2015 as an assistant coach on Mike Jones’ staff.

This is the second stint on the Highlander bench for Hawkins, a 1992 RU graduate, who was a part of two of the most memorable teams in program history. As a player, Hawkins was a key piece of the 1991-92 “Never-Say-Die-Landers” team that went 20-9 and won the Big South Regular Season Championship. Hawkins was part of Ron Bradley’s staff for three seasons (1997-2000) and a member of Radford’s first-ever NCAA Tournament team in 1998.

Hawkins’ (1989-92) name is still etched in the program’s record book – his 310 career assists are among the tops in school history and his 128 assists as a senior in the 91-92 season ranked in the top 10 all-time. He was selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player that year, a gritty point guard that led the Highlanders to 12 wins in games where they trailed in the second half.

During his three seasons on Bradley’s staff, Hawkins was part of the best three-year stretch in school history, including back-to-back 20-win seasons in his first two years, and the program’s first postseason berth.

Hawkins returned to Radford with a nearly a decade of coaching experience under his belt since departing following the 1999-2000 season. His career includes stops as a Division I assistant at Buffalo and Tulane, and a season as the head boys basketball coach at Oxon Hill High School in Oxon Hill, Md.

Following his three years at Radford, Hawkins signed on with Reggie Witherspoon’s staff at Buffalo for seven seasons from 2000 through 2007. In a stretch of three seasons (2003-06) the Bulls won 59 games, including a 23-win season in 2004-05. Hawkins served as the travel coordinator and recruiting coordinator for Buffalo.

Hawkins linked up with former RU assistant coach Dave Dickerson for the 2007-08 season at Tulane as the Green Wave’s academic advisor and recruiting coordinator. In Hawkins’ only season in New Orleans, Tulane put together its third winning season of the decade with a 17-15 mark.

Prior to his return to collegiate coaching, Hawkins spent three years working in the Prince Georges County (Md.) school system as a peer mediation/crisis intervention coordinator and as a teacher. Before returning to RU and joining Bradley’s staff in 1997, Hawkins spent six years in education.

Hawkins received his Bachelor’s in criminal justice from Radford in 1992. He and his wife, Jacquie, have a daughter, Chandler.