Joseph Eatmon Is Making History At Shelton State Community College
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The Yellowhammer State is filled with great African American leaders from the past, present, and future. We thank our West Alabama community partners, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Delta Phi Lambda Chapter, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Xi Omega Chapter for their continued support.
Joseph Eatmon Sr. is a Black History Maker
Joseph Eatmon Sr. is Shelton State Community College's first African American head coach in school history.
Four-time National Junior College Athletic Association Region 22 and District 12 Coach of the Year Joseph Eatmon Sr. is in his sixth season at the helm of the Shelton State men’s basketball program.
Eatmon has guided the Buccaneers to four Alabama Community College Conference championships and owns a career record of 171-38 overall, including a 152-28 record at Shelton State and an 80-13 mark in ACCC play. A total of 58 student-athletes have graduated and gone on to play for four-year programs since Eatmon arrived in 2012. He has also coached one Region 22 Player of the Year, along with a pair of All-Region 22 First Teamers, two Region 22 North Division First Team selections, and four Region 22 North Division Second Team honorees.
The 2020-21 season saw the Bucs return to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament following the program’s eleventh ACCC title. Shelton State posted a 24-2 record on the year under Eatmon, going 14-0 in the conference, and finished the year ranked #4 in the country.
In addition to having success on the court, Eatmon’s teams have shined in the classroom and in the community. Several of his student-athletes have been recognized on the ACCC Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, posting a 3.0 GPA or higher, and have spent time in local elementary schools and in the local community volunteering.
“To me, black history is American history. Without the contributions of African Americans, there would be no American History.” Says Eatmon.
“Black history is not something just on the calendar for the month of Feb. it’s something we see every day of our lives and it is important to the growth and success of our country”
A native of Tuscaloosa, Eatmon played high school basketball at Central High School under Coach Robey Butler and was a nominee for the McDonald’s High School All-American Game.
Eatmon and his family reside in his hometown Tuscaloosa, AL.
Prior to assuming the reins as head coach, Eatmon served as an assistant coach for Shelton State from 2012-16 helping guide the Bucs to the 2013 regional championship to earn a spot in the NJCAA National Tournament, and ACCC runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2016.
Before arriving at Shelton State, Eatmon was head men's basketball coach at Alabama Southern for one season. After taking over in October of 2011, he led the Eagles to a 20-10 season and a second-place finish in the ACCC South Division. Eatmon entered the college coaching ranks in 2008 as an assistant under his now assistant, Eddie McCarter, at West Alabama, after one season as head boys’ basketball coach at Linden High School in Linden, Ala.
Eatmon graduated from the University of West Alabama with both a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education as well as a master’s degree in education with an emphasis on physical education. He played for the Tigers from 2004-06, under head coach Rick Reedy, earning Academic All-America honors.
Black HistoryMakers of Alabama 2021