MONTGOMERY, Ala. | When the name Vann Pettaway is mentioned in sports circles, it is immediately associated with the Alabama A&M University men's basketball program. 
 
On May 16, 2026, coach Pettaway will be the guest of honor when the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Alumni Association holds its annual Legends Awards and Roast on the campus of Alabama State University in the J. Garrett Hardy Student Center. A host of Pettaway's close friends (assistant coaches, former players and athletic staff) will recount his days of coaching "roasting" him at the banquet, which starts at 7:00 p.m.
 
On being the guest of honor Pettaway stated, "I feel truly honored to be the recipient of this special roast, especially knowing it's for such a great cause. Growing up, I was never really the type to joke on people, or 'shoot the dozen'. That just was not me, but this honor will be an exception." 
                  
Pettaway, a native of Selma, Ala., graduated from Dallas County High School and attended Selma University Junior College. During his two-years at Selma University, Pettaway played basketball and baseball, lettering in both sports. 
 
In 1978 following his two-year stint at Selma University, Pettaway enrolled at Alabama A&M University where he played basketball and in 1980, earned a bachelor's degree in Health & Physical Education. Pettaway later received a master's degree from Alabama A&M in Secondary Administration. 
 
From 1983 –1985, Pettaway was an assistant coach under legendary Coach Ben Jobe. Pettaway's coaching interest dates back to his Selma hometown where he worked as the Upward Bounds (Summer program) basketball coach. 
 
"Upward Bound focused on supporting and uplifting students to have an impact on a young person's life," he said. "I didn't know what direction I wanted to take, but that changed once I got into coaching in building relationships, encouraging confidence, and watching students realize their own potential."
 
After the 1985 basketball season, Ben Jobe departed Alabama A&M to become Southern University's head coach. At age 28, Pettaway was tabbed to be A&M's head coach, stepping into a leadership role that would define his 25 years in becoming the Bulldogs winningest coach. 
 
During Pettaway's first 13 years in Division II competition, he amassed a record of 263-83 which included eight 20 plus win seasons; four Coach of the Year honors in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC); seven SIAC Tournament Crowns; and four NCAA Elite Eight Tournament appearances.
 
In 1999, Alabama A&M elevated its athletic programs to Division I and became a member of the SWAC. Pettaway's winning ways continued and in 2005, Alabama A&M was crowned SWAC Champions and an NCAA tournament appearance. He was also voted SWAC Coach of the Year. During a 12-year stint in SWAC play, Pettaway accumulated a 114-102 record, and over 25 seasons as a head coach, Pettaway compiled a record of 453-278.     
 
During his coaching career, Pettaway received numerous honors and awards to include the Presidential Citation Alma Mater Award, and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. In 2011, he was inducted into the Huntsville/Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame; in 2013, the Alabama A&M University Athletic Booster Club Hall of Fame, and in 2000, he was inducted into the Alabama A&M Athletic Hall of Fame.  
 
Tickets for the 23^rd Annual Legends Awards and Roast are $75 dollars each, with a table of eight (8) selling for $600 dollars. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/swac-alumni-association-annual-legends-banquet-and-roast-tickets-1986591428440?aff=oddtdtcreator  , or Zelle – swacalumni@gmail.com .
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Association's NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) program and will benefit a male and a female athlete from SWAC institutions. 
 
  The purpose of the SWAC Alumni Association, which was founded on December 10, 1999, in Birmingham, Ala., is to support Southwestern Athletic Conference events, support the conference's athletics heritage and help preserve its legacy of competitive excellence. Former student-athletes from any SWAC-sponsored sport and from all current or former member institutions are eligible for membership, as are coaches, staff members as well as game officials, employees of the conference office and supporters of SWAC athletics.