A native of Michigan, Emmanuel Tommy joined Alabama A&M men’s basketball as an assistant coach on July 1, 2021 and brings 14 years of experience working within the profession at the high school, community college and NCAA Division I and III levels in a variety of capacities.
MCNEESE STATE (2020-21, DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS)
During his time with the Cowboys, Tommy served as the Director of Basketball Operations and was responsible day-to-day operations.
This included coordinating and planning road trips and handling all of the logistical challenges associated with it along with assisting with on-court instruction, scouting and player personnel reports and overseeing the student-athletes academic component of the program.
Additionally, he was the program’s liaison to the Department and Compliance Office while serving as the director of summer camps.
SOUTH ALABAMA (2019-20, DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS)
No stranger to the State of Alabama, Tommy was a member of the men’s basketball staff at South Alabama in 2019-20.
In his time with the Jaguars he assisted the director of operations, coordinated official and unofficial recruit visits and had a hand in scouting and player personnel reports and travel operations.
That was in addition to his day-to-day coaching and recruiting responsibilities, the latter of which saw him help bring in the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt. He also oversaw the Richie Riley Basketball Camps during his time in Mobile.
On court, USA delivered their best season in a decade, finishing 20-11 overall and 13-7 in the Sun Belt. It marked the first 20-win season by the program since 2008-09, one that would see them win their final eight contests.
CENTRE COLLEGE (2018-19, ASSISTANT COACH)
As an assistant at Division III Centre College, Tommy helped lead the Colonels to a sterling 23-5 overall record and a Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Regular Season Championship in 2018-19.
While there he was involved in all areas of the program, including recruiting, scouting of opponents, video operations and player skill development, particularly with the club’s guards. The latter would see him work with All-SAA First-Team selection Perry Ayers.
On top of that, he was a member of Greg Mason’s staff, who that year became the program’s all-time winningest coach. In that role, Tommy developed individual and group workouts while playing a role in the recruitment of four high school seniors that season.
GODWIN HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL (2012-18, ASSISTANT COACH)
Being a part of tremendous staffs is nothing new to Tommy as he spent six seasons at his alma mater as an assistant coach from 2012-18.
In that time Godwin Heights went an incredible 158-12, winning seven conference, five district and four regional titles in addition to a 2015 Michigan Class B State Championship. While there he coached four AP and six Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) All-State selections, 20 All-Conference honorees and a pair of Grand Rapids area Player of the Year choices.
Over that six-year span, GHHS was either No. 1 or No. 2 in the AP Michigan Poll and the program tied the program record with 25 straight wins during the 2013-14 campaign.
GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (2014-15, ASSISTANT COACH)
During his time as an assistant at Grand Rapids, Tommy helped lead the program to an 18-11 overall record that saw them reach the Region VIIII Championship Game after defeating the No. 1 seed.
Responsible for recruiting, player development, opponent scouting and team travel, he also worked primarily with the team’s guards. In that role he helped Demarcus Stucky develop into a First-Team All-Conference selection.
WESTERN MICHIGAN (2007-10, GRADUATE ASSISTANT COACH)
Tommy began his coaching career at Western Michigan as a graduate assistant and was part of back-to-back Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division Champions in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
While there he was responsible for day-to-day operations, assisting with on court workouts, practices, scouting and video and also worked with future MAC Player of the Decade David Kool.
CAMP AND AAU EXPERIENCE (2010-20)
Over the course of his career, Tommy has broadened his coaching horizons with opportunities to coach at a number of high profile camps, including the John Calipari Basketball Camp (2017-18) John Thompson III Basketball Camp (2016).
Additionally, he worked at the AAU level with the Grand Rapid Storm (Mich.) from 2010-14 and had the opportunity to coach players such as current National Basketball Association (NBA) and Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Tommy currently holds memberships in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) as well as the National Association for Coaching Equity and Development (NAFCED). The latter focuses on raising awareness and advancing equality in the college basketball coaching profession and the NABC is the premier association basketball coaches.
EDUCATION
Following his playing career at Godwin Heights, Tommy stayed in the Wolverine State, earning a pair of degrees at Western Michigan. The first of those would be in Public Relations in 2008 followed by a Master’s in Physical Education & Sports Studies in 2010.
