Jacksonville, Florida-Edward Waters Associate Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Ivana Rich has announced the selection of Cabral Huff as the new head coach of the EWU men's basketball program. Huff was officially introduced in a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Adams-Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex.
 
Huff comes to Jacksonville after a three-year stint at NAIA Voorhees University in Denmark, South Carolina where he served as the Head Men's Basketball coach and Athletic Booster Club Coordinator. Huff was hired in early November of 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic and was faced with putting a competitive team on the floor in less than two months. Under Huff's leadership, he led that team to the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Championship and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament while each season helping Voorhees be near the top of the conference standings and in position to compete in the conference tournament. This past season Voorhees finished in the Top 10 (9^th) of the Black College Sports Network (BCSN) NAIA Poll. Known as one of the best recruiters and player developers in the region, Huff has recruited & developed three First Team All-Conference players, Two Second Team All-Conference selections, Four All-Tournament Team members, and an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American during his time at Voorhees.
 
"This has been emotional and exciting for me, but I am so grateful to have the opportunity to lead this program and work with an amazing group of people at Edward Waters University." remarked Coach Huff. "I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to President Faison, Dr. Ivana Rich, and the entire Tiger athletic family for trusting me to lead this program. I am ready to get started establishing Tiger Vision here in Jacksonville."
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Cabral Huff, a respected coach, and high-character individual, into our Tiger family," said Dr. Rich. "His passion for positively impacting the lives of student-athletes and preparing them for life after college was very evident during the selection process. His reputation for connecting with players, recruiting acumen, and ties to the region make him an ideal candidate to lead the Tiger men's basketball program. We are incredibly excited for him for him to join our Tiger Family."
 
Prior to his time at Voorhees, the Atlanta native was the head coach at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Atlanta in 2019-20. During that season, Huff took the team to the Elite 8.
 
Prior to coaching at HIES, Huff had been a successful head coach at Duluth High School. In Huff's three seasons at Duluth High, he took his teams to three consecutive state tournament appearances, including back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances (1st appearance in Sweet 16 since 1985). His overall record at Duluth was 54-36 (most wins in a three-year span in school history).
 
Prior to arriving at Duluth High, Huff gained two seasons of collegiate basketball experience. At Alcorn State University (2015-16), Huff was an Assistant Coach that helped in leading the Braves to a total program turnaround, resulting in a second-place finish in conference. While at Georgia Southern University during 2014-15, he helped to guide the Eagles to a 22-9 record and a place in the conference championship game.

Before his time at the college level, he was a successful coach at St. Francis High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, for six seasons. He built a program from the ground up to a perennial powerhouse program in Georgia and the nation while recording five-straight appearances in the state tournament. His team won the State Championship in 2013-14, State Runner-Up during the 2012-13 season, Final Four (2012-13 & 2013-14), Sweet 16 (2009-10 and 2011-12), Back-to-Back Region Champions during the 2012-13 & 2013-14 seasons, and Region runners-up in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
 
Huff has previously been named Georgia Sports Writers Coach of the Year 2014, Coach of the Year by the XL212 in 2014, Region Coach of the Year in 2013 & 2014, Coach of the Year by the AJC in 2013, Coach of the Year by the North Fulton Neighbor Newspaper in 2013 and Coach of the Year by the Lineage of Champions in 2013.
 
Additionally, he has made many impacts on basketball through the organizations he serves in such as EmbRACEus, Minority Coaches Association of Georgia, Naismith Tip-Off Club, Rising Coaches, among others.
 
Huff added, "I want to establish a program of excellence on and off the court by being one percent better daily, building better people which in turn produces better student-athletes while building trust amongst the players, the entire Edward Waters faculty & staff and the Jacksonville community. These things will help us in our quest to compete not just in the SIAC and a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament, but in life."
 
Among the many players he has mentored, Huff has coached 32 All Region players, 18 All-State Players, one (1) McDonald's All-American, one (1) Jordan Brand Classic Player, one (1) USA 16U Player, two (2) MaxPreps All-Americans, one (1) Adidas National Player and over 30 players to play at the collegiate level, with many being at the Division I level. Huff has recruited and developed over 20 professional athletes, including four NBA players highlighted by Malik Beasley, Kobi Simmons, Kaiser Gates, James Banks, and potential 2023 NBA draft and First Team All-Big XII selection Adam Flagler from Baylor.
 
Huff is a 2000 graduate of Morehouse College, with a bachelor's degree in English. He also holds a teacher certification in English for grades 6-12 from Mercer University and earned a master's degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University.

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