David Hobbs (basketball)

This article is about the basketball coach. For other people named David Hobbs, see David Hobbs (disambiguation).

David Hobbs

Sport(s)	Basketball
Biographical details
Born	(1949-04-25) April 25, 1949 Lynchburg, Virginia
Playing career
1968–1970	Ferrum JC
1970–1972	VCU
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1972–1979 1980–1985 1985–1992 1992–1998 2000–2007	Lee-Davis HS VCU (asst.) Alabama (asst.) Alabama Kentucky (asst.)

David A. Hobbs (born April 25, 1949) is an American basketball coach. He was head men's coach at the University of Alabama from 1992 to 1998 and also was an assistant coach at Alabama, the University of Kentucky and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Early years

Hobbs was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He lettered his junior and senior seasons (1970–71) at VCU, where he earned an Education bachelor's degree in (1972) after spending his first two seasons playing at Virginia's Ferrum Junior College.

Coaching career

Throughout his career, Hobbs has coached teams to more than 400 victories and 18 postseason tournament appearances, including 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

His coaching career began in the prep ranks at Lee-Davis High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia for eight seasons, the last three as head coach.

Virginia Commonwealth

His first job in college coaching came at Virginia Commonwealth, where he served as an assistant coach with Tubby Smith on J. D. Barnett's staff. Hobbs spent six years (1980–85) coaching on the Rams' staff.

Alabama

Hobbs was hired at Alabama as an assistant coach for Wimp Sanderson in 1985 and spent the next seven years at that position, helping the Crimson Tide win one SEC Championship and four SEC Tournament crowns while the Tide made four appearances in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. As an assistant, he had the opportunity to coach such All-SEC performers as Robert Horry, James "Hollywood" Robinson and Latrell Sprewell.

When Sanderson left Alabama following the 1992 season, Hobbs was named head coach. In his first season, the Tide finished 16–13 and advanced to the NIT. In 1994 and 1995, Alabama recorded 20-win seasons and advanced to the NCAA Tournament behind the play of NBA All-Star Antonio McDyess. In 1996, Hobbs led UA to a 19–13 mark and a berth in the NIT Final Four. He resigned his post following the 1998 season after compiling a 110–76 (59.4%) career record and producing nine All-SEC players.

Kentucky

David Hobbs joined the UK staff in 2000 and served seven years as an assistant coach under Tubby Smith, including five as assistant head coach. He was not retained by the university when Smith left in 2007.

After departure from Kentucky

After leaving Kentucky, Hobbs was a scout for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats for two years, followed by a short stint as coach of Japan's national basketball team. He was terminated from that job after being on medical leave.

Family

Hobbs is married to Barbara "Skeet" Fleet Hobbs and they have two grown children, Heather and David, Jr.