Elizabeth City State University Men's Basketball

Head Coach John Richardson III has led Elizabeth City State’s men’s basketball program over the past three seasons, compiling a 22-45 overall record since taking over midway through the 2023-24 campaign. Elevated to the interim role during the season, he guided the Vikings to a 7-8 finish down the stretch, providing stability and leadership in a transitional period. Since then, Coach Richardson has continued to build the program while navigating roster turnover and development, leading ECSU through full seasons in 2024-25 and 2025-26. His tenure has focused on establishing a competitive culture, developing student-athletes, and laying the groundwork for long-term success within the program. This past season led to the development and standout campaign for student-athlete Donovan Flamer, who won CIAA Rookie of the Year under Richardson's guidance.  A native of Aulander, N.C., Richardson '95 boasts nearly two decades of coaching Division I basketball with a combined 16 years of experience as an assistant coach at Old Dominion University (ODU) and an additional two years as an assistant at Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Prior to his appointment at Virginia Tech in 2005, Richardson coached back-to-back Virginia High School League State Championship teams at Woodside High School in 2004 and 2005.  Richardson has seen outstanding success as an assistant coach at ODU. His accolades include being named one of the top 50 Most Impactful Assistant Coaches by Silverwares Media and Top 5 Men’s Basketball Assistants in C-USA conference in 2020 and 2022; regular season and tournament championship and a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament berth in 2019; and a conference championship in 2010. While Richardson’s resume offers many things that bring him pride, it is his work with students that brought them academic and athletic success that drives his passion. “I believe being a champion in competition, in the classroom, and in the community is vital to the success of any institution of learning. Throughout my coaching career, my mission has been to positively impact the futures of our athletes by focusing on three pillars – social well-being, academic and athletic development,” he said. “My mission has always been and will continue to be to positively impact the futures of our athletes.”

Elizabeth City State University welcomed Anquell McCollum to the men’s basketball coaching staff in 2025 as an Assistant Coach. A proven winner with more than two decades of coaching and playing experience, McCollum brings a championship pedigree and a track record of both athletic and academic success to the Vikings program. McCollum joins ECSU after six seasons at Fayetteville State University, where he was instrumental in building the Broncos into one of the CIAA’s premier programs. During his tenure, FSU captured three CIAA South Division titles, made three trips to the CIAA Championship Game, and won the 2022 CIAA Championship—the program’s first since 1973. The Broncos also earned multiple NCAA Atlantic Regional bids, produced three 20-win seasons, and reached new heights in the classroom with record-setting team GPAs. Before his success at FSU, McCollum served as head coach at Freedom Christian Academy in Fayetteville, N.C., leading the Patriots to the NCISAA Final Four and the highest state ranking in school history. He also spent 14 years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Western Carolina University, where he helped guide the Catamounts to Southern Conference divisional titles, postseason appearances, and multiple APR Public Recognition Awards. As a player, McCollum was one of the most decorated student-athletes in Western Carolina history. A four-year standout (1992–1996), he earned Southern Conference Player of the Year honors in 1996, led the Catamounts to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth, and graduated as the school’s all-time leader in three-pointers. His legacy has been recognized with induction into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame and the Southern Conference Championship Team Hall of Fame. McCollum also played professionally overseas in France, Venezuela, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, as well as in the U.S. Basketball League. McCollum is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. A proud family man, coach McCollum enjoys life with his wife Marie, their daughters Jhimya and Aaliyah, and grandson Jaylen Myers Jr.