Reggie Theus has Bethune-Cookman chasing a March Madness first

Bethune-Cookman is one of 40 eligible NCAA Division I men's basketball teams that has never made it to March Madness. That could change this week.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Bethune-Cookman University, a historically Black private university in Daytona Beach, Florida, hired Reggie Theus as its athletic director in 2021 with the condition that he also become the men's basketball coach - an unprecedented move. In Theus' fifth season at the helm, B-CU is on the brink of history, having won the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season title and being the top seed in this week's conference tournament, where they are hoping to clinch the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Why it matters

Bethune-Cookman is one of 40 eligible Division I men's basketball teams that has never made it to March Madness. The Wildcats, who have competed in Division I since 1980, are the only SWAC team on the list. If they clinch an NCAA Tournament berth, B-CU is primed to become one of the tournament's Cinderella stories following a gargantuan turnaround under Theus' leadership.

The details

Theus, a former NBA All-Star and coach, was semi-retired when he took the dual roles of athletic director and men's basketball coach at B-CU in 2021. The school was in a state of transition, and the basketball team hadn't made the postseason since 2010-11. In Theus' first season, the Wildcats won just 9 games, but they have steadily improved each year, going 17-14 in the regular season this year and leading the SWAC in several key statistical categories. Theus has emphasized team bonding, unselfish play, and exposing his team to high-major opponents to prepare them for the NCAA Tournament.

  • Theus took the B-CU job in July 2021, just after the school moved from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to the SWAC.
  • In Theus' first season, 2021-22, the Wildcats won just 9 games.
  • This season, B-CU's regular season record was 17-14 (14-4 in conference play).
  • The Wildcats are the No. 1 seed in this week's SWAC conference tournament, where they are hoping to clinch their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

The players

Reggie Theus

A former NBA All-Star and coach who was hired as Bethune-Cookman's athletic director in 2021 with the condition that he also become the men's basketball coach - an unprecedented move.

Jakobi Heady

The Wildcats' senior wing who played at B-CU in 2023-24, transferred to Central Michigan last season, and then returned this year motivated to help the team win a championship.

Ariel Bland

The Wildcats' graduate forward who is the team's best shot blocker despite coming off the bench.

Seneca Willoughby

The Wildcats' senior point guard who is in his third season at B-CU and pilots the team's offense.

Arterio Morris

The Wildcats' backup guard who is a former McDonald's All-American and started his college career at Texas.

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What they’re saying

“It would be a phenomenal thing for the university and for the players, for their careers and their lives. I always tell the guys, when you dig your ditches, when you go through the battles, when you're tested, you can look back and say, 'This is where we came from. This is where we earned it.'”

— Reggie Theus, Head Coach

“He's very hands-on and he's not going to let things slide. If he sees one little thing that he needs to tweak on the offense or defensive end, he'll say it. It's really cool to see how much knowledge he has of the game.”

— Ariel Bland, Graduate Forward

“I thought, coming back, we'll have a great chance of winning it all. Some days I feel like I shouldn't have left, but sometimes God has different things for you. So coming back has been a blessing and nothing short of that.”

— Jakobi Heady, Senior Wing

“He handles it well. Hat off to coach, man. He's a pro and that's also another reason why I came back, because he teaches you how to be a pro on and off the court, and he teaches me specifically to be intent on everything I do. That's on the court, off the court or on scoring, trying to get my teammates involved. He's just amazing.”

— Jakobi Heady, Senior Wing

What’s next

The Wildcats will compete in the SWAC conference tournament this week, where they are the No. 1 seed and hoping to clinch their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

The takeaway

Reggie Theus' unique dual role as both Bethune-Cookman's athletic director and men's basketball coach has helped transform the Wildcats into a SWAC contender and put them on the brink of making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, a historic milestone for the program and the university.