Phi Delta Theta Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

Hugh Durham is a Florida State University Phi who graduated in 1959 with a degree in Business Administration, later earning his MBA in 1961. He is recognized as one of the most prolific scorers in FSU basketball history. Fifty years from his playing career, his career average of points per game is still Florida State University’s ninth best.

Beyond his amazing skills on the court, Brother Durham is perhaps better known for his incredible coaching career. When one thinks of college basketball coaches, there is no doubt Hugh Durham is a name that is mentioned.

Durham was named FSU’s Assistant Basketball Coach the year after graduating, a title he held for seven years. During his tenure as Assistant Coach, he was widely credited with helping to recruit the University’s first African American player, Lenny Hall.

In 1966, at the young age of 29, Hugh was named the Head Coach of the FSU basketball team, becoming one of the youngest head coaches in NCAA history. In his 12 years as head coach, he led the Seminoles to three NCAA tournaments and the 1972 Championship game, solidifying him as the most successful basketball coach in Florida State history, a title he still holds.

The 1978 season marked Brother Durham’s first as the Head Coach of the University of Georgia basketball team. He immediately embarked on a remarkable transformation project that produced the most prolific era of basketball at UGA to date.

In 1997, Brother Durham came out of retirement to create another miraculous turnaround with the Jacksonville University basketball team, leading them to become one of the Atlantic Sun Conference’s best programs.

In 2005, Brother Durham retired for good as the most successful coach at Florida State, Georgia and Jacksonville University. Hugh Durham has been entered into the FSU Hall of Fame, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, the Kentucky High School Sports Hall of Fame and the National College Basketball Hall of Fame. The NCAA also awards the Hugh Durham Coach of the Year Award to the top NCAA Division-1 coach at the conclusion of each season.

In total, Hugh Durham has 633 wins, eight NCAA tournament appearances, two Final Fours, seven NIT Bids, one NIT Final Four, two SEC Championships, one Metro Conference Championship, four SEC Coach of the Year awards and one Metro Conference Coach of the Year Award.

At Phi Delta Theta’s General Convention in 2016, Durham was inducted into the Fraternity’s Sports Hall of Fame.