On July 5, 2012, Johnson C. Smith University President, Dr. Ronald L. Carter named Stephen Joyner, Jr. as the sixth head women’s basketball coach in Golden Bulls’ history. Joyner, Jr. has been regarded by his peers as one of the nation’s finest and upcoming coaches in women’s basketball. He brings a wealth of basketball knowledge from his experiences as a standout collegiate player and as a coach.
Joyner, Jr. transitioned from Winston-Salem State University into the gold and blue after two seasons as the Lady Rams’ head coach. During that time, his teams posted back to back winning seasons for an overall record of 35-21. During the 2011-12 season, Joyner Jr. coached his squad to the quarterfinals game of the CIAA Tournament and just missed a bid into the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament.
Joyner, Jr. returns to his alma mater, where his roots are deeply planted, to lead the women’s basketball program. A 2001 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University, Joyner, Jr. was also one of the top point guards in the CIAA during his Golden Bulls’ playing career.
Playing under the tutelage of his father Stephen Joyner, Sr. (Director of Athletics and a longtime head men’s basketball coach at JCSU) Joyner, Jr. amassed 399 assists with an average of 4.53 assists per game during his final three seasons (1998-2001). During his senior campaign, JCSU captured the 2001 CIAA Tournament Championship, won the NCAA DII South Atlantic Regional title, and advanced to the NCAA Division II "Elite Eight"; all firsts in school history.
Following his playing career, Joyner, Jr. spent the 2001-02 season as an assistant men's basketball coach at Livingstone College under the guidance of his uncle and head coach, the late Edward “Buck” Joyner, Sr. While at Livingstone College, Joyner, Jr. also served as an assistant men's basketball coach for the Charlotte Stars AAU team.
After his stint at Livingstone, Joyner, Jr. spent four seasons on the women’s basketball coaching staff at North Carolina Central University (2002-06). Following his four seasons at NCCU and a brief coaching tenure at UNC-Asheville, Joyner, Jr. returned home to spend two seasons at JCSU, where he served in a dual role as the top assistant coach for both the women’s and men’s basketball programs. The Golden Bulls once again enjoyed championship success with Joyner, Jr. as he helped to guide the men's basketball team to the 2008 CIAA Championship and a NCAA Division II playoff appearance.
Joyner, Jr. then moved to the Division I ranks and spent two seasons (2008-10) as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Florida A&M University. Alongside head coach LeDawn Gibson, Joyner, Jr. helped the Lady Rattlers reach a 32-28 record during his two seasons span on the bench.
Joyner, Jr. comes from an extensive family tree of coaches. His father Stephen Joyner, Sr. has served as the head women’s basketball coach at JCSU and currently holds the mark for most wins of any active coach in the CIAA (449 wins as of July 20, 2012) as the Golden Bulls head men’s basketball coach. Joyner, Jr.’s uncle, the late Edward Joyner, Sr. has served as head men’s basketball coach at Livingstone College and Saint Paul’s College. His first cousin, Edward Joyner, Jr. currently holds the sit as the head men’s basketball coach at Hampton University.
Joyner, Jr. graduated from Johnson C. Smith University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He currently resides in Charlotte, N.C.
He is the proud father of Stephen Joyner, III.
| Career Breakdown |
| School |
Years |
Record |
W/L Pct |
| Johnson C. Smith |
9 |
147-102 |
.590 |
| Winston-Salem St. |
2 |
35-21 |
.625 |
| Career |
11 |
182-123 |
.597 |
| Year |
School |
W- L |
W/L Pct |
|
| 2010-11 |
Winston-Salem St. |
17-11 |
.607 |
|
| 2011-12 |
Winston-Salem St. |
18-10 |
.643 |
|
| 2012-13 |
Johnson C. Smith |
8-18 |
.308 |
|
| 2013-14 |
Johnson C. Smith |
14-13 |
.519 |
|
| 2014-15 |
Johnson C. Smith |
20-8 |
.714 |
|
| 2015-16 |
Johnson C. Smith |
17-12 |
.586 |
|
| 2016-17 |
Johnson C. Smith |
22-8 |
.733 |
|
| 2017-18 |
Johnson C. Smith |
18-10 |
.643 |
|
| 2018-19 |
Johnson C. Smith |
16-13 |
.552 |
|
| 2019-20 |
Johnson C. Smith |
17-11 |
.607 |
|
| 2020-21 |
Johnson C. Smith |
0-0 |
.000 |
|
| 2021-22 |
Johnson C. Smith |
15-9 |
.623 |
|
