Looking to find the next leader of its men’s basketball program, MUW announced on Friday that it has turned to longtime college coach and former overseas professional player Bernard Hopkins as its third head coach in program history.
Hopkins arrives at The W after spending the last 11 years as the head coach of Hagerstown Community College in Maryland at the NJCAA Division I level, where he guided the Hawks to three NJCAA Region 20 championships.
He’s slated to take the reins of an MUW program fresh off its best season in its history. Last year the Owls captured the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
“We are very blessed to have someone with Coach Hopkins’ basketball pedigree come in to build on the success of this past season,” MUW Director of Athletics Buddy Foster said. “Coach Hopkins brings in a wealth of basketball knowledge and connections from his tenure as a coach, from his many years as a professional player, and from his own playing career as an NCAA Division I student-athlete. We look forward to having him assimilate with, and become a key member of, not just The W, but the entire Columbus community and Golden Triangle region.”
Hopkins replaces Dean Burrows, who stepped back from the head-coaching role after four years for a permanent spot as the university’s assistant director of athletics after the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season.
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for this incredible opportunity, along with the administration, athletic department and hiring committee at The W for trusting me to lead this program,” Hopkins said in a university release. “I am truly honored and humbled to be named the next head men’s basketball coach. I also want to acknowledge the success this program has already achieved. Winning the SLIAC championship is a testament to the hard work, culture and commitment that have been established here, and I have tremendous respect for what has been built at The W. My goal is to build upon that championship standard by continuing to develop a culture rooted in discipline, accountability, relationships, player development and daily excellence both on and off the court.”
As a player, Hopkins attended Hagerstown in the early 1990s for two years, earning team MVP and a JUCO All-American honors. He moved on to play at Virginia Commonwealth University for two years and helped lead the team to a Colonial Athletic Association championship in the 1996 season and a berth into the NCAA Tournament, where the Rams fell to none other than No. 5 seed Mississippi State in the first round.
He is also a member of the HCC Hall of Fame. He still ranks among the school’s career leaders in rebound average (9.3), double-double games (27), field goal percentage (57.1%) and in scoring average (15.1).
After a stint in the Continental Basketball Association, Hopkins embarked on a 14-year career in Spain, playing for several teams in the Liga ACB, the top professional division of the Spanish basketball system. He was named a Liga ACB All-Star in 1999 and 2001 and earned Player of the Month honors five times.
“Our program will compete with energy, toughness, passion and purpose,” Hopkins said. “We will emphasize player development, defensive intensity and a style of basketball that our students, alumni and community can be proud of. Most importantly, we will focus on developing outstanding young men who represent the university with character, integrity, and professionalism. My family and I are excited to join The W community, and I look forward to building meaningful relationships with our players, alumni, students, supporters and the greater Columbus community. I’m eager to get to work and continue the championship tradition of this program.”
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