Local Voices: Why Is Coach Ron Jenkins NOT In The VHSL Hall of Fame?

By Sean C. Bowers

When Coach Jenkins won the first ever back-to-back state championships (1990-1991) in the BEACH district’s long existence in Virginia AAA basketball history, the state, the Beach district’s other coaches and principals were not happy that BAYSIDE High School, a predominantly BLACK school, a BLACK team and especially, a BLACK coach accomplished the feat twice. In short, they ol’ school white-washed history. Let’s set the record straight!

Flatly put, Coach Jenkins has not been inducted because he has never been nominated. The Nomination process rules dictate that a current Virginia High School League Coach or Principal must nominate potential honorees. Those who worked with Coach Jenkins at the time dropped the ball, didn’t care enough, or perhaps were too lazy or jealous to do the right thing. Most of his contemporaries are retired now, as Jenkins himself retired from teaching in 2014.

The question remains: Why has Bayside NEVER nominated its BEST multiple state title winning championship coach? In a strange twist of fate the current Bayside H.S. principal, Troy Watson, was the basketball coach replacement for Coach Jenkins back when he retired from coaching. That (WHITE) principal knows just how hard it is to be a winning coach at Bayside from his one season’s dismal outcome. He now has the power in his hands to make things right. By doing these two things for the BAYSIDE community HE NOW SERVES: He can formally and publicly nominate Coach Ron Jenkins for the VHSL Hall of Fame.  He could also name the Bayside H.S. basketball court after Coach Ron Jenkins, thereby justly honoring the two-time state championship banner-hanging program of sustained excellence he built. 

This reporter has repeatedly approached the entire Bayside H.S. administration (from the Athletic Director, to the Sports Information Director, to the Student Activities Coordinator, to the past principals over the past ten years. Each person offered the exact (almost scripted and rehearsed sounding) excuse, “We can’t name everything after coaches who won championships.” They know full well they have only had ONE two-time state championship-winning coach EVER walk the Bayside halls and that is Coach RON JENKINS. First Colonial H.S. named their football field after their coach Frank Webster, and he never won two state titles. Stop making disingenuous excuses that make the entire Bayside H.S. community, the school, the Beach district, and the VHSL appear racist. 

This could be a GIGANTIC oversight by the VHSL, the Beach District, those former coaches who Coach Jenkins out-coached on the way to his 400 wins. It is an internal Bayside H.S. legacy that needs to be remedied and acknowledged so that Bayside High School might recognize its own best sports history.   REMEMBER Ron Jenkins was recruited, transferred and hired by the V.B. Schools Superintendent (Mr. Brickell) specifically to go to the Beach District’s door mat (Bayside) and develop the basketball program in 1985. He built that repeat championship-winning banner-hanging program within six seasons. Mission accomplished.

Two statistics tell us all we need to know about Coach Jenkins. 1. He never got a technical foul in all his 35 years of coaching (controlled composure.) 2. In the 1991 state championship game’s 4th quarter, with Jenkins’ Bayside team down ten points, they held their opponents scoreless for the entire quarter, coming back win that second state title in a row, a VHSL state tournament record which still stands to this day.

Before working at Bayside H.S., Coach Jenkins, built championship-college-scholarship-receiving players for twelve years at Virginia Beach Middle School (7th-9th grades then.) He did so for both the boys’ and girls’ basketball and track programs with epic All-American players Mr. Guy Morgan (Wake Forrest) and Ms. Gimi Galin (South Carolina). Jenkins built responsible respectful men from boys, and accomplished young ladies from girls. 

Countless players coached by Coach Jenkins’ (like me), went on to earn full scholarships and play championship winning college basketball after his uniquely impactful tutelage. Most importantly, Jenkins was the answered prayer of countless Virginia Beach single Moms (like mine) who needed a positive male role model to help focus their youngsters for positive results in the midst of adversity. Coach J. is still a revered father figure by generations of those he taught and coached (over his 40- years’ service) in many Virginia Beach homes to this day.

Throughout his career, Coach Jenkins stressed team, education, family, and God. This straightforward approach worked because he practiced what he preached. A quiet, unassuming man, Ron Jenkins would never press for these honors, so those of who have benefited most from his commitment, are asking on his behalf.   

Coach’s presence in my life has been that of guiding lighthouse, always leading and showing the best way forward. Nearly one hundred former players and coaches showed up at a retirement party from teaching and coaching at Bayville H.S. The party was arranged by his former players. That so many showed up all those years later is a testament to the lives he touched, empowered, and helped change for the better. 

Ms. Brenda Andrews, publisher of the New Journal and Guide for the past 35 years, has formally recognized Coach Ron Jenkins at the party, as one of the 2014 “Impacting Lives Award” honorary recipients. It’s time NOW for the Bayside High School staff to fully honor YOUR SCHOOL’S BEST in history! It is time to do the right thing. Step up for one of the people who helped turn around more lives for good from the Bayside/Lake Edwards community.

It’s time for HALL OF FAMER, Coach Ron Jenkins, to be NOMINATED, INDUCTED, honored and recognized across the state. Coach Jenkin’s records speak for themselves. It’s time for BAYSIDE to do the right thing, just like Coach Ron Jenkins always taught and coached us to do.

Sean C. Bowers has written the last 25 years, as a White Quaker Southern man, for the nation’s third oldest Black Newspaper, The New Journal and Guide, of Norfolk, Virginia, about overcoming racism, sexism, classism, and religious persecution. Some of his latest NJ&G articles detailing the issues can found by searching “Sean C. Bowers” on the NJ&G website. Contact him directly on social media at Linkedin.com or by email V1ZUAL1ZE@aol.com  NNPA 2019 Publisher of the Year, Brenda H. Andrews (NJ&G 35 years) has always been his publisher.