Claudie Mackey, a professor at Elizabeth City State and the school’s former men’s basketball coach, received a Guardians of the Game award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches on April 5 during the Men’s Final Four festivities in Detroit.

Mackey was honored for his 42 years of coaching and teaching with a Guardians of the Game award in education. The award was first given in 2002 to UCLA’s John Wooden. The Guardians of the Game awards are part of an NABC national awareness and education program that recognizes excellence in advocacy, leadership, service and education.

“The significance of this award – it’s not just Claudie Mackey – it’s part of what Elizabeth City State University has stood for over the years,” Mackey told the Elizabeth City Daily Advance.

Mackey is the faculty athletics representative at Elizabeth City State and also a member of the Division II Men’s Basketball Committee.