Gary Payton Sr. Takes Over as Head Coach at College of Alameda
- JB Quinnon
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
The East Bay is buzzing with the news that NBA legend Gary Payton Sr. has been named the new head coach of the College of Alameda men’s basketball team. Announced on September 7, 2024, the move brings a high-profile figure back to his roots and offers a fresh start for a program looking to rebuild.
Payton, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and Oakland native, takes over a team that finished last season 7-21 in the Bay Valley Conference. Despite the team’s struggles, College of Alameda officials believe Payton’s leadership, competitive fire, and deep ties to the community are exactly what the program needs.
“Gary has always been a leader and winner,” said athletic director Ramaundo Vaughn. “He brings energy, accountability, and a genuine love for the East Bay. He spoke about getting our student-athletes involved in the community and giving back. The opportunity to learn from one of the NBA’s all-time greats is something we couldn’t pass up.”
This isn’t Payton’s first coaching stint. He spent the last three seasons as the head coach at Lincoln University in Oakland, navigating the challenges of leading a financially strapped NAIA program. He also coaches in the Big3 league, where he recently led Bivouac to a championship and was named Coach of the Year.
Known as “The Glove” for his lockdown defense, Payton played 17 seasons in the NBA and won a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. He’s the only point guard to ever be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year and is a nine-time All-Star. His son, Gary Payton II, currently plays for the Golden State Warriors.
Now 56, Payton returns to the Bay Area with a mission—to turn around a struggling junior college program and inspire young athletes on and off the court. It’s a full-circle moment for a man who grew up just miles away and made it to the highest levels of basketball. With Payton at the helm, College of Alameda basketball is entering a new era—one driven by discipline, passion, and local pride.
