Every Tuesday during the fall semester, Jefferson Athletics catches up with a former Ram or takes a look at the positive impact the current Rams are making in the community.

Tony Coleman '88 - Men's Basketball
Athletic Accomplishments
At then-Philadelphia Textile, Tony scored 1,800 points and grabbed over 1,000 rebounds. He received All-Conference honors in all four of his seasons and was named the Rookie of the Year in 1985. Tony was named an ECAC South All-American and was South Jersey's Small College Player of the Year in 1988. After his collegiate career, Tony was drafted by the Philadelphia Aces of the USBL but the team folded before training camp. Tony was invited to the Philadelphia 76ers rookie/free agent training camp in 1988 and 1989 respectively. He toured South America with the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters from 1990-91. Tony continued playing professionally in the Charles Baker Summer League held at Temple University during the 1990s. 

Current Occupation
Tony is a teacher in the Pennsauken School District in South Jersey. In addition, he has served and coached at all levels of basketball over the past 30 years.

Career Accomplishments
Over the last 30 years, Tony has helped educate hundreds of young adults to develop the necessary life skills to be successful. Additionally, he had the opportunity to assist many student-athletes in earning college scholarships and teach parents how to put their children in a position to be recruited.

Favorite Phila. Textile memory
Winning Mid-East Collegiate Conference Championship, playing in the NCAA Division II tournament, helping Coach Magee capture milestones, establishing many lifetime relationships, receiving my degree, and watching Herb Magee be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Q: When was the last time you visited campus and what differences did you notice from when you were a student?
A: Last basketball season. The biggest difference is the name change and the expansion of the campus.

Q: What athletic and/or career advice would you give our current student-athletes?
A: The advice I would give the current student-athletes is to make sure that they have meaningful conversations with their coaches, professors, and administrators. Develop relationships and ask lots of questions on how to construct the blueprint for after graduation.