Shirley Gibbs-Walker Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at HBCU Sports Awards
CROSS ROADS, Texas — Shirley Gibbs-Walker, a former coach of Alcorn State’s women’s basketball team, was honored with the Female Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 HBCU Sports Awards. The award was part of the third annual ceremony, which recognized outstanding coaches, administrators, and athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 46 categories.
Alcorn Athletics Director E. D’Wayne Robinson praised Gibbs-Walker, saying she built a legacy at the school that will endure. Robinson highlighted her 30 years of coaching, nearly 500 wins, and her influence on generations of student-athletes. “This award is richly deserved, and we couldn’t be prouder to call her one of our own,” Robinson said.
A native of Bude, Mississippi, and an Alcorn State graduate, Gibbs-Walker led the Lady Braves from 1978 until the end of the 2007-08 season. She amassed 493 career victories, the most in SWAC women’s basketball history. Her teams won 12 SWAC regular-season titles and six SWAC Tournament championships, both conference records. Under her leadership, Alcorn advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times, in 2000, 2001, and 2005.
Gibbs-Walker’s contributions to the sport have been recognized previously. She was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2014, the Mississippi Legislature renamed the playing surface at the Davey L. Whitney HPER Complex the “Shirley A. Gibbs-Walker Court.” The following year, she received the SWAC Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also served on NCAA committees, including the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.
Colleagues credit Gibbs-Walker with laying the foundation for women’s basketball in the SWAC, citing her emphasis on discipline and consistency. The HBCU Sports Awards, produced by HBCU Sports and hosted by Kenn Rashad, recognize excellence across Division I, Division II, and NAIA HBCU athletics. Follow Alcorn State Sports on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for updates and behind-the-scenes content.
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