Jon Teitel: How did you get into coaching, and why did you choose Norfolk State?�
Charles Christian: The head coach at that time was a guy I played against in high school (Ralph Smith), and I was his assistant for three years before taking over as head coach in 1973.
JT: What are your memories of the 1984 Division II Tournament (Norfolk State beat Winston Salem State before a two-point loss to Virginia Union and future NABC POY Charles Oakley)?�
CC: We always had an intense rivalry against Winston Salem, as we met them in the CIAA conference finals several times.�
JT: What are your memories of the 1987 D-II Tournament (Norfolk State won two games before a six-point loss to eventual champion Kentucky Wesleyan)?�
CC: Our leading scorer Ralph Tally did not have a great game, and Barry Mitchell was sick at the time, so those were two big factors in the loss to Kentucky Wesleyan.�
JT: Your team led all of D-II in FG% defense twice in a three-year span in the mid-1980s. How much emphasis did you place on defense, and what is your secret to playing good defense?�
CC: Defense is a side of the game that very few people put an emphasis on, but we did.� They did not have all the regulations about practice time back then that they do now, so we had long practices that focused on defense.� You have to work hard�on it because everyone is usually focused on scoring.� Before I started as coach at NSU, the team averaged 90+ ppg in a run-and-gun style that the fans enjoyed.� After I came in we only scored about 70 ppg, but as we won more and more games the�fans eventually came around.� Our goal was to hold teams to 70 ppg, as we figured that we could score over 70 points ourselves.
JT: Tally remains the only Norfolk State player to ever be named D-II POY: was he the best player you ever coached, and what made him such a great player?�
CC: Ralph's stats were great, but one of the best players I ever coached was Eugene Cunningham (who was drafted by Golden State in 1976).� He was a heck of a competitor and a student of the game.� He was only 6'6" and not an exceptional leaper,�but he had the timing/position to get any rebound he wanted.�
JT: You spent several years as the president of the Suffolk NAACP chapter. Why did you choose to get involved with the NAACP, and what were you able to accomplish?�
CC: I was involved in many civic affairs during my entire time at Suffolk, serving on the library board, school board, etc.� After I quit coaching I was approached about running for NAACP president.� I was hoping to enjoy my retirement by resting so�I only planned on staying for one term, but I ended up serving two terms.� The members are the ones who really do the work. It is important to have a good drum major, but it is everyone in the band who plays the music!� It is very similar to�basketball: coaches are important, but it is the players who must produce (both as athletes and students).�
JT: In 2003 you were inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. What did it mean to you to be inducted, and where does that rank among your career highlights?�
CC: I was humbled to receive such an award: I was inducted into a couple of other Halls of Fame as well, and each of them was a great honor.�
JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?�
CC: I would like to be remembered as a guy who produced student-athletes who were also good citizens.� I think that working with the young men on the basketball court contributed a lot to them being good adults and family men.� For example, if�you run a play but do not score you do not just quit and walk off the court: you get back out there and try to do it again.�
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Coach Christian is also on Jon's list of best coaches in MEAC history.
Bethune-Cookman: Jack "Cy" McClairen (1961-1993) 397-427, 1-time conference COY
Coppin State: Ron "Fang" Mitchell (1986-present) 395-357, 4 NCAA tourneys, 10 conference titles, 6-time conference COY
Delaware State: Greg Jackson (2000-present) 166-169, 1 NCAA tourney, 3 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Florida A&M: Mike Gillespie (2001-2007) 90-94, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2-time conference COY
Hampton: Steve Merfeld (1997-2002) 90-57, 2 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Howard: Frankie Allen (2000-2005) 52-93
Maryland Eastern Shore: Kirkland Hall (1976-1984) 79-131
Morgan State: Chris Fuller (1995-2001) 53-115
Norfolk State: Charles Christian (1973-1978, 1981-1990) 319-95, 7 conference titles, 4-time conference COY
North Carolina A&T: Don Corbett (1979-1993) 254-145, 7 NCAA tourneys, 7 conference titles, 6-time conference COY
South Carolina State: Cy Alexander (1987-2003) 276-200, 5 NCAA tourneys, 6 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
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