Delaware State's basketball program began in 1947 at the HBCU in Dover, Delaware. The Hornets compete in the MEAC and have won multiple conference championships. The program has represented the MEAC in the NCAA Tournament on several occasions.
The Hornets nickname was chosen to represent the aggressive, stinging competitiveness the university wanted its athletic teams to embody.
Winning the 2005 MEAC Tournament to earn an NCAA Tournament bid, one of the program's signature moments.
Delaware State's Memorial Hall is one of the smaller Division I arenas in the country, creating a uniquely intimate atmosphere for MEAC basketball.
The Delaware State Hornets compete in the MEAC and hold an all-time record of 586–946 (.383 winning percentage) across 53 recorded seasons dating back to 1973-74.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 8-23 | 2-12 (MEAC) | Stan Waterman | |
| 2024-25 | 16-14 | 8-6 (MEAC) | Stan Waterman | |
| 2023-24 | 15-19 | 6-8 (MEAC) | Stan Waterman | |
| 2022-23 | 6-24 | 4-10 (MEAC) | Stan Waterman | |
| 2021-22 | 2-26 | 0-14 (MEAC) | Stan Waterman | |
| 2020-21 | 3-16 | 1-11 (MEAC) | Eric Skeeters | |
| 2019-20 | 6-26 | 4-12 (MEAC) | Eric Skeeters | |
| 2018-19 | 6-25 | 2-14 (MEAC) | Eric Skeeters | |
| 2017-18 | 4-28 | 2-14 (MEAC) | Keith Johnson, Keith Walker | |
| 2016-17 | 10-22 | 7-9 (MEAC) | Keith Walker | |
| 2015-16 | 7-25 | 5-11 (MEAC) | Keith Walker | |
| 2014-15 | 18-18 | 9-7 (MEAC) | Keith Walker | |
| 2013-14 | 9-21 | 5-11 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson, Keith Walker | |
| 2012-13 | 15-18 | 8-8 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2011-12 | 15-14 | 12-4 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2010-11 | 9-21 | 5-11 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2009-10 | 17-12 | 11-5 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2008-09 | 8-24 | 6-10 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2007-08 | 14-16 | 10-6 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2006-07 | 21-13 | 16-2 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2005-06 | 21-14 | 16-2 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2004-05 | 19-14 | 14-4 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2003-04 | 13-15 | 11-7 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2002-03 | 15-12 | 13-5 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2001-02 | 16-13 | 12-6 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 2000-01 | 13-15 | 11-7 (MEAC) | Greg Jackson | |
| 1999-00 | 6-22 | 5-13 (MEAC) | Tony Sheals | |
| 1998-99 | 8-19 | 5-13 (MEAC) | Jimmy DuBose | |
| 1997-98 | 9-18 | 7-11 (MEAC) | Jimmy DuBose | |
| 1996-97 | 7-20 | 7-11 (MEAC) | Art Perry | |
| 1995-96 | 11-17 | 8-8 (MEAC) | Fred Goodman | |
| 1994-95 | 7-21 | 3-13 (MEAC) | Fred Goodman | |
| 1993-94 | 8-19 | 5-11 (MEAC) | Jeff Jones | |
| 1992-93 | 13-16 | 6-10 (MEAC) | Jeff Jones | |
| 1991-92 | 12-16 | 9-7 (MEAC) | Jeff Jones | |
| 1990-91 | 19-11 | 10-6 (MEAC) | Jeff Jones | |
| 1989-90 | 14-14 | 9-7 (MEAC) | Jeff Jones | |
| 1988-89 | 11-17 | 6-10 (MEAC) | Jeff Jones | |
| 1987-88 | 3-25 | 1-15 (MEAC) | Marshall Emery | |
| 1986-87 | 4-24 | 3-11 (MEAC) | Marshall Emery | |
| 1985-86 | 11-17 | 7-7 (MEAC) | Marshall Emery | |
| 1984-85 | 12-17 | 8-4 (MEAC) | Joe Dean Davidson | |
| 1983-84 | 12-16 | 3-7 (MEAC) | Joe Dean Davidson | |
| 1982-83 | 8-19 | 5-7 (MEAC) | Ajac Triplett | |
| 1981-82 | 13-13 | 4-8 (MEAC) | Ajac Triplett | |
| 1980-81 | 8-18 | 3-7 (MEAC) | Ajac Triplett | |
| 1979-80 | 15-12 | 4-2 (MEAC) | Ajac Triplett | |
| 1978-79 | 18-10 | 7-5 (MEAC) | Marshall Emery | |
| 1977-78 | 10-15 | 5-7 (MEAC) | Marshall Emery | |
| 1976-77 | 2-25 | 0-12 (MEAC) | Marshall Emery | |
| 1975-76 | 6-17 | 4-8 (MEAC) | Ira Mitchell | |
| 1974-75 | 15-9 | 7-5 (MEAC) | Ira Mitchell | |
| 1973-74 | 18-11 | 5-7 (MEAC) | Ira Mitchell |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|