Florida A&M Rattlers basketball — program history

Florida A&M's basketball program began in 1924 at the HBCU in Tallahassee, Florida. The Rattlers compete in the SWAC and have a proud athletic tradition. The program has won multiple conference championships and represented the MEAC/SWAC in the NCAA Tournament.

The name

The Rattlers nickname references the eastern diamondback rattlesnake native to Florida, chosen to represent a dangerous and fearless competitor.

Signature moment

Winning the MEAC Tournament championship to earn an NCAA Tournament bid, giving the Rattlers their biggest national basketball stage.

FAMU's Marching 100 band is considered one of the greatest college marching bands in history and often provides an electric atmosphere at basketball games as well.

The Florida A&M Rattlers compete in the SWAC and hold an all-time record of 497–853 (.368 winning percentage) across 44 recorded seasons dating back to 1978-79.

Season-by-season results

SeasonRecordConferenceCoachAP peak
2025-2615-1611-7 (SWAC)Charlie Ward
2024-2514-1710-8 (SWAC)Patrick Crarey
2023-246-234-14 (SWAC)Robert McCullum
2022-237-225-13 (SWAC)Robert McCullum
2021-2213-1711-7 (SWAC)Robert McCullum
2020-218-127-5 (MEAC)Robert McCullum
2019-2012-1510-6 (MEAC)Robert McCullum
2018-1912-199-7 (MEAC)Robert McCullum
2017-189-257-9 (MEAC)Robert McCullum
2016-177-235-11 (MEAC)Byron Samuels
2011-1210-236-10 (MEAC)Clemon Johnson
2010-1112-207-9 (MEAC)Eugene Harris
2009-109-225-11 (MEAC)Eugene Harris
2008-0910-216-10 (MEAC)Eugene Harris
2007-0815-179-7 (MEAC)Eugene Harris
2006-0721-1412-6 (MEAC)Mike Gillespie
2005-0614-1710-8 (MEAC)Mike Gillespie
2004-0514-1510-8 (MEAC)Mike Gillespie
2003-0415-1710-8 (MEAC)Mike Gillespie
2002-0317-1211-7 (MEAC)Mike Gillespie
2001-029-199-9 (MEAC)Mike Gillespie
2000-016-224-14 (MEAC)Mickey Clayton
1999-009-227-11 (MEAC)Mickey Clayton
1998-9912-198-11 (MEAC)Mickey Clayton
1997-9811-178-10 (MEAC)Mickey Clayton
1996-978-198-10 (MEAC)Mickey Clayton
1995-968-193-13 (MEAC)Mickey Clayton,Ron Brown
1994-955-222-14 (MEAC)Ron Brown
1993-944-232-14 (MEAC)Ron Brown
1992-9310-188-8 (MEAC)Willie Booker
1991-9216-1411-5 (MEAC)Willie Booker
1990-9117-149-7 (MEAC)Willie Booker
1989-9018-1113-3 (MEAC)Willie Booker
1988-8920-1012-4 (MEAC)Willie Booker
1987-8822-811-5 (MEAC)Willie Booker
1986-8712-16MEACWillie Booker
1985-8612-16IndWillie Booker
1984-8510-18IndWillie Booker
1983-847-19MEACAnthony Fields
1982-837-214-8 (MEAC)Josh Giles
1981-8210-175-7 (MEAC)Josh Giles
1980-8117-116-4 (MEAC)Josh Giles
1979-807-221-3 (MEAC)Josh Giles
1978-7918-9Ind

More SWAC programs

Alabama A&M Bulldogs · Alabama State Hornets · Alcorn State Braves · Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions · Bethune-Cookman Wildcats · Grambling Tigers · Jackson State Tigers · Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils · Prairie View A&M Panthers · Southern Jaguars · Texas Southern Tigers

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