South Alabama's basketball program began in 1968, and the Mobile-based school has been a Sun Belt Conference staple. The Jaguars enjoyed their best era in the 1970s and 1980s under coach Cliff Ellis, making multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Jaguars name was selected by the student body in 1965, chosen for the jaguar's combination of speed, power, and agility.
Upsetting in-state rival Alabama 86-84 in the first round of the 1989 NCAA Tournament, the program's only NCAA Tournament win, under coach Ronnie Arrow.
South Alabama's Mitchell Center is one of the largest arenas in the Sun Belt Conference, and the school has produced several NBA players including Terry Catledge.
The South Alabama Jaguars compete in the Sun Belt and hold an all-time record of 922–708 (.566 winning percentage) across 55 recorded seasons dating back to 1971-72.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 21-11 | 11-7 (Sun Belt) | Richie Riley | |
| 2024-25 | 21-11 | 13-5 (Sun Belt) | Richie Riley | |
| 2023-24 | 16-16 | 8-10 (Sun Belt) | Richie Riley | |
| 2022-23 | 19-16 | 9-9 (Sun Belt) | Richie Riley | |
| 2021-22 | 21-12 | 9-7 (Sun Belt) | Richie Riley | |
| 2020-21 | 17-11 | 10-7 (Sun Belt) | Richie Riley | |
| 2019-20 | 20-11 | 13-7 (Sun Belt) | Richie Riley | |
| 2018-19 | 17-17 | 8-10 (Sun Belt) | Richie Riley | |
| 2017-18 | 14-18 | 7-11 (Sun Belt) | Matthew Graves | |
| 2016-17 | 14-18 | 7-11 (Sun Belt) | Matthew Graves | |
| 2015-16 | 14-19 | 8-12 (Sun Belt) | Matthew Graves | |
| 2014-15 | 12-21 | 9-11 (Sun Belt) | Matthew Graves | |
| 2013-14 | 11-20 | 5-13 (Sun Belt) | Matthew Graves | |
| 2012-13 | 17-13 | 14-6 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow,Jeff Price | |
| 2011-12 | 17-12 | 8-8 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 2010-11 | 12-16 | 6-10 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 2009-10 | 17-15 | 8-10 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 2008-09 | 20-13 | 10-8 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 2007-08 | 26-7 | 16-2 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 2006-07 | 20-12 | 13-5 (Sun Belt) | John Pelphrey | |
| 2005-06 | 24-7 | 12-3 (Sun Belt) | John Pelphrey | |
| 2004-05 | 10-18 | 6-9 (Sun Belt) | John Pelphrey | |
| 2003-04 | 12-16 | 6-9 (Sun Belt) | John Pelphrey | |
| 2002-03 | 14-14 | 7-8 (Sun Belt) | John Pelphrey | |
| 2001-02 | 7-21 | 2-13 (Sun Belt) | Bob Weltlich | |
| 2000-01 | 22-11 | 11-5 (Sun Belt) | Bob Weltlich | |
| 1999-00 | 20-10 | 13-3 (Sun Belt) | Bob Weltlich | |
| 1998-99 | 11-16 | 6-8 (Sun Belt) | Bob Weltlich | |
| 1997-98 | 21-7 | 14-4 (Sun Belt) | Bob Weltlich | |
| 1996-97 | 23-7 | 14-4 (Sun Belt) | Bill Musselman | |
| 1995-96 | 12-15 | 7-11 (Sun Belt) | Bill Musselman | |
| 1994-95 | 9-18 | 7-11 (Sun Belt) | Judas Prada,Ronnie Arrow | |
| 1993-94 | 13-14 | 9-9 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 1992-93 | 15-13 | 9-9 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 1991-92 | 14-14 | 9-7 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 1990-91 | 22-9 | 11-3 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 1989-90 | 11-17 | 5-9 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 1988-89 | 23-9 | 11-3 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 1987-88 | 15-14 | 8-6 (Sun Belt) | Ronnie Arrow | |
| 1986-87 | 14-14 | 6-8 (Sun Belt) | Mike Hanks | |
| 1985-86 | 16-16 | 5-9 (Sun Belt) | Mike Hanks | |
| 1984-85 | 15-13 | 6-8 (Sun Belt) | Mike Hanks | |
| 1983-84 | 22-8 | 9-5 (Sun Belt) | Cliff Ellis | |
| 1982-83 | 16-12 | 6-8 (Sun Belt) | Cliff Ellis | |
| 1981-82 | 12-16 | 2-8 (Sun Belt) | Cliff Ellis | |
| 1980-81 | 25-6 | 9-3 (Sun Belt) | Cliff Ellis | AP #11 |
| 1979-80 | 23-6 | 12-2 (Sun Belt) | Cliff Ellis | |
| 1978-79 | 20-7 | 10-0 (Sun Belt) | Cliff Ellis | |
| 1977-78 | 18-10 | 3-7 (Sun Belt) | Cliff Ellis | |
| 1976-77 | 17-10 | Sun Belt | Cliff Ellis | |
| 1975-76 | 18-9 | Ind | Cliff Ellis | |
| 1974-75 | 19-7 | Ind | Jim Taylor | |
| 1973-74 | 22-6 | Ind | Jim Taylor | |
| 1972-73 | 14-11 | Ind | Jim Taylor | |
| 1971-72 | 7-17 | Ind | Jim Taylor |
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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 |
|---|