ATLANTA – Prior to tonight’s game, the Atlanta Hawks recognized their Jr. NBA Coach of the Year nominees, Clark Humble and Anthony “Tony” Hand, for their lasting impact on youth athletes in Atlanta.

Humble is currently the President and coach of East Marietta Basketball, a non-profit geographic area basketball league comprised of more than 1,100 boys and girls, while Hand coaches and teaches at Chaya Mushka Children’s House (CMCH) Elementary and Middle School, a progressive Jewish Montessori influenced school that values developing athletic performance and personal growth.

“We are proud to announce our outstanding nominees for the Jr. NBA Scholastic Coach of the Year, Anthony Hand, and Community Coach of the Year, Clark Humble,” said Vice President of Basketball Programs and Community Impact Jon Babul. “These coaches demonstrate a passion for teaching the core values of the game of basketball and exemplify true dedication to youth development through service, mentorship, and volunteerism.”

Throughout his five years of coaching, Anthony Hand has shown unwavering dedication to the educational achievement and individual development of his scholar-athletes, earning him a nomination for the Hawks’ Scholastic Coach of the Year. He helps lead weekly grade checks and study sessions for scholar-athletes, focusing on personal growth strategies such as individual goal setting and time management development.

Hand implements a mentorship program pairing students with older players for support and guidance on and off the court. He also helps conduct leadership workshops to enhance athletes’ leadership skills and promotes mental well-being through counseling, mindfulness exercises, and team bonding activities to create a positive team environment.

“It is truly an honor to have been chosen as the recipient of the Hawks Jr. NBA Scholastic Coach of the Year award,” said Coach Hand. “I am thankful for the opportunity to coach amazing kids. For me, coaching is more than just developing players, but most importantly developing their minds. The recognition of my hard work is deeply appreciated and I will continue to uplift not only my players, but everyone around me.”

Clark Humble, nominated by the Hawks for Community Coach of the Year, brings nearly 25 years of experience coaching youth basketball, starting from his humble beginnings playing against his mother on a driveway in Iowa. His passion for the game grew through intramurals in college and adult leagues. He coaches at East Marietta Basketball, leading teams to numerous championships at county and state levels.

As president of the program, he has expanded it significantly and has helped raise more than $30,000 for scholarships. Humble emphasizes personal growth, academic focus, and community involvement for his players and student-athletes. His coaching philosophy has inspired many players to strive for excellence both on and off the court.

“To be recognized as the 2024 Atlanta Hawks Jr. NBA Community Coach of the Year is a great honor and I am grateful for the acknowledgement of the value I bring to balance success on the court, while making a positive impact in my community,” said Coach Humble. “Both coaching and volunteering in my community define much of who I am. Combining my love of coaching and shaping young people, along with my other volunteerism has been truly rewarding and brings me great joy to witness life-changing moments.”

Each year, teams from the NBA, WNBA, and G League submit nominees for the Jr. NBA Coach of the Year. The criterion of the award is a coach who takes a holistic approach to the game, serves as a mentor by demonstrating outstanding character, creates a culture the encourages character development amongst players, goes above and beyond call of action to help their youth organization, and sees sports as a tool to address and educate players on mental health and social justice issues. 

Article on the Hawks' website:  https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/atlanta-hawks-recognize-their-jr-nba-coach-of-the-year-nominees

To learn more about the Jr. NBA Coach of the Year, visit jr.nba.com/coy-nomination.

To learn more about the Hawks Basketball Academy, visit Hawks.com/BasketballAcademy.