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Assistant Men's Basketball Coach Donald Payton

Donald Payton joined the VSU men’s basketball staff in the Spring of 2009 as Assistant Coach to Head Coach George White.

Previously, Payton was the Head Coach of the Clinton Junior College men’s basketball team. 

Payton returned to Clinton after a two year hiatus after serving as the top assistant at both Barton College and Lock Haven University.

Prior to joining the NCAA ranks, he served as the top assistant coach at Clinton College under Murray Garvin.

Clinton was 22-11 in the 2008-09 season, claimed the Region X Conference Championship and made their first-ever appearance in the NJCAA Division I Tournament. The Golden Bears were 37-28 during Payton’s tenure as a head coach.

Coach Payton enters his 15th year of coaching basketball, which ranges from middle school to the NCAA level.

From 1996-2002 he founded and was the head men’s coach for Supreme Court Basketball, a team of former college players travelling the country to play exhibition contests. During his time with Supreme Court, he sponsored basketball camps specifically for “at-risk” youth.

At Barton College, Coach Payton was an integral part of Barton College’s run to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in the 2005-06 season. The Bulldogs finished the season 28-4 claiming several championships including CVAC regular season champions, CVAC conference tournament champions, and NCAA East Regional Champions, before falling in overtime to the eventual champions Winona State University.

“Donald was an integral part of our great success and he recruited several players on our national championship team as well, his hard work, dedication, and loyalty will always be appreciated”, said Barton College Head Coach Ron Lievense.

After the record setting season at Barton College, Payton accepted a similar position at Lock Haven University of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Prior to his arrival in north central Pennsylvania, the Bald Eagles squads were coming off three consecutive 4-23 seasons. With Payton’s influence, Lock Haven finished the 2006-07 season with a 12-15 record and came one game short of making the PSAC West Division playoffs for the first time in several years.

“My experience at LHU developed me as a person and professional, as well as, a better coach”, stated Payton.