Kirby Johnson | Coach | Temple (TX)
Kirby Johnson worked for 43 years as a coach at Temple College, 33 of those years he served as head coach of the team. During Johnson’s time at Temple, he became #1 in the state of Texas for Division I active coaches at the time of his retirement in May of 2020. He claimed a spot in the top ten for DI active coaches in total wins in the same year. He was crowned as the NJCAA DI National Scoring Champion 12 times while simultaneously winning 20 or more games per season for 25 of the 33 seasons he was in the head coaching position. Under Johnson’s leadership, Temple made NJCAA history as they scored the most points in any game with 173. While at Temple, teams scored a total of 102,990 points, averaging out to 101.07 points per game. Overall, Johnson has coached in Texas for 43 years.
Johnson was a member of the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association as well as a member of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches for 40 years.
Johnson has been married to Kim Messerschmitt for 41 years and has 4 children and 8 grandchildren. He spends time as a member of Temple Bible Church.
Jerry Burns | Coach | Monroe Community College (NY)
Jerry Burns is in his 33rd year as the head coach of Monroe Community College Men’s Basketball. During his time as head coach of the program, Burns has registered an overall record of 745-243. He is described as having an untiring work ethic and the ability to identify with his players and extend his passion for the game. His passion and style of coaching has led him to win 13 Region III titles and six district championships. In 2006-07, Monroe Community College made their way to the National Championship for the first time, finishing runner-up. Before his time at Monroe Community College, Burns worked as an assistant coach for two years at Wagner College, an NCAA Division I program on Staten Island. Burns began his coaching career as an assistant at Region III rival Champlain College in 1986. He spent one year at St. Michael’s College, a Division II college in Winooski, VT, before moving to Wagner.
Burns has been named Region III Coach of the Year 10 times, ranging from 1993 to 2024. He has also collected Coach of the Year honors for the Western New York Athletic Conference in 1997 and 2004 and New York State Junior College Coach of the Year in 1994 and 2004. Coach Burns also won the Basketball Times Coach of the Year award in 1994. In 2000, he was inducted into Castleton State’s Hall of Fame.
Terry Carroll | Coach | Indian Hills (IA) & Southeastern (IA)
Terry Carroll has been a coach for the NJCAA for 19 years. He spent nine seasons at Indian Hills as the head coach of Men’s Basketball. During his time there, he registered an overall record of 269-50, having five 30-win seasons and seven 20-win seasons. Carroll led his team to two National Titles in 1997 and 1998. Having appeared in the National Championship four times, they made it to the Final Four three of those appearances. He earned NJCAA Coach of the Year awards twice. 10 of his 19 years with the NJCAA were spent at Southeastern Community College. He garnered a record of 211-89. Carrol led Southeastern to four National Tournament appearances, making it to the Final Four once. While at Southeastern, Carroll also served as the Athletic Director.
Outside of the NJCAA, Carroll spent six years at the University of Denver, where he earned Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2004-2005. He was a one-time Regular Season Champion and had four straight winning seasons. Carroll also spent time as the Associate Head Coach at Iowa State University for three seasons. He was a part of ISU’s most successful two-year run in school history by helping the Cyclones to a 57-11 record, back-to-back Big 12 regular season championships and an Elite Eight berth in 2000.
As an athlete, Carroll played one season at Oklahoma State and three seasons at the University of Northern Iowa.
Filiberto Rivera | Student-Athlete | Southeastern (IA)
Filiberto Rivera played NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball at Southeastern Community College for two years. During his time at Southeastern CC, Rivera became the NJCAA Division I Player of the Year in the 2002-2003 season. In the same year, he earned a spot as 1st Team All American. In 2003, Rivera helped to lead his team to a National Championship Title, earning MVP of the tournament. Rivera was at the helm of his team as he helped bring Southeastern CC to victory in the Region 11 Championship in 2002. From his strong performances and leadership on the court, Rivera earned the David Rowlands NJCAA Student Athlete of the Year award in 2003. After finishing his two years at Southeastern CC, he played at UTEP for two more seasons in 2003-2005.
Rivera’s list of accomplishments does not stop there. He won WAC Tournament MVP in 2005, Won 10 medals representing the Puerto Rico National Team and was a three-time champion of BSN (Puerto Rico) in 2006, 2019 and 2023. Rivera played on the National Team for Puerto Rico for 10 years before playing professionally in Europe for six seasons in Germany, Italy, Greece and Israel. Rivera also played professionally in Latin America in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela. Rivera spent time in leadership as he was the Director of Basketball Operations for Gigantes De Carolina in Puerto Rico. Basketball Program Coordinator of High School Fountain College.
Not only filling the role as a leader and captain for his team, Rivera was a role model on campus as well. An instrumental part in leading the basketball program at Southeastern CC, Rivera was a key piece to the success in developing relationships in Latin America for recruiting.