DeVernie Winston is in his second season as head men’s basketball coach at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
In his first season at the helm, Winston coached a talented roster which included two players that earned conference weekly honors, including Rookie of the Week and Player of the Week. In addition, one member of the roster earned a spot on the City University of New York Athletic Conference first team All-Star team, as well a D3Hoops.com All-Star and ECAC All-Star.
Prior to his head coaching appointment, Winston served as assistant coach during the 2007-08 season, in which John Jay won its first ever City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) men’s basketball championship and earn an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III tournament where the Bloodhounds won their first round contest.
Prior to rejoining the Bloodhounds, Winston spent the 2008-09 season as head coach at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), a member of CUNYAC’s junior college division. He led the Panthers to an 11-win season and helped several student-athletes continue their college careers in NCAA and NAIA programs including North Carolina Central University and Barber-Scotia College.
He attended St. Lawrence University and majored in Sociology and was a key reserve guard and forward for the men’s basketball team which twice earned berths into the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Upstate Regional tournament, including a championship in 2001.
A native New Yorker, Winston is a 2000 graduate of Frederick Douglass Academy High School where he was an all-city and all-state player and led the boy’s basketball and volleyball teams to two consecutive league championships.
Outside of coaching, Winston is an entrepreneur. He is the owner of Winston Prestige, Inc., an e-commerce based distribution company, and a private practice which includes freelance sign language and interpreting. He also has a background in health, wellness and health club management.
Winston resides in Harlem, N.Y. with his fiancé Jeniece and two daughters Jadah (5) and Anari (3).
