After 20 seasons at the helm of the men's basketball program at Alabama A&M University, Vann Pettaway moved past the 400-win plateau in 2006-07 and continues to build a coaching slate that is envied by many of his peers. In 2005, Pettaway's team brought new successes to this storied program as the Bulldogs won their first SWAC title, both regular-season and tournament, and earned a berth into the NCAA Division I National Tournament. The 2006-07 proved to be a rebuilding year as the Bulldogs posted a 10-20 overall record with nine freshman on its 15-man roster. The expectations are renewed for the 2007-08 campaign as the Bulldogs will have one of the most experienced teams in the SWAC.

With an impressive 407-214 career record, Pettaway has guided the Alabama A&M Bulldogs to eight NCAA Division II playoff appearances, seven Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) titles, and six SIAC Tournament crowns. Under Pettaway the Bulldogs have averaged more than 20 wins a season, and have had eight seasons where they have recorded 20 or more victories. While a member of the NCAA Division II, his teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight four times, including an unprecedented three straight appearances (1994, 1995, & 1996).

After posting a 23-7 record in his first season as head coach, Pettaway led the Bulldogs to a 29-3 record during the 1987-88 season - the best in AAMU history. In that same year, the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the fourth straight year. With a 26-6 record the following season, Pettaway went on to finish the year third in the South Atlantic Regional Tournament.

During Pettaway's first 11 years as head coach, Alabama A&M competed at the NCAA Division II level in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In that time, he experienced 10 winning seasons and advanced to the regional tournament seven times (1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, & 1997).

Not content to simply rest on the laurels of his previous success, in 1998-99 Pettaway accepted the challenge head on when the Bulldogs began the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I as a part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Suffering his first losing season as a head coach when his team posted a 10-17 record their first year of SWAC play, Pettaway went on to lead his charges to records of 18-10, 17-11 and 19-10 each of the next three years.

Injuries during the 2002-03 season set the program back and gave Pettaway his second losing season with an 8-19 finish, but with a strong returning cast of characters, a move up the SWAC standings is on the horizon this season.

After missing the SWAC tournament the first three seasons in the league while serving a mandatory probationary period for moving to the Division I level, the Bulldogs were finally eligible to make a run at the SWAC tournament title and a birth in the NCAA tournament in 2001-02. After posting a shaky 4-6 record in the first 10 games of the season, Pettaway's Bulldogs responded, winning 14 of their final 17 regular season games, securing a #2 seed in the 2002 SWAC tournament. Pettaway led the Bulldogs to a top three finish in the SWAC in three straight seasons prior to last year.

In 2005, Pettaway coached the Bulldogs to Alabama A&M history as they captured their first conference basketball title on the Division I level. He also captured the SWAC tournament title and made an appearance in the 2005 NCAA Division I Tournament.

Over the past 21 years, Pettaway has dominated his opponents at Alabama A&M's T. M. Elmore Gymnasium, amassing an overall record of 247-45 in its cozy confines. During that same span, he has posted a record of 113-67 against members of the SWAC.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Pettaway also served as athletics director for Alabama A&M from 1989-1992. During his tenure as director, the Alabama A&M athletic department experienced some of its most successful years, winning a number of conference championships and also securing national titles in women's track and field.

While he is extremely proud of the athletic accomplishments, his teams have realized that Coach Pettaway is a firm believer that student-athletes are students first. Over the last decade, members of his teams have enjoyed a near-perfect graduation rate. With the national matriculation rates for college and university athletes only in the 40 percent range, the true significance of this accomplishment becomes even more apparent.

A native of Selma, Ala., Pettaway graduated from Dallas County High School. He continued his education at Selma University, where he had two outstanding seasons under legendary basketball coach John "Skin" Lewis, and he lettered in baseball. Pettaway completed his bachelor's degree in health and physical education at Alabama A&M in 1980, and went on to earn his master's degree in secondary administration in 1991, also from Alabama A&M.

Coach Pettaway has been recognized for his outstanding accomplishments frequently throughout his career. He was named Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year five times: 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, & 1996. He was also recognized as an Outstanding Young Man of America in 1981, 1984 and 1987.

He is an active member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), serving as an NABC Congressman. Pettaway is also extremely involved in his community, serving as a member of the Huntsville chapter of the 100 Black Men of America.

Pettaway and his wife Glenn are the proud parents of two daughters, Porsha and Paige.