Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
10/29/2026 3:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Former Davidson men's basketball coach Bob McKillop has been named to the Robert D. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership's Hall of Fame, the organization announced this week.
McKillop was honored as a servant-leader exemplar alongside seven others from all walks of life during a ceremony Wednesday evening at Seton Hall University.
The Greenleaf Center recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a longstanding commitment and focus on the well-being of others, resulting in significant impact on individuals, communities, organizations and broader society.
Graham Honaker, associate athletic director at Butler University and who writes about McKillop in his book "Unbracketed," nominated him for the award. In his letter to the committee selecting the winners, Honaker offered examples such as the perfect academic progress record of McKillop's teams and his team trip to Auschwitz that focused on understanding history and the need for leadership today.
"Coach McKillop epitomized all that is right in college athletics," Honaker wrote, "and was a shining example of servant leadership."
A candidate for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, McKillop coached the Wildcats for 33 years, retiring in 2022. He stepped away after fielding one of his best teams, one that finished with 27 wins, a regular season Atlantic 10 Conference title and an at-large NCAA Tournament berth.
In all, he led Davidson to 634 wins, 23 conference championships and 19 postseason berths, including 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.
After leading the Wildcats to the 2008 Elite Eight with wins over Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin, McKillop was named the NABC National Coach of the Year. Seventeen of his Davidson teams won at least 20 games, while seven won at least 25.
A 1972 graduate of Hofstra University, McKillop coached eight All-Americans, an Academic All-American, 11 Conference Players of the year, five Freshmen of the Year and 73 All-Conference players at Davidson.
Fifty-seven of his players have played professionally, including Stephen Curry, the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, who has led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA titles.
Now 76, McKillop serves as Davidson's Leader-in-Residence.
McKillop was honored as a servant-leader exemplar alongside seven others from all walks of life during a ceremony Wednesday evening at Seton Hall University.
The Greenleaf Center recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a longstanding commitment and focus on the well-being of others, resulting in significant impact on individuals, communities, organizations and broader society. Graham Honaker, associate athletic director at Butler University and who writes about McKillop in his book "Unbracketed," nominated him for the award. In his letter to the committee selecting the winners, Honaker offered examples such as the perfect academic progress record of McKillop's teams and his team trip to Auschwitz that focused on understanding history and the need for leadership today.
"Coach McKillop epitomized all that is right in college athletics," Honaker wrote, "and was a shining example of servant leadership."
A candidate for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, McKillop coached the Wildcats for 33 years, retiring in 2022. He stepped away after fielding one of his best teams, one that finished with 27 wins, a regular season Atlantic 10 Conference title and an at-large NCAA Tournament berth.
In all, he led Davidson to 634 wins, 23 conference championships and 19 postseason berths, including 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.
After leading the Wildcats to the 2008 Elite Eight with wins over Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin, McKillop was named the NABC National Coach of the Year. Seventeen of his Davidson teams won at least 20 games, while seven won at least 25.
A 1972 graduate of Hofstra University, McKillop coached eight All-Americans, an Academic All-American, 11 Conference Players of the year, five Freshmen of the Year and 73 All-Conference players at Davidson.
Fifty-seven of his players have played professionally, including Stephen Curry, the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, who has led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA titles.
Now 76, McKillop serves as Davidson's Leader-in-Residence.
Wednesday, October 07
Wednesday, October 07
Wednesday, October 07
Wednesday, October 07
