Hall of Fame
Before coming to Northwest in 1993, Marc Dukes had been coaching for 13 years in the high school ranks, 11 of which were in Mississippi. Four of his teams were ranked in the top 10 in the state, with his 1985 team winning 36 games and finishing as State Class AAAA runner-up for one of his two state tournament appearances. He twice received Coach of the Year honors and was WDAM-TV Coach of the Year in 1985.
Dukes was named head coach at Jones County Junior College in 1986, and in five seasons, he was 87-53 overall. He led the Bobcats to five consecutive winning seasons – a first in program history – and his 1990-91 team set a school record for wins with 21.
After two years at Pineville High School in Kentucky, coach Dukes accepted the head coaching position for the Northwest men's basketball program.
In five seasons at the helm, his teams compiled a record 129-31, advanced to two NJCAA national tournaments, won two Region 23 titles, two MACJC State Championships and three consecutive MACJC North Division crowns.
In 1995-96, he guided the Rangers to a school-record 30 wins and the program's first appearance at the NJCAA National Tournament since 1980. That team finished sixth in the 16-team tournament field. Two years later, the Rangers finished 29-7 and made the school's only trip to the NJCAA Final Four during the 1997-98 season.
Dukes was named Region 23 Coach of the Year in 1996 and 1998 and MACJC Coach of the Year in 1994, 1996 and 1997. Four of his players were also named NJCAA All-Americans during his tenure.
Dukes left Northwest in 1998 to take an assistant position at Ole Miss and was a part of Rebel teams that made three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including the program's only trip to the Sweet 16.
During the last two seasons, he has served as head coach of the boys' basketball program at Magnolia Heights School. In both seasons, his Chiefs have won the Class AAA Division II State Championship with a combined record of 60-15.
