New Jersey City University Athletics

 
Abdul Madison, `99, a 2006 inductee into the New Jersey City University Athletics Hall of Fame after a standout career for the Gothic Knights, is in his eight year as assistant men’s basketball coach at his alma mater during the 2020-21 campaign.
 
The three-time All- New Jersey Athletic Conference selection is serving in his first collegiate coaching position. In his first year as Gothic Knight assistant coach, NJCU qualified for the NJAC and ECAC Tournaments and won 14 games while leading the league in scoring defense (63.0 points per game), blocked shots and defensive rebound percentage. NJCU was 23^rd nationally in scoring defense.
 
He previously was head coach for four years (2009-13) for 15-16 year olds at the Athletes of Tomorrow (AOT) basketball camps.
 
In a four-year standout career for the Gothic Knights from 1993-97, Madison proved to be among the top all-around guards in school history. The 6-foot-2 swingman scored 1457 points (13.6 per game) and grabbed 624 rebounds (5.8 per game), while graduating as the then all-time steals leader (216). Today he still ranks in the Top 10 in school history in scoring.
 
A First-Team All-NJAC selection and First-Team New Jersey Collegiate Basketball Association pick in 1996-97, Madison earned Second-Team All-NJAC distinction in 1994-95 and 1995-96, and was the 1993-94 co-Rookie of the Year, with a nod to the NJAC All-Rookie Team. He was a two-time Second-Team All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (Met) (1995, 1997) honoree. As a junior in 1996, he was Second-Team All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro and Third-Team All-Met.
 
Among the many honors he secured in his career, Madison was a two-time NJAC Player of the Week, a three-time NJAC Rookie of the Week and a NJBCA Player of the Week. He was also named to the weekly ECAC Honor Roll.
 
At the time of his Hall of Fame induction, Madison ranked second all-time in assists (372), fifth in free throws made (324), seventh in blocks (66), ninth in points and field goals made (547), and 13^th in rebounding. He played three positions in his career: strong forward, shooting guard, and point guard.
 
The talented player was also a distinguished team leader. Madison, a four-year player and three-year starter, who played in 107 games (90 starts) in his career, served as team co-captain as a junior and was the only captain as a senior. NJCU flourished with him on the floor, as the Gothic Knights went 71-38 in his career, highlighted by winning the 1993-94 ECAC Metro crown and the 1994-95 NJAC championship. The club advanced to the NJAC and NCAA Division III tournaments in each of his final three seasons. When he scored his 1000^th point as a junior, he became the 19^th member of that prestigious club.
 
“Besides being an excellent scorer, he was also the NJCU defensive player of the year in his final three seasons,” recalled former head coach and fellow Hall-of-Famer, Charlie Brown.
 
Madison graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Since graduating, Madison has been employed as a unit manager by Community Education Centers for 11 years, providing offender re-entry and treatment services at the Essex County Jail. He previously was a senior counselor at the Essex County Jail.
 
A 1992 alum of East Orange High School in East Orange, NJ, he played one season of varsity basketball for Coach Kenny Moss before his game dramatically developed at the collegiate level. He led the Panthers to a 19-9 record his senior year and was voted Third-Team All-Essex County after averaging 18.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.0 steals per game.
 
Madison, 46, currently resides in Scotch Plains, NJ with his wife, Michele, and son Abdul, Jr., 16.
 

THE MADISON FILE

Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, New Jersey City University (2013-present) Head Coach, Athletes of Tomorrow (AOT) basketball camps, 15-16 year olds (2009-13) New Jersey City University Athletics Hall of Fame, 2006 inductee Graduate: New Jersey City University, 1999; Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice Jersey City State College Men’s Basketball, 1993-97 3-time All-New Jersey Athletic Conference First-Team All-NJAC, 1996-97 2-time Second-Team All-NJAC (1994-95 and 1995-96) 1993-94 NJAC co-Rookie of the Year 1993-94 NJAC All-Rookie Team 3-time Second-Team All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Second Team All-Met (1994-95, 1996-97) Third-Team All-Met (1995-96) Second-Team All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro (1996) 2-time NJAC Player of the Week 3-time NJAC Rookie of the Week NJBCA Player of the Week ECAC Honor Roll 10th leading scorer in NJCU history through 2013: 1,457 points (13.6 per game) Graduated as NJCU career steals leader (216) and second in assists (372) Collegiate career stats: 624 rebounds (5.8 per game); free throws made (324); blocks (66); field goals made (547); 107 games (90 starts) Played three positions in his career: strong forward, shooting guard, and point guard. 2-time team captain (1995-97) 19th member of 1,000-point club Team four-year record: 71-38 1993-94 ECAC Metro champions 1994-95 NJAC champions NCAA Division III Tournament appearances (1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97) NJAC Tournament appearances (1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97) Graduate: East Orange High School (East Orange, NJ) Third-Team All-Essex County (1991-92) Averaged 18.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.0 steals per game; team record: 19-9 Unit Manager, Community Education Centers, 11 years Wife: Michele; Son: Abdul, Jr

 

 

GET TO KNOW COACH MADISON
Hobbies/Interest:	Traveling
Favorite part about coaching:	“Teaching and learning simultaneously”
Hero:	Muhammad Ali
Favorite sports team:	Los Angeles Lakers
Favorite song:	‘Forever Young’
Favorite music artist:	Jay-Z
Favorite movie:	Wedding Crashers
Favorite food:	Steak
Personal attributes:	Positive attitude, worth ethic, character, integrity, sense of humor, caring, a teacher