Staff Spotlight: Meet Randy Pulley
Randy Pulley is the kind of person who makes college life feel a little lighter. He’s easygoing, quick to laugh, and genuinely enjoys the people around him. As a Student Services Career Coach and an assistant coach for the BCC Dolphins Men’s Basketball team, Randy brings the same steady, encouraging approach to both roles. He believes life is too short to be angry, and it shows in how he connects with students every day.
A Raleigh, North Carolina native, Randy’s journey has taken him to many places, shaped by basketball and a desire to make a difference. He attended high school at Word of God Christian Academy, where he later returned to coach, before earning his degree at Talladega University. His college path also included time at Saint Louis University and the University of Missouri. Along the way, his coaches became father figures, teaching him that coaching is really about showing up, holding people accountable, and caring about who they become.
Since 2018, Randy has coached and mentored students at Division I, Division II, and community colleges across the country and internationally. No matter where he’s been, his message has stayed the same.
“Basketball can open doors, but education is what keeps them open,” Randy said. “My goal has never been just to help them win games. I want them to earn their degrees.”
That mindset is something he and his wife, Precious, have always shared. Growing up in a coaching family, Precious understood the demands student athletes face. Together, they treated their players like a forever family, stressing academics alongside athletics. Years later, that family is still going strong. Former players are now scattered across the world, but they still call, still check in, and still know Randy’s first questions will be about their education and career. For Randy, that ongoing connection means everything.
The blend of academics and coaching is what ultimately brought Randy to BCC. As a Career Coach, he works with more than 300 students and says he truly loves the role. One of the things that stands out to him most is how BCC keeps an eye on students and steps in early when they need support.
“If a student starts missing class or stops turning in assignments, I know,” Randy said. “That allows me to intervene and help get the student back on track. I think that’s pretty incredible.”
To Randy, that system reflects the heart of the college. He sees it in the way staff and instructors genuinely care about students and stay invested in their success. He also points to BCC’s president as a big part of what makes the campus feel different.
“I’ve never experienced a school like this,” he said. “President Smith is everywhere. Not just at the games, but in the hallways, classrooms, walking around campus, and talking to everyone. That matters.”
On the court, Randy says things are going well. He describes the men’s basketball players as hardworking and largely self-motivated. Although they don’t live on campus, many still show up early, sometimes at five or six in the morning, to put in extra work.
“We tell them this will likely be the last time in their basketball careers they’ll be surrounded by six men who truly care about them,” Randy said. “I think that makes them want to succeed.”
Randy was recruited to BCC by Head Coach Walter Shaw, and his impact is felt far beyond basketball. Whether he’s helping a student plan their next step or supporting an athlete through a tough practice or injury, Randy Pulley leads with humility, heart, and a deep belief in the power of education.
January 2026
