Dave Strothers, Longwood Basketball ’85, Pays Life Lessons Forward
Release Date: 03/24/2024
Lancers Past
Michael Christmas transferred from JMU to Longwood in August 2021 with high expectations. He eventually delivered and then some. As a member of Longwood’s 2023-2025 teams, the triple threat scorer racked up 1,000+ points and earned all-tournament honors as the Lancers won the Big South Conference Championship in 2024. Listen to Michael explain how an infection detected after arm surgery nearly cost him his basketball career and his left arm.
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For Gray Stabley, Longwood College was the perfect springboard. She competed for three years for legendary gymnastics coach Ruth Budd, earned her BS in Math, and found her first professional passion in meteorology. After forecasting the weather for 16 years, she hit the road with her husband, Rob, and moved freight across America as an over-the-road truck driver. Retired from trucking, Gray pours into her longtime passion, genealogy. It’s Gray Stabley on the Lancers Past Podcast!
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Armstrong came to Longwood as a recruited basketball player, but he struggled to balance books and ball. After one year, he was on academic probation. With the help of close friends such as teammate Ron Orr and a renewed sense of direction, Adrian applied himself. At Longwood, he was named to the Dean’s list and completed his BS in Psychology. In 1990, he earned his Juris Doctorate from Pace University (NY). Known for 10 years as the Honorable Adrian Armstrong, he now presides as a federal Judge for the Elizabeth (NJ) Immigration Court.
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Bill Reinson’s dream was to be a Division I Basketball Head coach. After 10 years as an assistant men’s coach at UNC-Greensboro and Longwood, he was named interim and then permanent Head coach for the Longwood women in 2010. He and the Lady Lancers shocked the Big South by advancing to the finals of the tournament in 2013, Longwood’s first year as a member. Reinson was named 2013 Virginia Women's Basketball Coach of the Year by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He resigned as head coach in 2018 and moved back to his native Arizona. He now lives in Southside Virginia and...
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How did Bluestone High, a rural school of around 500 students in Mecklenburg County Va, send so many All-Americans and NBA and MLB veterans to Longwood College (Va.) (now Longwood University)? Doug Toombs, All-American Baseball player, and Steve Crute, College Division All-State Golfer, share their experiences and insight. From Jerome Kersey to Frankie Watson, Doug and Steve discuss the Bluestone to Longwood pipeline. Quotes from Carmille Barnette ’91, All-American Basketball; Michael Tucker, Longwood All-American Baseball, 12-year MLB veteran; Glenn Bugg...
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Enjoy a compilation of stories recognizing the 10th anniversary (February 18, 2015) of the death of former Longwood basketball legend and NBA standout Jerome Kersey. Featured interviews include author Kerry Eggers, fellow Bluestone High grads Doug Toombs and Steve Crute, former Longwood assistant basketball coach Mo Schoepfer, Longwood MBB teammates Mitch Walker, Orlando Turner, David Strothers, Kevin Ricks, Ron Orr, Mike Testa, John Rusevlyan, and Randy Johnson, friend Bryan Kersey, and former Longwood soccer coach and instructor Rich Posipanko.
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For every Big South Conference trophy that Longwood wins, Troy Austin deserves at least a pat on the back. In his 12 years as athletic director and the first in the Division I era, Austin helped bring Longwood into the Big South and hired coaches that brought conference championships to Farmville. Troy Austin left Longwood and returned to his alma mater at Duke in October of 2018 as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs. He now oversees all athletics fundraising for the Blue Devils as the Deputy Athletic Director for Development.
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As a left-handed pitcher for Head Coach Buddy Bolding, Tripp Metzger enjoyed working behind the scenes and fueling the success of his teammates such as MLB draftees Jeremy Knicely and LaRon Wilson. Tripp followed his father and a long line of Longwood Baseball Alumni to teach and coach in high school. The 2003 Longwood graduate describes how his high school and college coaches helped mold his own philosophy as a servant leader. Metzger is in his 11th year as the activities director at Mechanicsville High School.
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This special 100th episode highlights four years of Catching up with Longwood College and Longwood University student-athletes, coaches and administrators Lancers from the past. Rich Posipanko, featured on the second podcast in May 2020, joins host Rohn Brown as they re-live favorite episodes and unearth new stories about Cal Luther, Jerome Kersey, and more. Rohn pays tribute to his mentor and friend, former Longwood Sports Information Director, who passed away on September 26, 2024.
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Zac Watson started his second professional season with BK Ventspils in the Latvian Basketball League in September 2024. Known as a 6-7 post player at Longwood, Zac reflects on the 2022 Big South Conference Championship season and his new role and development in professional basketball. As a pre-podcast bonus, Brian Rushing energizes the episode with a signature starting line-up and player introduction.
info_outlineAs a transfer from Frank Phillips JC, Dave Strothers made his two Longwood years count. As a senior, he led the Lancers in scoring and rebounding and made 87% of his career free throws. For the last 30 years, he applies the same demeanor as a school administrator. Strothers is the principal of Mayfield Woods Middle School in Howard Co., Md. Dave faced his biggest test in 2012 as he and his family escaped their burning house. Dave commends his community for their generousity and former Longwood Head Coach Cal Luther.