Mississippi’s coaching ranks lost a legend on October 30 when Lafayette Stribling passed away at the age of 87.
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Between the high school and college stints, his career spanned more than 55 years. Coach Stribling began his career at South Leak High School in 1957 where he coached both boys’ and girls’ basketball highlighted by dual undefeated seasons and state titles following the 1981 season. His high school boys at South Leake never had a losing season and he captured two state titles as girl’s head coach.
Most of us, knew the coach from his days at Mississippi Valley State University where he won more than 315 games, SWAC Coach of the Year and led the Delta Devils to two NCAA tournament appearances.
He followed his tenure up at Valley with a successful run at Tugaloo where he won another 171 games and led the Bulldogs to five NAIA tournaments when the program frequently sputtered prior to his arrival. Stribling’s longevity and success reflected his knowledge of the game.
Long before he rose to prominence at Valley, he had established himself as a teacher of the game and his reputation preceded him. My encounters with Coach Stribling took place in his days at MVSU when the DD-T would frequently dispatch us to cover the school’s home games.
Even when his teams were short on talent, there was a flow to Valley’s offense that suggested that every person on the floor knew where he needed to be and what their role consisted of.
After a game with Prairie View, I interviewed the coach about all the fast breaks, dunks and athletic plays his team executed in a blowout win and his response indicated how “real” basketball should be played.
He said, “What makes talented players elite is that they are fundamentally sound,” Stribling said. “Kobe Bryant and Michel Jordan are great athletes, but they don’t shoot left-handed layups off the right foot. They use the left foot and the left hand coordinated with one another.”
In addition to his coach acumen, Stribling’s flare for fashion often made headlines as well. His attire was on point from his pastel-colored pants to matching ties, shoes with sequins and dapper top hats.
Former DD-T sports editor Jeff Taepke asked me to do an article about Strib’s clothes and when the time came, he had on the perfect outfit, a salmon suit with white shoes.
I approached the coach and started asking him about the shops he frequented and his process for matching colors. And his response was, “young man, I don’t see what any of this has to do with basketball.”
Reflecting on his words, I believe that’s how Stribling would like to be remembered as a basketball coach who knew his craft. Winning 1,192 of the 1,726 games he coached (nearly a 70% winning rate) and being named to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Stribling’s legacy is solidified.
Patrick Ervin has been writing about the Mississippi Delta for more than two decades. He specializes his sports and religion.
