By Laura Clark

Published: April 2, 2008

After 17 years of coaching within the Nelson County High School girls basketball program, Lloyd Gray resigned at the conclusion of the Gov varsity 2007-2008 season for personal and health reasons.
Gray was an assistant coach for nine years and head varsity coach for eight years. He leaves with a 90-70 overall record. He led the Govs to the regional tournament three times between 2001 and 2007.
Gray, 36, said he’s dealt with health issues for the last three years, but was not ready to leave the program behind.
“It’s a hard thing to do. I would rather have another coach come in and keep it at the same level or take it to new heights instead of me being there…unable to give 100 percent,” Gray said.
He built a basketball tradition focused on tough defense that sparked momentum swings in a game. “Hard defense equals easy offense,” was Gray’s motto.
Gray’s replacement has not been named. But as the outgoing coach, Gray’s insight into what’s needed by his successor may be invaluable.
First, the new coach has to know the basics. As Gray says, the girls are often seasonal basketball players, and things like proper shooting techniques, dribbling, passing, even being up-to-date on terminology need to be instilled early and practiced through the season.
“You can never get to that next level if the kids aren’t fundamentally sound,” he said.
That the new coach must love kids and coach for the love of the game sounds like a given, but is worth mentioning (and ranks second on Gray’s list).
Reviving open gyms and camps is another biggie for Gray. The girls are often three-sport athletes, but to really be good and have a chance in a competitive Dogwood District, the team has to get to work in the offseason.
The boys’ relentless camps and games through last spring and summer was one of the main reasons they won the state title. During the offseason, the boys developed skills, learned to work hard and gained confidence as well as growing closer as a team.
Getting the kids fired up about dedicating themselves to basketball throughout the year will challenge the new coach. The kids have to want to do it, but a coach can always work to inspire them to see the possibilities.
Gray points out that the next coach should be experienced and ready to discipline. He or she has to be a coach or mentor to the girls, but not a friend.
“I did that when I was young, and I learned the hard way,” he said. “I think the best replacement would be a school teacher who’s a solid coach.”
Gray works in Lynchburg, which he said made it difficult to schedule practices during the season, as well as summer activities.
He has volunteered to run open gyms and plan a summer camp until a coach is hired. He has not heard back from the school administration. For the girls’ sake, let’s hope this isn’t indicative of how fast the high school will move to hire a new coach.
It takes time to build a team, and whoever comes in next will be at a disadvantage if he or she doesn’t start meeting the girls until September.