Lafayette Stribling

Lafayette Stribling (1934-2021)

Teams coached: Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, Tougaloo Bulldogs
Mississippi Valley State record: 305-318 (.490)
Tougaloo record^: 127-60 (.679)
Overall record^: 432-378 (.533)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  3  (1986, 1992, 1996)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  0
  • SWAC Regular Season Champion:  4  (1992, 1996, 1997, 2004)
  • GCAC (NAIA) Regular Season Champion: (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012)
  • SWAC Tournament Champion:  3  (1986, 1992, 1996)
  • GCAC (NAIA) Tournament Champion: (2011)
  • NAIA Division II Tournament Appearances:  5  (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2005-2012 Tougaloo
1983-2005 Mississippi Valley State

Lafayette Stribling Facts

  • Lafayette Stribling
  • Born June 1, 1934
  • Died October 30, 2021
  • Hometown: Carthage, Mississippi
  • Alma Mater: Mississippi Industrial College (BA, 1957)
  • Started his coaching career at alma mater Harmony Vocational HS in Carthage, MS
  • Coached at South Leake HS (MS) from 1957-81, leading both the boys’ and girls’ teams
    • Went undefeated with both teams in 1981 and won State Championships with each
    • Was 741-171 overall as the head boys’ basketball coach
  • Spent one year at Grenada HS (MS) before arriving at Mississippi Valley State in 1983
  • Coaching the Delta Devils for the next 22 seasons, compiling an overall record of 305-318
    • Won four SWAC titles and three SWAC Tournaments to earn three NCAA Tournament bids; was a three-time SWAC COY
      • In 1986, the 16-seed Devils played 1-seed Duke tight before ultimately falling by just 7 points
    • Inducted into the MVSU Sports HOF and had the playing floor at the Harrison HPER Complex named after him
  • Last head coaching job was at NAIA Tougaloo College (MS), where he went 127-60 over seven seasons
    • Won four GCAC titles and reached the NAIA National Tournament five times
    • His 2010-11 team, dubbed the “Magnificent Seven,” won the GCAC and went to the national tournament with just seven players on the roster
  • Stribling passed away on October 30, 2021 in Jackson, MS at the age of 87
  • Inducted into the Mississippi Association of Coaches HOF, SWAC HOF and Mississippi Sports HOF

Lafayette Stribling Coaching Tree

  • George Ivory (Mississippi Valley State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at both the NCAA Division I and NAIA levels