Senate Resolution 80

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE ILLUSTRIOUS BASKETBALL CAREER OF MILLSAPS COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH JOHN STROUD AND CONGRATULATE HIM ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER NINETEEN YEARS IN THE COACHING PROFESSION.

WHEREAS, after thirteen years at Millsaps College and nineteen years in the coaching profession, John Stroud has resigned as the Major's Men's Head Basketball Coach. Stroud leaves Millsaps to pursue opportunities in private business; and

WHEREAS, Stroud began his illustrious career at Millsaps in 1990. During his thirteen-year tenure, Stroud guided his teams to three Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships and led the Majors to three NCAA Tournament appearances. The two-time South Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the all-time winning leader at Millsaps, Stroud compiled a record of 204-131, reaching the 200 victory plateau this season in a 71-48 triumph over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on January 31, 2003. Suffering only two losing seasons while at Millsaps, Stroud posted seven seasons of at least sixteen wins, including three campaigns of twenty wins or more. Stroud's best year came in 1994-1995 as he led the Majors to a 25-3 mark, a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Title, and a trip to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16; and

WHEREAS, Stroud came to prominence in the basketball arena as a standout player at the University of Mississippi in the late 1970's and early 1980's. He was an All-American selection during his senior year after leading the Southeastern Conference in scoring during both his junior and senior seasons. Stroud finished his career as the Rebels' all-time leading scorer and Stroud is currently the third all-time leading scorer in SEC Basketball history. Stroud was inducted into the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 1995; and

WHEREAS, following his Senior year at Ole Miss, Stroud was the top choice of the Houston Rockets in the 1980 NBA draft. He played with the Houston Rockets from 1980-1982 and was a member of the 1981 team that lost to the Philadelphia 76er's in the NBA Finals. Stroud played the 1982-1983 season in Europe with Caja De Rhonda, located in Malaga, Spain; and

WHEREAS, after a three-year professional career, Stroud entered the coaching profession in 1984 as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Alabama. In 1985, he became the Head Basketball Coach at W.P. Daniel High School in New Albany, Mississippi, where he won two State Championships and compiled a 71-24 record in three years; and

WHEREAS, in 1988, Stroud accepted the head coaching position at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Mississippi. Making an immediate impact in Scooba, Mississippi, Stroud led East Mississippi Community College to its first-ever State Tournament appearance and its first Regional Tournament in 25 years. In his two seasons at East Mississippi Community College, Stroud compiled a 30-30 record and was named the MACJC Coach of the Year following the 1989-1990 season before assuming the reins of the Millsaps' Basketball program the following year; and

WHEREAS, John is a native of Pontotoc, Mississippi, and it is with great pride that we recognize the collegiate, professional and coaching career of this All-Star who has brought honor to his community, his alma mater, the schools at which he has coached and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the illustrious basketball career of Millsap's College Basketball Coach and former Ole Miss All-Star John Stroud and congratulate him and his family on the occasion of his retirement after 19 years in the coaching profession, and extend to him the best wishes of the Senate on his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to John Stroud, be forwarded to the President of Millsaps College and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.