MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Browning, Butler (38th), Dearing, Fillingane, Jackson (32nd), Stone, Yancey
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING NEW ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH AND FORMER OLE MISS STAR JOHN STROUD AS THE CLARION-LEDGER ALL-STATE GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR.
WHEREAS, John Stroud, a 53-year-old coaching veteran, was named "Coach of the Year" for The Clarion-Ledger All-State Girls Basketball Team for 2010-2011 after leading another New Albany team to a State Championship; and
WHEREAS, Coach Stroud's Lady Bulldogs went undefeated against teams from Mississippi this season, sweeping through the Class 4A playoff and claiming the state title by defeating Lawrence County on March 4, 2011. They finished No. 1 in The Clarion-Ledger Super 10, starting the year there and never dropping from that top spot; and
WHEREAS, John Stroud remembers little about the days following his New Albany High Boys Basketball Team's 1987 State Championship. After all, it was 24 years ago and the former Ole Miss star was likely too wrapped up in the jubilation that comes with a 29-year-old winning back-to-back state titles in his first two years of coaching. He was named The Clarion-Ledger's All State Boys Coach of the Year in the wake of the state crown; and
WHEREAS, Stroud joins Ingomar Coach Norris Ashley as the only two people to win the newspaper's top coaching honor for girls and boys. "It is a rarity," Coach Ashley said, "to win both girls and boys"; and
WHEREAS, for John Stroud, his championships were far apart. Nearly a quarter century passed between Boys Championship No. 2 and Girls Title No. 1; and
WHEREAS, Coach Stroud had coached the New Albany High School girls' team since 2005. He led the Lady Dogs to a 32-1 record in the 2009-2010 season. A graduate of the University of Mississippi, John Stroud was an Ole Miss and SEC standout and still holds several school and SEC records. He was selected to the Ole Miss All-Century Team in 2008 and to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. He played for the NBA Houston Rockets from 1980-1982, and then played a year of professional basketball in Spain. In 1983-1984, he was an Assistant Basketball Coach at the University of Alabama. From 1985-1989, Coach Stroud was Head Coach of the W.P. Daniel High School (former name of New Albany High School) boys' team: winning back-to-back State Championships in 1986 and 1987. Stroud left New Albany to become Head Coach at East Mississippi Community College from 1988-1990. In 1990, he became the Head Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, until 2003; and
WHEREAS, Coach Stroud owns the Stroud Insurance agency in New Albany. He and his wife, Billye Jean, have two daughters, Caroline and Anna Francis, who are students in the New Albany School; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend this legendary basketball player and Coach whose double "Coach of the Year" awards have brought honor to his teams, his community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend New Albany High School Basketball Coach and former Ole Miss Basketball star John Stroud as "The Clarion-Ledger All-State Girls Coach of the Year for 2011," and extend our best wishes to Coach Stroud and his family for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to John Stroud, forwarded to the Union County Board of Education and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.