MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Norwood, Jackson (11th), Jordan, Blount, Frazier, Horhn, Thomas, Simmons (12th), Butler (36th), Barnett, Butler (38th), Caughman, Michel, Simmons (13th), McDaniel
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF LEGENDARY MISSISSIPPI BASKETBALL COACH LAFAYETTE "STRIB" STRIBLING, REMEMBERING HIS HISTORIC CAREER AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO HIS SURVIVING FAMILY.
WHEREAS, Lafayette Stribling, the remarkably motivational and stylishly dressed coach at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) and Tougaloo College passed away on October 30, 2021, in Jackson, Mississippi, at 87; and
WHEREAS, Coach Stribling was born in Carthage, Mississippi, June 1, 1934, to the late Eugene Stribling and Mary L. Dallas-Stribling. He was the third of six children; and
WHEREAS, Coach Stribling resided in the Harmony/Galilee community and was baptized at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. He excelled as a student and basketball player and graduated from Harmony High School. His athletic and academic skills afforded him a scholarship to Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Upon graduation he married his college sweetheart, Thelma Montgomery, and to this union two daughters were born; and
WHEREAS, Coach Stribling began his coaching career at South Leake High School (formerly Murphy High School and Harmony High School). During his 25 years at South Leake, Stribling was the head coach of the boys' basketball team, head coach of the girls' basketball team, each team having all winning seasons and winning one state title with the boys' basketball team and two state titles with the girls' basketball team. In 1982, Stribling left South Leake to become the head coach of the boys' basketball team at Grenada High School and later accepted the men's basketball head coaching position at Mississippi Valley State University; and
WHEREAS, longtime Mississippi basketball fans remember on March 14, 1986, when "Strib," as he was affectionately known, took his Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils to play Duke in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Duke was the top seed, meaning that Valley was No. 64. Duke, coached by Mike Krzyzewski and led by the great Johnny Dawkins, a prohibitive force, playing a few miles from their home in Greensboro, North Carolina, where Duke's Blue Devils had just won the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. "Nobody gave us a chance," Coach Stribling said regarding the lack of support his team received facing Duke. However, Valley led at halftime and then by as many as seven points midway through the second half. Valley pressed and guarded the Blue Devils as they had rarely been challenged before. Only after four of Valley's five starters fouled out in the final five minutes did Duke surge ahead and win 85-78. Afterward, the large Duke crowd gave Valley and its resplendently dressed coach a prolonged standing ovation. At his postgame press conference, a visibly impressed Coach Krzyzewski lavished praise on "Strib"; and
WHEREAS, while at MVSU, Stribling won four regular-season SWAC Championships, along with three tournament titles. After 22 years leading the Delta Devils, he left the school with a 315-307 record in 2005, the most coaching wins in school's history; and
WHEREAS, Coach Stribling took the head coaching job at Tougaloo College in 2005 and moved to Ridgeland, Mississippi, where he joined Mount Charity M.B. Church and continued his tradition of taking his players to church on Sundays. He spent seven years coaching the Bulldogs. During that time, he won four Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season titles, one Conference-Tournament Title, three Conference Coach of the Year Awards and five NAIA National Tournaments. He coached his team to the school's first GCAC regular-season title; and
WHEREAS, Coach Stribling's 2010-2011 season was another notable year when he led the "Super 7" to both the regular season and tournament titles and to the Sweet Sixteen in the National Tournament; and
WHEREAS, Coach Stribling is a 1989 inductee of the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame, a 2006 SWAC Hall of Fame inductee, a 2010 inductee into the MVSU Athletic Hall of Fame and a 2018 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame inductee; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, Mississippi Valley State's basketball court, the Stribling-Harris Court, became part of the R.W. Harrison Arena and honors the inspirational coach; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, Tougaloo College unveiled the Coach Lafayette Stribling Court. Most recognized for his outstanding winning ways and unique style of dress, Stribling was a trailblazer in the coaching arena, and his dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed; and
WHEREAS, his wife preceded him in death, he leaves to cherish his memories, children: Pamela Stribling Cotten, Deborah Stribling-Hill, Derrick McBeath Sr. and Byron Stribling; grandchildren: Camesha Cotten Hatchett, Clifton Cotten Jr., Darryl Bryant Hill, Kaela McBeath, Derrick McBeath Jr., and Harper Stribling and great-grandchildren: Micah, Chase, London, Ava, Lane, Ryleigh, Zoe and Nuri; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Carmen J. Walters, president of Tougaloo College, paid tribute to Coach Stribling, saying: "Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of Coach Lafayette Stribling. Coach Stribling served as an inspiration to many young athletes, with his great examples of self-discipline, hard work and perseverance to accomplish the difficult challenges not only in sports, but in life. He was a vital chapter in Mississippi basketball. He will be truly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are extended to all those he leaves behind."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby celebrate the life of legendary Mississippi Basketball Coach Lafayette "Strib" Stribling, remembering his historic career and expressing the sympathy of the Legislature to his surviving family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Coach Lafayette Stribling, forwarded to the President of Mississippi Valley State University, the President of Tougaloo College and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.