Longwood University Head Basketball Coach
By Shawn Nowlin
When Roanoke native Ronnie Thomas agreed to a deal to become the head men’s basketball coach at Longwood University (LU) in March, many longtime LU fans felt that he was the right person at this time to take the program to heights it had never experienced before.
With his first bite at the apple on Nov. 3, Thomas guided the Lancers to a 92-55 victory over Mary Baldwin University.
A collective team approach, both offensively and defensively, four Longwood players scored in double figures: Johan Nziemi (16), Jacoi Hutchinson (15), Jaylen Benard (14) and Elijah Tucker (11).
Speaking to Sam Hovan after the game, Thomas’ enthusiasm flowed out of him, “It was great for the guys to get out here in front of fans, get some of the jitters out. We didn’t have 11 turnovers in any of our two scrimmages, but we had 20 tonight. It doesn’t matter who we are playing or what the scoreboard is, we want to play to our standard.”
He added, “All of the things that we want to be good at, we did in the second half. We are going to make mistakes, I’m just emphasizing to my guys how important it is to move on to the next play. This was a great opening night for us.”
No slouch of a former athlete himself, Thomas was a standout basketball player at Patrick Henry High School then Bridgewater University from 2010-14. For his final three years, he served as the team captain.
Those who know Thomas well say he’s not only an outstanding coach, but a great colleague and father too, all of which make him the ideal individual to lead the Longwood basketball program.
“Credibility is huge when it comes to coaching. You have to have credibility with your players, your supporters and your Administration,” James Payne said. “When Ronnie was in high school, he was a leader, both on the court and in the classroom. That mentality continues to this day. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins the Big South Conference Coach of the Year Award.”
In the nearly 50-year history of the program, Longwood has gone to just two NCAA Tournaments, 2022 and 2024. If all the pieces fall into place, Coach Thomas has the potential to not only lead his program to the Big Dance, but also possibly make some serious noise.
Longwood’s next game is against the University of Pittsburgh on Nov. 7. A victory over the Panthers will go a long way to earning an at-large bid.
