Episode 216: Coach Andrew Lacey (Head Men's Basketball Coach Richard Bland College (South Prince George, VA) "Building a Defensive System"

Andrew Lacey, who led Varina High School to the VHSL Class 5 State Championship in 2018 and three straight State Championship appearances in 2017, 2018 and 2019, is the  men's basketball coach at Richard Bland College of William of Mary on.  Widely regarded as one of the top scholastic coaches in Virginia, Lacey arrives at Richard Bland following six seasons at Varina High School where he built the program into a powerhouse, compiling a 109-46 record, including a 51-4 mark the past two years. In 13 seasons as both a boys and girls scholastic head coach, Lacey has amassed a 188-101 career record, which includes one state championship, two regional championships, and two conference championships. Lacey arrived at Varina High School in 2013 after two seasons as head boys' coach at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, N.C. He posted a 6-15 record his first season at Varina, and then the Blue Devils catapulted into one of the region's finest programs, highlighted by the 2018 Class 5 State Championship victory over Wakefield, 64-60, and a school-record 38-game winning streak over two seasons. In both 2019 and 2018, Lacey led Varina to the VHSL 5B Regional Championship and Conference Championships in 2015 and 2016. In his six seasons at Varina, a total of 31 student-athletes have earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-State recognition. Four players have been awarded scholarships to play intercollegiate basketball. Lacey began his coaching career as the boys' head coach Washington and Lee High School in Montross, Va., in 2005. In his second season, the team compiled a 16-4 record, the best in five years. In 2007, he became head coach of the inaugural girls' program at Skyline High School in Front Royal, Va. In 2009 Lacey led the Lady Hawks to a 13-13 record, the best mark for a team from Warren County in 28 years. The team earned a first-ever appearance in the Virginia AA Region II Tournament and became the county's first participant since 1981. Lacey served as head coach at Stafford High School for two seasons before becoming the boys' basketball coach at Pinecrest High School. Lacey currently serves as head coach with Team Richmond-Garner Road, the region's premier boys AAU program. He has coached the 15U and 16U teams the past two years and will coach the 17U Choice team this summer. A native of Montross, Va., Lacey earned his B.A. in Business Administration from Bridgewater College in 2004. He was a four-year basketball letterman and served as team captain his senior year. Lacey and his family reside in Ashland, VA [email protected] Coach_Lacey5