Remarkable Coaching Journey of LJ Kilby

Today, I’m joined by Coach LJ Kilby to reflect on his remarkable basketball journey. Coach Kilby faced adversity early in life, losing his father in a tragic accident when he was just two years old. Raised by a determined mother in Stones Dairy, Virginia—near Bassett and Martinsville—he and his brother grew up with strong values and a deep love for the game.In the backyard of their home, Coach Kilby nailed a handmade backboard with a hoop to a tree, and it was there he developed the deadly outside shot that would one day lead Bassett High School to a historic upset over their bitter rival, Martinsville, in 1965. That victory opened the door for him to play at Ferrum Junior College, where he met future Wake Forest head coach Carl Tacy.Coach Kilby continued his playing career at the newly renamed Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 1969. After earning his teaching certificate from Lincoln Memorial University in far eastern Tennessee, he launched a coaching career that would include head and assistant roles at Lincoln Memorial, UT-Chattanooga, Georgia Southern, and Cleveland State.It was a pleasure speaking with Coach Kilby about his experiences and the influence of coaching legends such as Sonny Smith, Dave Hobbs, and Burrall Paye. He shared fascinating insights into how the game—and the people who coach and play it—has evolved over the decades.