St. Aug's Blow will enter Virginia Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fame
February 2, 2009
Head men's basketball coach Lonnie Blow Jr. of Saint Augustine's
College will be inducted along with seven other charter members
into the newly established Virginia Wesleyan College Athletic Hall
of Fame during a special ceremony in Norfolk, Va., on Saturday
(Feb. 7).
Blow, a basketball standout from 1979-1982, is elated to be a
member of the 2009 inaugural Hall of Fame class at Virginia
Wesleyan College.
"It is always special to go in the Hall of Fame, but to go in as a
charter member makes it more special," Blow said. "It symbolizes
the best of the best."
A first-year college head coach, Blow was one of the most prolific
basketball scorers in the 40-year athletic history of Virginia
Wesleyan College, located between Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Va.
He holds two school records including the single-season scoring
mark (625 points) and most field goals in one season, and shares
the school mark for most points in one game (40 points).
The record-setting sharpshooter also ranks second at Virginia
Wesleyan in career field goals, second in season scoring average
(23.1 during 1980-81 season) and third in career scoring average.
Blow finished his collegiate basketball career as the school's
all-time leading scorer and is currently fifth on the career
scoring list with 1,574 points.
Blow entered the coaching profession in Norfolk, Va., after his
collegiate playing days. He started as an assistant basketball
coach at Maury High School and then became head coach at Granby
High School where he led the boys' varsity team to a state title
and was named AAA State coach of the year in 2000.
After a successful high school coaching career which included four
Eastern District (Va.) coach of the year awards, Blow entered the
collegiate ranks as assistant basketball coach at Hampton
University and assistant basketball coach/associate head coach at
Norfolk State University.
During his first year at Saint Augustine's College, Blow Jr. has
won CIAA coach of the week honors. The Falcons are CIAA contenders
under the guidance of Blow.
Blow joins a class which includes women's basketball and tennis
player Stacy L. Carr, softball player Tina Clark Milligan, men's
basketball coach Donald M. Forsyth, men's soccer player Michael S.
McFarland, men's basketball, men's soccer and golf player Robert R.
Valvano, men's basketball player Stover E. "Pete" Withers and
women's basketball player Amy Simpson Woodson.
"It is even more special for me because of some of the members I am
going in with," Blow said. "Bob Valvano (brother of late N.C. State
coach Jim Valvano), is a former classmate, Pete was my supervisor
at the detention center where we worked for many years, and Don was
my college coach. He had a lot of influence on me that I
incorporate in my coaching.
"Going in with Bob, Pete and Don makes the honor that much more
special."
In addition to his playing and coaching achievements, Blow has
received the Andrew Carnegie and City of Portsmouth Hero awards. He
was an Olympic Torch Bearer in 1996.
The inaugural class was selected by the Virginia Wesleyan College
Athletic Hall of Fame Committee with input from coaching staff,
alumni athletes and faculty and staff members.
