VHSL Hall of Fame Coach George Lancaster Passes Away
One of the true coaching pioneers in Virginia High School Basketball history has passed away, but not before leaving a seismic legacy that will carry on forever.
George Lancaster – who places fifth on the all-time VHSL boys basketball wins list with 726 – passed away late Saturday night at the age of 80. Only R.E. Lee-Staunton’s Paul Hatcher (897), Rick Cormany (773 at Radford/Rocky Gap/Grayson County), Hopewell’s Bill Littlepage (755) and Maury’s Jack Baker (746) amassed more wins on the sideline.
A 1962 graduate of West End High School, Lancaster went on to play basketball in college at Virginia State University, earning All-CIAA Tournament recognition in 1966. He later would be inducted into VSU’s Hall of Fame.
Most memorably, Lancaster notched 549 of those victories over 37 seasons at Highland Springs, where he guided the Springers to Group AAA State Championships in 2003 and 2007. The contributions he made went far beyond the victories and titles, touching countless lives along the way. Rightfully so, accolades for the lifelong dedication and excellence in the mentorship of young student-athletes came his way.
The Virginia High School League ushered Lancaster into its Hall of Fame in 2013. In February of 2022, Highland Springs honored him by renaming its floor the George B. Lancaster Jr. Court in their brand new gymnasium. A 105-minute documentary on Lancaster’s life in coaching was released to the public this past June.
“Our Springer Family is hurting right now! One of the most influential people in my life and he will be greatly missed,” shared Highland Springs Director of Student Activities Harry Lee Daniel, who played basketball for Lancaster before going on to play College Football at the University of Richmond, on social media.
“His impact will forever be felt and his legacy is unmatched! We are all truly blessed to have known such an amazing human being. Love you coach!”
Prior to landing at Highland Springs, Lancaster coached Huguenot High in Richmond for four seasons. It was there that not only did he coach and teach, but broke barriers and began the historic journey. Lancaster became the first black Head Coach in the school’s history and one of the first in Henrico County in the 1970’s after integration.
Lancaster always had a keen understanding of the game.
“Tricky plays don’t win games. Tricky players do,” Lancaster noted following a loss to I.C. Norcom in the 2011 State Tournament semifinals at VCU.
Coach Lan constantly beamed at the achievements of others, especially those he coached like Andre Ingram, who would go on to play for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. Like Brandon Rozzell, one of the standouts on his 2006-07 state title winning team that carved out a fine career at VCU and now is an assistant coach for the Rams.
In March of 2022, Highland Springs edged Maury 63-62 in the VHSL Class 5 State Basketball Championship. Coaching the Springers to the title was a former player of Lancaster’s and longtime assistant, Reginald Tennyson.
Even after his initial retirement, Lancaster decided to pick up the big whistle again in his hometown of Chase County in Mecklenburg County. It was there that he was named the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Bluestone High School, guiding the Baroons to nine victories.
It was something he was familiar with doing, having coached the Springers girls to 53 victories for a few seasons in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He also served as a varsity assistant for the Bluestone football team for a year before getting the opportunity to lead the boys basketball team in 2018-19.
“I guess it’s my glutton for punishment,” then quipped Lancaster, 73 at the time. “Or to not squander an opportunity to make a contribution, and that’s really the way I want to look at it. They made things available for me. The kids are excited that I’m with them and I’m equally excited. I feel a need to be with them, show them some things that can maybe be to their advantage one day when they move on, and they’re athletic. They sought me out for the discipline piece that they felt needed to be there. I don’t know that I’d call myself a disciplinarian, but I certainly like structure and things to go a certain way. It usually pays off and not just in basketball, but in other areas as well. I’m very pleased and who would’ve thought that at 73 I would be starting a new career.
“I feel needed and wanted. It’s not going to be easy because nothing good comes easily. There are people that will be for you and some people that will not be for you. That too is life. Life continues to move, and if you want to be a part of life, you’ll move as life moves.”
Safe to say, George Lancaster lived a life like no other — and made this world a better place.
Matthew Hatfield has served as Publisher for VirginiaPreps.com since 2016 and been writing for the web site under the Rivals umbrella dating back to 2004. Matthew also has served as the Play-by-Play Voice for Old Dominion Women’s Basketball since 2021. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates. To contact Matthew, please e-mail [email protected], and be sure to Subscribe to CoVA Sports TV, where you can watch and hear his Podcasts.