FARMVILLE, Va. – Under head coach Griff Aldrich, Longwood basketball has knocked down milestones like dominoes.
 
Now, as it moves into a new home arena next season, Lancer basketball is poised to continue building on its recent success for years to come.
 
Longwood Director of Athletics Tim Hall announced Wednesday a 10-year contract extension to Aldrich's contract that will lengthen his tenure as head coach of the Lancer men's basketball program through the end of the 2034 season.
 
"What a great day for Longwood University, our athletics department and our flagship men's basketball program," Hall said. "Without question, Griff embodies all of the qualities for nurturing our student-athletes to success in academics, competition and life. He is an educator at heart, and the comprehensive welfare of his players is his highest priority.
 
"This well-deserved extension will continue the positive trajectory of our men's basketball program well into the future."
 
"Julie and I could not be happier about the opportunity to continue to build our lives and family at Longwood and in the Farmville community," Aldrich said. "The past five years have been special years for us and we look forward to continuing to build not only the Longwood Basketball program - but also our deep ties throughout this special town and area. We are grateful for the chance to continue on this special path."
 
The extension follows yet another milestone season for a Lancer program that had never seriously contended for the Big South title before Aldrich took the helm in 2018 – but has become a consistent contender under his leadership. Longwood has finished in the top five in each of the past four seasons after never previously finishing higher than eighth.
 
This past season, Aldrich, a 1996 Hampden-Sydney graduate and Tidewater native, led Longwood to a second-straight 20-win campaign. It marked the first time the men's basketball program posted back-to-back 20-win seasons at any level.
 
In addition, the team's 27 conference wins over the past two seasons are the most in the Big South. During that run, Longwood swept both the Big South regular season and tournament titles in the 2021-22 season. The Lancers were a No. 14 seed in the program's first NCAA Tournament Division I level. Longwood became only the second Big South team to garner a 14-seed or better in the history of the league. They finished second in the regular season this past year.
 
Aldrich is a national finalist this year for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award, a prize honoring successful coaches who also display moral integrity off the court.
 
"Griff Aldrich has transformed the culture of Longwood basketball into a program defined by excellence, hard work, and character that reflects the University's values and shows them to the world," said Longwood President W. Taylor Reveley IV. "Griff and Julie have also been tremendous leaders and voices for good in our home community of Farmville. The future is bright, with an elegant new arena set to open on campus next season, and Griff leading Lancer men's basketball into the far future."
 
The surge in the standings has also served as a galvanizing force in both the campus and Farmville community. Willett Hall became one of the toughest places to play in the Big South during Aldrich's five seasons, as the team is 54-20 in Farmville.
 
Next season, Longwood basketball is poised to open the Joan Perry Brock Center, which will instantly become one of the premier venues for mid-major basketball. The 3,000-seat arena was made possible by a $15 million gift from Joan Perry Brock, and it is the crown jewel that will help continue to elevate Longwood's profile both regionally and nationally.
 
Aldrich has also overseen a host of facility upgrades prior to the JPB, including the fully-donor funded Basketball Performance Center that opened in the fall of 2022. The Basketball Performance Center was made possible by a recently formed group of donors—the Built To Win Partners.
 
Under his watch, the team has also excelled in the classroom. His teams routinely have had a GPA above 3.0, and this past fall, the team posted a record 3.37 GPA. In his five years, men's basketball players have earned 31 Dean's List selections and three President's List selections.
 
"The most important part of any institution is the people," Reveley said. "In Griff Aldrich, we have a great coach and person, who works incredibly hard, as does his tremendous staff. He is in coaching for all the right reasons, and cares deeply for the development of our student-athletes as people. I am thrilled that Griff and Longwood are committed to each other for many years to come."
 
#GoWood #HorsePower