Just - The Man For The Job

Enter Larry Just.  Since the 1997 season, Just has been head coach for the Lady Hawks of Quincy University in Quincy Ill.  In just five years, he turned the program, which was winless in his first year, into a NCAA Division II National Tournament contender.  Two seasons ago, the 40-year-old native of Louisville, Ky., became the winningest coach in Lady Hawks history.  During 10 seasons at the helm, he compiled an overall record of 155-137, building Quincy into a national power in NCAA Division II women’s basketball while being named Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year three times and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Coach of the Year on four occasions.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to be the next women’s basketball coach at Lincoln Memorial University,” said Just.  “Roger has built an excellent program.  I hope that we can continue to move this program in a positive direction.  The potential to compete regionally and nationally is one that drew my attention to LMU.  I expect my team to compete, work hard and play with discipline.  Our style of play will be dictated by our personnel, but one that I think our players will enjoy.  I expect our players and staff to represent the university and our program very well. It is a great opportunity for my wife and kids to move closer to my family and continue to live the dream of coaching college basketball.”

Before taking over the Quincy program, Just spent eight seasons as an assistant with the women’s basketball program at Bellarmine College in Louisville, Ky., while also teaching mathematics at nearby Saint Xavier High School.  His involvement in coaching at Bellarmine included recruiting, conditioning and fundraising, as well as his on-court duties. 

While playing college basketball at Indiana University Southeast, Just received NAIA First Team Academic All-American honors and was named NAIA District 21 First Team and NAIA District 21 Honorable Mention.  He still ranks as Indiana University Southeast’s all-time assist leader with 604 career assists and is the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,333 career points.

“I am very happy to be able to hand over the reins of this program to Coach Just,” said Vannoy.  “His resume speaks for his proven success on the court and I personally know that he has always conducted himself with the class we want here at Lincoln Memorial University.”

Just will assume the helm of the Lady Railsplitter program in the coming weeks. Vannoy will continue in his role as Associate Athletic Director until June, when he will take over for retiring Athletic Director Jay Nidiffer.  Just will take over a Lady Railsplitter program that finished the 2006-07 season with a 14-15 record and returns eight players from that team.