Former VSU basketball coach dies at 72
Former VSU basketball coach dies at 72
May 23, 2010
Former Virginia State University's men's basketball assistant coach (1999-2003), Walter Penny of Glen Allen, VA departed this life on Tuesday, May 20 at the age of 72 due to prostate cancer. Coach Penny's funeral was Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church.
Legendary Coach Walter Penny will be remembered for being a basketball coach who had worked in high school programs before coming to Virginia State University in 1999.
From the Times-Dispatch:
Walter Penny coached high school girls basketball first. He coached high school boys basketball and then joined with two other high school coaching legends to guide the Virginia State University basketball program.
As Highland Springs basketball coach George Lancaster said of Mr. Penny, "Basketball was a better place when Walter was involved."
Mr. Penny, 72, died Tuesday from prostate cancer.
Mr. Penny coached girls basketball for Armstrong-Kennedy during 1979-85, when the city schools competed as complexes. The girls played in the fall.
He became the Armstrong boys coach for the 1986-87 season, weathered an effort from the school administration to remove him in 1988 and guided the Wildcats to district titles in 1993, 1996 and 1997. Those teams produced All-Metro standouts Sterling Dandridge (1993), Raymont Postell (1995-96) and Kennard Wyche (1997).
The 1996-97 season turned out to be his last in high school. He was told before the season that his position would be open for new applicants. He could have re-applied, but he chose to retire.
Mr. Penny returned to the sidelines in 1999 when former George Wythe coach Bob Booker became the coach at Virginia State. One of Booker's first calls was to Mr. Penny.
"I thought my coaching days were over," Mr. Penny said in a Paul Woody column in The Times-Dispatch.
Soon thereafter, Frank Threatts Jr., who had retired at John Marshall, joined the staff. The trio of friends combined for more than 100 years of coaching and hundreds of victories.
Mr. Penny left VSU after two years.
"He'd done all he could in basketball," Lancaster said. "He was honest and fair and always did things the right way. He was a good role model for the girls, and nothing changed when he went to the boys."
After basketball, Mr. Penny devoted his time to being a husband and father, and babysitting grandchildren, Lancaster said. Mr. Penny worked with CARITAS, a program that provides shelter for the homeless.
Mr. Penny's daughter, Tamela Penny Tyler, is in the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame as one of the greatest high jumpers and long jumpers (at Hermitage High) in Central Region history. She also starred at the University of Maryland. She and her husband, Darrell, have a son and daughter. Mr. Penny also is survived by his wife, Geraldine.
A memorial service will be held Friday at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church. A time has not been determined.
