By james art Former Winston-Salem State University head women’s basketball, track and field and cross country coach Stenson Conley died Tuesday, Oct. 15, in Winston-Salem.
Coach Conley graduated from Winston-Salem State University in 1977 with a BA in Political Science and was a member of the men’s basketball team playing for the legendary Big House Gaines. He received a master’s degree in sports administration in 1984 from the United States Sports Academy.
Coach Conley was one of the first alumni to coach at his alma mater, coaching the women’s basketball team from 1981 to 1994. He remained a faculty member at WSSU in the Department of Physical Education and Sports Management until his recent retirement.
Coach Conley was the all-time winningest coach in the women’s basketball program, finishing 12 seasons with 128 wins. He coached many Ram legends who still hold records in the WSSU history book, such as CE Gaines Hall of Famer Keenan Menefee-Long, all-time leading scorer Carolyn Huntley, and all-time leading rebounder times Sharon Holloway-Tanner.
Coach Conley was recently inducted into his high school, the McDowell Hall of Fame.