Lonnie Blow, Jr., begins his second season as an assistant coach with the Monarchs. Prior to coming to ODU, Blow had a stellar season at St. Augustine's where he was named 2010 NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year by the Heritage Sports Network and 2010 CIAA Coach of the Year.
"We are quite pleased at the pattern of attracting, good and talented people we bring to our program to continue its growth and future ambitions," said Blaine Taylor. " Lonnie brings experience, dedication and local knowledge to our setting which will enhance our program. He has a variety of experiences; a high school championship, multiple Division I experiences and a very serious run to the CIAA Championship. A particular interest to me is they were picked the No. 1 academic team which speaks to a well rounded approach, and fits well in our setting."
St. Augustine's compiled a 27-5 record and returned to the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time in 13 years. Blow compiled a 46-15 record in two seasons at the Raleigh, NC. school. The Falcons closed the season with the program's best winning percentage since the NCAA began compiling the school's statistics in 1975. The CIAA Champions ranked third in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region and 23rd nationally in the NABC coaches poll.
Statistically, Blow's St. Augustine's squad ranked third in the nation in rebounding (42.8) and number one in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.358).
Honors such as these are not rare to Blow who prior to coaching college was the head boys basketball Coach at Granby High School from 1995-2005, and the men's assistant coach at Maury High School from 1984-1995. At Granby, he coached the boy's team to the Virginia AAA State title and was named AAA State Coach of the Year in 2000. In 2001, Blow led Granby to the Virginia AAA State semifinals.
He was Named Eastern District Coach of the Year in 2001, 03 and 04, while earning Eastern Regional Coach of The Year honors in 2000 and 2001.
Blow served as an assistant coach at Norfolk State University from 2006-08 and at Hampton University from 2005-06 where he coached four All-MEAC players and a MEAC Tournament MVP. Hampton won the 2006 MEAC title.
Before entering the coaching profession, Blow was an outstanding college basketball player from 1979-82 at Virginia Wesleyan College. Blow was named Dixie Conference Player of the Year during the 1980-81 season. He was also a two-time All-American and All-South Atlantic Region selection, and a three-time All-Dixie Conference player, including two selections to the first team.
Blow is Virginia Wesleyan's third all-time career scorer with 1,574 points. He shares the Virginia Wesleyan single game scoring record of 40 points against St. Andrews in 1981. He still holds the single season record for points with 625 in 1980-81. That same year, he made 281 field goals which is also VWC single season mark. Blow was inducted into the Virginia Wesleyan Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Lonnie was a First Team All-Tidewater selection at Frederick Military Academy and led the area in scoring during the 1977-78 season with a 31.1 points per game average. Lonnie also served as Coordinator for the Summer Youth Programs at ODU from 1992 to 2001.
In 1996, Lonnie saved a small child from a burning hours. That same year, he was honored by carrying the Olympic Torch and received the Andrew Carnegie Award that same year.
Blow received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Wesleyan College 1982 with a degree in sociology and criminal justice. Blow is married to Donna Maxine and has an adult son, Kenneth.