Stacy Lail

coached at his alma mater, RS Central. During high school, Lail was all conference in three sports: football, basketball and baseball. After graduating, he attended Isothermal Community College, where he played on the basketball team and graduated in 1971 with and Associates of Arts Degree from which he was selected to participate in the Junior College All Star Game in Ferrum, Virginia. Upon completion of his Associates, Lail went to Appalachian State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Physical Education. Through a series of events, Lail landed the position of the head men's varsity basketball coach for 11 years. He was also head baseball coach for two years and the cross-country coach for ten years. In basketball, they were conference champions for eight years. He was named Coach of the year for seven years and won two state championships and runner-up for one.

Under his direction, two men's basketball teams made their way to NCHSAA AAA State Championships (1980 and 1986). In 1980, he led his team in an undefeated season, 32-0. When he retired from coaching in 1988, he held a remarkable record of 253 wins to 54 loses. At the time of his retirement, he was ranked 1st amongst all active coaches and 3rd in all time North Carolina Coaches. In 1980, he was named Spartanburg Herald's Coach of the Year. Also, during his coaching career from 1978-1988, Lail brought the cross-country program to RS Central. His efforts proved effective as they brought home conference championships in 1980 and the years 1982 through 1988.

Lail ranked 29th on coach's roster in June 1980 edition of "Basketball Weekly", In 1988, Lail was selected to coach the NC High School East/West All Star game. He received the 1990 Outstanding Alumnus Award at Isothermal Community College, On January 15, 2010, RS Central High School named their gymnasium the Stacy L. Lail, Jr. Gymnasium. Lastly, a documentary film, simply named 32-0, was created and featured at the 2016 Tryon International Film festival which encapsulated Lail's achievement with his 1980 basketball team which achieved a winning season of 32-0. Coach Lail was inducted in Rutherford County Schools Education Hall of Fame in 2015. He also was nominated to both NCHSAA & NC Sports Hall of Fame the same year.