LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Rives Fleming’s twenty-six years and 300 victories as the coach of the Girls Varsity Basketball program is the longest tenure and highest victory total of any boys or girls basketball coach in Collegiate history.

By Weldon Bradshaw

On Jan. 7, Collegiate’s Girls Varsity Basketball team defeated Frank W. Cox High of Virginia Beach 60-28. The victory enabled the Cougars to even their record at 4-4 against its typically challenging schedule. It also marked Rives Fleming’s 300th victory in the 26 years he has led the Cougars’ program.

“Coaches are teachers,” says Athletic Director Andrew Stanley. “Achieving success and longevity is always noteworthy, but when you watch Rives coach, it’s clear you’re watching an outstanding teacher in action.

“He provides an expert blend of technique and tactics and the social/emotional needs of kids. It’s not easy to sustain a high level of focus, attention to detail and passion decade after decade. Rives has done it well for a very long time.”

A 1983 Collegiate alumnus, Fleming taught and coached two years at Powhatan School following his graduation from the University of Virginia before returning to his alma mater in 1989 as a teacher, coach and advisor.

He first coached Cub boys basketball, then the JV boys (including a 17-0 season in 1995-

96). He served as a varsity boys assistant for one season before assuming the leadership of the girls program in 1997.

While at Collegiate, he served two years as a Cub basketball student assistant, an experience that, he says, played a significant role as he considered his career path. Even then, it was obvious to those who worked with him that he had the instincts, work ethic, patience and people skills to be successful.

“Teaching and coaching is a labor of love,” Fleming says. “I love the whole teacher/coach model. I enjoy the chance to compete and coach different types of kids in different sports and in different environments. That keeps you fresh. You take them where they are and try to make them better. That’s always been my goal. There’ve been a lot of great moments along the way that have made it worthwhile.”

Fleming’s first game as Head Varsity Coach was a 44-25 defeat on the road to St. Gertrude, the defending League of Independent Schools champion. Six days later, he got his first win (59-20 at Christchurch). Three days after that, the Cougars settled the score with St. Gertrude (54-45) in the Rebel Invitational Tournament.

In an emotional sport played by emotional people before emotional crowds, Fleming has always been the model of unflappability, poise and grace.

“That’s my personality,” he says. “It’s a strength when I get into an emotional situation and I’m able not to go down the emotional path. Sometimes it gives me the advantage that I’m able to look at the next step or take advantage of something I see because I’m thinking analytically and can make rational choices and not lose myself in the moment.”

Twenty-six years and 300 victories (against 241 losses) is the longest tenure and highest victory total of any boys or girls basketball coach in Collegiate history.

“I’m a plugger,” Fleming says. “I’ve been coaching long enough that I’ve been lucky to get to that number, but when you talk about 300 wins, it’s the [other] coaches who deserve most of the credit. I’ve always surrounded myself with people who know basketball and are good people. I’ve always thought of us as a group. I’m just lucky to have done something I enjoy so much and shared the experience with so many great kids and coaches along the way.”