Sandra Langley of SouthWest Edgecombe High School is now the winningest women’s basketball coach ever in North Carolina High School Athletic Association circles, based on records which have been submitted to the NCHSAA.

         Langley, who is in her 40th year of coaching, led SouthWest to a 55-18 victory over North Edgecombe in the first round of the Edgecombe County Holiday Classic the week after Christmas. That gave Langley her 703rd career victory and puts her atop the all-time list.

         Her total surpassed Tom Pryor, who had a record of 702-244 in 43 years of coaching at several stops, including Edneyville, and is a member of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.

         Langley started coaching in 1975 at North Edgecombe, so her record-breaking victory came at the school where she started her career.

         She coached two years at North, moved to West Edgecombe for two years and then became the first coach ever (and still the only women’s basketball coach the school has ever had) at the new SouthWest Edgecombe High School, which opened when South and West consolidated. She has over 670 victories at SouthWest.

         Langley has guided her teams to the NCHSAA state championship game eight times and has won four state titles.   She also served a term on the NCHSAA Board of Directors from 1994 through ’98.

         Congratulations to Sandra Langley!

       (photo Rocky Mount Telegram)