Hayes: 'Stephen Joyner Jr. perfect fit' as Lady Rams coach

After an extensive search through more than 60 candidates, the Lady Rams head basketball coach vacancy has been filled.  Stephen Joyner Jr., a 2001 graduate in business administration and former point guard for Johnson C. Smith, replaced Dee Stokes.

Stokes was the head coach from 2006 until February 2010 and finished with a 19-90 record during her tenure.  With seven games remaining in the season, Walter Mebane was named as the interim coach.

Joyner, 30, takes over at the position as Winston-Salem State re-enters Division II and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. He was selected by a committee including WSSU's athletic director, Bill Hayes and the announcement was made April 20.  

"Stephen Jr. is a perfect fit for our philosophy and desire to bring energy and excitement to our program," Hayes said upon the announcement of Joyner's arrival.

"He is a young, energetic coach who will bring a contagious enthusiasm to our women's program that will help to ensure future success."

Before returning to WSSU in January, Hayes served as athletic director at Florida A&M.  Hayes previously established a working relationship with Joyner while he was an assistant coach for the Lady Rattlers.  

Joyner was a standout point guard for the Golden Bulls for four years, finishing with 399 assists during his last three seasons.  Under the direction of his father Stephen Joyner Sr., a hall of fame coach for JCSU, Joyner also led the Golden Bulls to a CIAA tournament title and advanced to the "Elite Eight" in NCAA Division II his senior season.  

His father is a native of Winston-Salem and his mother, Narell is a WSSU graduate.

"Winston-Salem State is a great University that I have grown up knowing about my entire life," Joyner said.  

"It has a basketball legacy like no other.  I'm very excited.  The opportunity for me to come there and to be a head coach was one that I felt was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I had to take advantage of."

Along with the guidance of his father, Joyner was also surrounded by the coaching knowledge of his cousin and uncle who also coached on the college level at Livingstone College and Hampton University respectively.  

"I was able to grow up and watch them coach throughout my entire life," Joyner said. 

"It gives me a good foundation of what it is to be a coach, what it takes to be a coach and most importantly to be a successful coach.   I have a bunch of shoulders to lean on and a wealth of knowledge to turn to."

Upon his completion of  playing basketball at JCSU, Joyner went on to assist his uncle Ed Joyner Sr. at Livingstone from 2001-02.  

He coached the women's basketball team at NC Central the next four years.  

Joyner Jr. then returned to JCSU as an assistant coach for men's basketball, eventually helping the team to a CIAA title in 2008.  He also had brief tenures at UNC-Asheville and FAMU, before coming back to his hometown to coach women's basketball at WSSU.

"We're going to be a very aggressive, disciplined and determined team," Joyner  said.

"We plan on bringing back some winning ways to the CIAA, and we are looking for some ladies to compete.  And as soon as they step on the floor, they will be the hardest working team in Division II."   

The Lady Rams completed their last season in Division I with a 2-28 record, including the longest losing streak in school history with 26 losses.  The team did place in the higher academic rankings of athletic programs at WSSU with GPAs of 2.8 to 3.0.

"My main focus is to build a program where we are competing both athletically and academically at the highest level in the CIAA," Joyner said.  

"If they don't go to class, they won't touch the floor with me."    

Joyner is considered to be one of the brightest coaches by his peers, possessing basketball wisdom beyond his years both as a player and coach. 

"We're looking to get the community as well as all aspects of the University involved with athletics," Joyner said.

 "Whatever we can do to help the University we will do and we look for the same in return from the University."