‘Lafayette means a lot to me.’ There was only one head coaching job for Vince Sanford.
Like a lot of fathers, Vince Sanford got into coaching to help his son develop into the best player he could be.
After Vee Sanford went on to an outstanding basketball career in high school, college and now professionally overseas, there were times over the last 21 years as an assistant coach that Vince Sanford thought about stepping away from the game.
The first time, his son, Vee, stopped him.
“Vee said, ‘It’s not time, yet Dad. You’ve still got some kids out there to help,’” Vince Sanford said.
The next time, his alma mater, Lafayette stopped him.
“I said this years ago, the only way I would apply for a head coaching job would be if the Lafayette job ever opened,” Vince Sanford said.
Lafayette parted ways with 11-year head coach Mike Mendenhall this spring.
And last week, Vince Sanford, who in the early 1980s was one of the most heralded high school players in Lafayette’s illustrious history, accepted its boys’ basketball head coaching position.
“Lafayette means a lot to me, man,” said Sanford, who grew up watching older kids from his Charlotte Court neighborhood wear the red, white and blue during an era when Lafayette ascended to the Boys’ Sweet 16 title in 1979. Later as a player for Lafayette, Sanford would be one of the state’s top recruits and committed to Kentucky in 1983 before a change of heart led him to South Florida.
“As a kid I always wanted to be a Lafayette General,” Sanford said. “My wife went to Lafayette, my brother went to Lafayette, Vee went there the first few years, but I never imagined I’d be the head man as my first head coaching job. … I’m still waiting for somebody to tell me to wake up.”
By enrollment, Lafayette ranks as the largest school in the state. By boys’ basketball tradition, it looms as one of the greatest, as well, with six KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16 championships, tied with Henry Clay for most all-time.
Though he’s been an assistant coach at Bourbon County, Lexington Catholic and most recently Lexington Christian in addition to Lafayette over the years, Lafayette has been his work home for two decades as the school’s S.A.F.E. instructor.
“This has happened for a reason. It’s bigger than basketball,” Sanford said. “My stage is bigger, where I can help other kids and help other people. That’s the way I look at it. And not only that, to help the program get back where it needs to be.”
Lafayette’s last state title came in 2001. The last of its 12 region titles came in 2004.
“One thing I’ve learned, when you have a challenge come in front of you, don’t be afraid to take the challenge,” Sanford said.
Though the Generals suffered three straight losing seasons under Mendenhall, including a 4-24 record this past year, they’ve also had success. Mendenhall’s record over 11 seasons was 165-160. Six of the 11 seasons ended with winning records and he twice led the Generals to 21-win seasons with perhaps the best of those coming in 2015 when they lost the 43rd District title game, 50-49 in three overtimes, to eventual 11th Region champion Lexington Catholic.
As a former assistant at both Lexington Catholic and Lexington Christian, Sanford knows the 43rd District well. He was with LexCath for its back-to-back region titles in 2008 and 2009. He was with LCA when it won the All “A” Classic in 2018 and its three straight district titles from 2017 to 2019.
“My thing with these kids, I want them to understand our chance is just as good as anyone else’s,” Sanford said. “We’re starting out from here on. We work hard. We do what we’re supposed to do for two hours. That’s all I ask. You bust your rear and let’s see what happens.”
When Vee Sanford transferred from Lafayette to Lexington Catholic after his sophomore year in 2007, Vince Sanford came with him as an assistant coach there.
“He did such a great job, especially helping develop our big guys and was instrumental in two regional titles here,” LexCath Coach Brandon Salsman said of the elder Sanford. “Having him across the street here in our rivalry is going to be both exciting and tough. I wish Vince the best and I hope things work out in every game except the ones against Lexington Catholic.”
Vince still plans to catch his son’s games over in the Italian Serie A league, maybe more via streaming than in person. And he still plans to offer advice, although now, Vee Sanford might have some tips for the ol’ coach, too.
“Before the games come, I’ll make sure to take care of everything so he won’t have nothing to text me about,” Sanford said with a laugh. “But most definitely, he’s already sent me a couple of plays and been telling me what all he can help me with.”
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This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 10:31 AM.
