LCA hires Transy assistant, Tates Creek alum as new boys basketball coach
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- Lexington Christian hires Mike Stone, longtime Transylvania assistant, as coach.
- Stone inherits roster led by sophomores Caleb Marshall and Dawson Farmer.
- Frederick Douglass coach Murray Garvin steps down to pursue ministry.
Lexington Christian has named longtime Transylvania University assistant coach Mike Stone as its new boys basketball coach.
A former Transy player out of Tates Creek High School, Stone spent the last seven seasons as an assistant for the Pioneers. He also spent six seasons as an assistant at Lexington Catholic from 2013 to 2019, including its run to the 11th Region championship in 2015.
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join Lexington Christian Academy,” Stone said in a press release announcing his hire. “This is a special community with a strong commitment to excellence in academics, athletics and faith. I look forward to building relationships with our student-athletes and helping them grow as competitors, teammates, and leaders. We’re going to establish a culture built on discipline, accountability and pride in wearing the LCA jersey.”
Stone succeeds Ted Hall, who led the Eagles to three All “A” Classic region titles and three straight 43rd District finals in his seven seasons, but finished 12-17 this past season. The Eagles suffered losses in nine of their last 10 games, capped by a 63-47 loss to Paul Laurence Dunbar in the first round of the district tournament after sweeping the Bulldogs in the regular season.
Hall, who had been an assistant coach under Nate Valentine during LCA’s best run of success in the late 2010s, had his best season in 2023 with a 23-10 mark. Overall, Hall went 104-108 at LCA.
Stone takes over a program that was led by sophomores Caleb Marshall (20.7 points per game) and Dawson Farmer (16). Freshman Chase Bentley also showed promise but suffered what turned out to be a season-ending injury in December.
At Transylvania, Stone served as lead assistant for one of Division III’s top programs, overseeing player development, recruiting and scouting. As a player at Transy, he was part of two NCAA Tournament teams and regular season conference champions. He continued his playing career with the Bowling Green Hornets of the CBA and the Suncoast Clippers in Australia’s Queensland Basketball League before turning to coaching.
“Mike Stone is a tremendous addition to Lexington Christian Academy,” LCA athletics director Kirby Willoughby said. “He brings not only a high level of basketball knowledge and experience, but also a passion for developing young men both on and off the court. His ability to connect with student-athletes and elevate their game makes him the right leader for our program as we build toward the future.”
LCA boys basketball’s success includes the 2018 All “A” Classic state championship for small schools under Valentine, which came amid a run of its only 43rd District titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Eagles nearly upset No. 2 Scott County in the 2018 11th Region championship as a potential go-ahead bucket missed as time ran out.
Murray Garvin steps down at Douglass
For the sixth time in its nine-year history, Frederick Douglass will have a new boys head basketball coach after Murray Garvin announced the end of his two-year run last week.
“I have had a calling on my life to go into ministry and I have been running for years. I have finally decided that it is time,” Garvin posted on Facebook in response to reports of his departure.
Garvin led the Broncos to a 42nd District title and runner-up finish in the 11th Region Tournament this season. Douglass lost in the 11th Region finals in each of his two campaigns. The Pikeville native and former college coach was 48-12 at Douglass. He went 24-34 in two seasons at Paul Laurence Dunbar before stepping away there in 2023.
Douglass had a run of five straight 42nd District championships and won the 2023 11th Region title despite a carousel of head coaches over those years.
Program founder Kurt Young stepped away after three seasons. His successor, Jason Moseley lasted two seasons before being abruptly dismissed without explanation at the start of the 2022-23 season.
In the wake of that setback former Model coach Wes Scarberry stepped in on an interim basis and earned coach of the year honors and the job after the Broncos run to the 11th Region crown and Boys’ Sweet 16 semifinals.
But Scarberry stepped away from the role for personal reasons just before the start of the next season and was replaced on an interim basis by Stephon Harris. Garvin succeeded Harris.
This story was originally published March 31, 2026 at 7:57 AM.
