Stroud coaching beyond the scoreboard

Stroud coaching beyond the scoreboard

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

Lawrenceville, GA — Long before the milestone, before the handshakes and the box scores, Antoine Stroud understood what standing on the sideline truly meant.

For Archer High School’s boys basketball coach, the job was never just about drawing up plays or cutting down nets. It was — and still is — about shaping lives.

This season, that purpose met a personal achievement: Stroud earned his 100th career win as a head coach in December, a number that reflects longevity and consistency, but hardly tells the full story.

“It’s all about the players,” Stroud said. “They are the reason I am successful.”

In six seasons as a head coach, Stroud has embraced every part of the role, from late-night film sessions to hard conversations that extend beyond basketball. The milestone came quicker than he expected — a surprise in a profession where every victory is earned.

“I didn’t think I would get it this quick,” he said. “Winning is hard, so this is pretty cool.”

This year hasn’t offered an easy path to the win column. Archer has battled through a challenging schedule, sitting at 7-14 overall and 2-6 in region play, with a home test looming against Grayson on Friday at 7:30 pm. But Stroud’s message in the locker room never wavers with the standings.

“They go out every single night and perform at a high level, win or lose,” he said. “I didn’t win 100 games off luck. We’ve worked for this. They’re the ones who go out and get it done.”

At 37, Stroud still sees himself in his players. A Decatur native, he played for his father, Anthony Stroud, at Southwest DeKalb — learning the game from a coach who piled up 315 career victories. Though he never played college basketball, the whistle came early, and the calling stuck.

Coaching, for Stroud, is less of a career choice and more of a birthright.

His grandfather, Cleveland Stroud, won a state championship at Rockdale County in 1987 and finished with 393 career wins. His godfather, Phil McCracy, is one of Georgia’s coaching legends with more than 750 victories at Columbia High. Along the way, Stroud sharpened his craft under respected names like Kim Rivers at Shiloh and Cabral Huff at Duluth.

“This is like a family business at this point,” Stroud said. “I love it regardless of wins and losses. Every day is different, and every day you get a chance to impact kids — whether they play at the next level or not.”

That perspective is what he hopes young coaches carry forward. The wins will come and go. The banners may fade. But the influence lasts.

“You get to impact the future leaders of America,” Stroud said, “while winning some games and being around the most beautiful game in the world — basketball.”