Christopher Newport University is mourning the death of C.J. Woollum, longtime leader of the CNU Athletic Department. C.J. won more than 500 games over 26 seasons as the Captains men’s basketball coach, and transformed the Department of Athletics as its Director for more than 25 years. He was 64 years old.
Woollum, a native of Alexandria, Virginia, guided the men’s basketball program from 1984 through 2010. He concluded his spectacular coaching career with 502 wins and just 221 losses and led the Captains to 17 NCAA Tournaments.
A graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan, Woollum began his coaching career as an assistant with the Captains. He left CNU to become an assistant coach at Division I Marshall University in West Virginia, where he earned a master’s degree and served for nine seasons. He then returned to CNU as head coach in 1984.
Woollum led CNU to the NCAA tournament 17 times in all, reaching the Elite 8 in 2000-01 and the Sweet 16 on four other occasions. In conference play, the Captains won 13 titles which led to automatic NCAA bids and finished either first or second 17 times in the last 19 regular seasons.
During his coaching career, Woollum guided some of the finest players in Division III history, including Lamont Strothers, a three-time All-American. Strothers was one of the few Division III players ever selected in the NBA draft, going in the second round in 1991. All told, Woollum coached nine All-Americans and 11 players who went on to play professionally in every corner of the globe.
Woollum added the position of Athletic Director to his resume in 1987 and oversaw the growth of one of the top Division III athletic programs in the nation. CNU has won the USA South President’s Cup, for the top overall department performance, for the last 15 years as well as the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Award for the best overall won-lost record among Virginia Division II and III schools seven of the last 12 years. CNU athletes have been named All-American more than 500 times.
In addition, Woollum directed the construction of some of the finest facilities in Division III, and in many cases, other divisions as well. POMOCO Stadium, Christopher Newport’s football facility, and the Freeman Center, home of basketball, volleyball and track & field, are the show pieces. However, outstanding new facilities have also been built for baseball, softball, field hockey, tennis and lacrosse, and all since 2000.
In his earlier years, Woollum even served as CNU golf coach, directing his teams to six NCAA tournaments in 13 years and having at least one individual make the field in 12 of the 13 years. He had four players earn All-American honors. One of those, Scott Scovil, won the individual national title and another, Scott Causby, captured the most prestigious regular season tournament in Division III, the Gordin Collegiate Classic.
Woollum was inducted into the Christopher Newport Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007, the USA South Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2012, and in October of last year was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame.
His tireless efforts had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of student-athletes, coaches and colleagues. Woollum led Christopher Newport Athletics to heights never before seen, and he will be remembered forever for his determination, loyalty, and amazing success. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
