Lou Hearn didn’t seek the spotlight at Virginia Union University. But when it found him, he performed splendidly. Thrust abruptly into the role of coach of the Virginia Union women’s basketball program upon the death of popular Panthers coach Tom Harris during the 1982 CIAA tournament, Mr. Hearn steered Virginia Union not only to the 1982 CIAA crown, but also to the 1983 NCAA Division II national championship. Mr. Hearn died Monday. He was 73. “You can’t speak of Virginia Union without thinking of Coach Hearn, and you can’t speak of Coach Hearn without thinking of Virginia Union. To me, they’re synonymous,” said Barvenia Wooten-Cherry, VUU’s current women’s coach and a member of the 1983 team. “I hold him in the highest regard — not just for his commitment to us, but for his commitment to the university.” Wooten-Cherry said Mr. Hearn and his wife, Andrea, created a warm and caring environment for VUU’s players. “Their house was right around the corner from campus,” Wooten-Cherry said. “Anytime we needed something outside of basketball, that’s where we went. We were a family, and they were our father and mother.” Under Mr. Hearn’s guidance, a strong Virginia Union team became all but unstoppable in the 1982-83 season. The Panthers posted a 27-2 record and defeated previously unbeaten Cal Poly-Pomona 73-60 in the national championship game. In his moment of ultimate triumph, Mr. Hearn deflected virtually all credit toward Harris, his predecessor. He did the same in a 2000 interview with The Times-Dispatch. Said Mr. Hearn: “What is it they’re always talking about at Notre Dame? Winning one for the Gipper? Well, we won one for Coach Harris. We respected and admired him so much. I think that’s why those girls seemed to go above and beyond the call of duty so often: because they were doing it not only for themselves, but also for someone they thought the world of.” Mr. Hearn, who served as an assistant coach at Virginia Union prior to Harris’ death, had a 96-61 record while leading VUU’s women from 1982-1988. “He had big shoes to fill,” Wooten-Cherry said. “I’d say he filled them very well.” Mr. Hearn filled a number of other roles during his VUU career. Among them were sports information director, director of the school’s Upward Bound program and scoreboard operator for home football games at Hovey Field. Survivors include his wife; a son, Eric; two brothers, Robert and George; and two granddaughters. Mr. Hearn was preceded in death by a son, Louis. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Garland Avenue Baptist Church, 2700 Garland Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Virginia Union women’s basketball program (1500 Lombardy Street, Richmond, Va., 23220). vdorr@timesdispatch (804) 649-6442 @RTDVicDorr
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 20:10:05 +0000
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