By Marcus Fitzsimmons

The Daily Times

LAGRANGE, Ga. — Maryville (Tenn.) men's coach Randy Lambert was soaking wet by the time he made it to his postgame news conference Saturday at the Great South Athletic Conference tournament.

"Big Bobby (Golden) was hiding in the shower when I came in to address the team," Lambert said of what happened after his Scots (21-6, 21-3 south region) won their fifth GSAC tourney in seven years to give Lambert his 500th win at his alma mater. "I didn't realize he was back there and he dumped the whole cooler on me while my back was turned.

"I thought they only did that in football."

Lambert joined the elite 500-win club as his 27th version of the Fighting Scots captured their sixth conference championship under his tutelage with a 80-58 defeat of second-seeded GSAC tourney host LaGrange.

The MC alumnus has run his coaching record to 500-221 since taking over the Scots in 1980. His 500 wins ranks him 11th among active Division III coaches and he has a .693 winning percentage.

But for the former MC post player, it's the friends who have taken note of the accomplishment he has clearly made secondary to the team goal of a GSAC title.

"Everybody has been very nice to me and said good things about our program in what we've been able to accomplish," Lambert said. "I've had so many phone calls from my ex-assistants. Chris Bunch (Webster) called me Friday and he's playing for his conference championship this weekend and he still took the time out to give me a call.

"Matt O'Conner, who is at the University of the Ozarks, called me. I've heard from a lot of people."

Former Scot coaches Dee Bell (Lenoir-Rhyne) and Spencer Beaty (Gatlinburg-Pittman High School) stopped by in the days before the trip to LaGrange as well, but Lambert has kept focus on the Scots goal to earn a ninth consecutive NCAA tournament bid.

"It's good to just get it out of the way and focus on the national tournament," Lambert said in anticipation of the Scots getting the chance to extend their NCAA Tournament record on eight-consecutive first-round wins.

"It's been an accomplishment of the program," Lambert said. "It just means a lot to do this in my hometown where my friends and family can be a part of it."

AM 1470 radio announcer Jimmy Campbell worked the radio of his former player's 500th victory Saturday at Marriotti Gymnasium. Campbell coached Lambert at Maryville High and was on the selection committee at MC that hired the young coach.

"We hired him and he took a $7,000 pay cut to take the job in leaving a public school job," Campbell said. "He was a good player for me (at Maryville High) but he was outstanding at Maryville College, set all kinds of scoring records, which he never did for me at the high school."

Campbell is one of the many people the Scots skipper credits with the tenure that is approaching legacy.

"I appreciate him along with so many others, the players and assistants I've had with me along with me along the way," Lambert said. "It's a milestone for this program and I hope after I'm gone someday comes along and breaks it."