Paine coach Ron Spry is closing in on a major milestone thanks to a no-nonsense coaching style he's enforced for almost three decades.

Not afraid to let his players know what he thinks, Spry said his authoritarian approach stems from childhood.

"I was never afraid of the policeman. I was afraid of my mother," he said. "I didn't know E.F. Hutton. I knew Florine.

"She whupped everybody in the neighborhood. She didn't tolerate misbehavior."

Ronnie O'Neil Spry goes for career win No. 500 at 3 p.m. today when Paine plays at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn. But Spry won't be on hand.

That task will be left to longtime assistant Willie Adams, as well as assistant coaches Carlos McNair and Hoover Johnson.

Spry plans to attend his uncle's funeral today. He said Friday he might miss both of Paine's upcoming road games (at Lane and Kentucky State on Monday).

"I most definitely will be at the funeral," Spry said Friday. "I'm going to play this weekend by ear.

"I'm sure coach Adams will do an excellent job."

Though Spry will be absent for his moment of glory should the Lions win, the victory will still go toward his total. But his focus is not on picking up No. 500.

"What we need is to win a conference game," Spry said Monday night after improving his overall mark to 499-351 in 31 seasons. "We need to win two games on the road, especially since we're 0-1 in the conference."

Paine is off to a 1-2 start this season, a rare sub-.500 stretch for Spry. In his 28 previous seasons, he's led the Lions to 20 winning campaigns. In 29 seasons at Paine, he's accumulated a 455-334 record.

He's also led Paine to three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament titles and three NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. The Lions' most impressive run came in 1994, when they defeated No. 4Alabama A&M for the SIAC Tournament championship.

Paine proceeded to defeat Lander on the road in an NCAA Tournament play-in game. In the round of 32, the Lions faced Alabama A&M again in an epic battle. Paine lost a double-overtime thriller, falling just short of the Sweet Sixteen.

Leading an under-funded basketball program that deep into a highly-competitive Division II Tournament is a credit to Spry's coaching ability. The Princeton, Ky., native found success early on, winning 44 of 61 games in two seasons at St. Catherine's Junior College in Springfield, Ky.

Paul Taylor, a Georgia native who grew up in Kentucky and now lives in Aiken, is working on a book about Spry. A former history professor at then-Augusta College, Taylor is a dedicated supporter of Paine basketball.

"The more I get into it, the more interested I find him to be," Taylor said. "He's a great guy. He loves his players."

Spry became the first African-American to coach at a predominantly white college in Kentucky when he took the reins at St Catherine's. Taylor noted Spry's achievement.

"The guy's a legend up there," he said.

Former players like T.J. Conley, who played on Spry's first Paine team, said his old coach is a hero in Augusta as well.

"We get our chance," Conley said, "to have our own version of a legend walking around here."

The same notion holds true for current players.

"The Paine athletic program is coach Spry," guard Najee Tolbert said. "(Winning No. 500) is something I look forward to."

When Spry arrived at Paine in 1980, he meant business. One time, Conley said, a player spit on the floor at Carter Gym. Spry kicked him out.

"From Day One, I was sold hook, line and sinker," Conley said.

"He brought that strict sense of discipline. It was his way or the highway. ... We always knew he was in charge."

Spry's strict on-court demeanor still rings true today.

"He's a very disciplined coach," guard Marcus McDaniel said. "Even though his ways may come across harsh at times to some, he really does care deep down about his players."

Adams, who played for the Lions from 1992-94, gets to see Spry up close on a daily basis and has become acquainted with the gentle side as well as the tough side. The Brunswick, Ga., native joined Spry's staff as soon as his playing days ended. He's been by his side ever since.

"I think he's been dedicated to his mission," Adams said. "A lot of times, he gets kids people don't want and he makes something out of them.

"It's always been more than basketball. He gets you ready for the game of life."

Spry's compassion runs deep off the court. Every year, he and his wife, Audrey, hold a Thanksgiving feast for players and students - sometimes as many as 60 - who remain in Augusta.

Conley also noted that at Spry's annual camp, every year there are children who cannot afford it. Spry always lets them attend.

"That's not going to happen at Wake Forest or Duke," Conley said.

Spry fostered a love of the Augusta community, but he almost left for other coaching gigs. In 1993, he took the Winston-Salem State job only to renege seven weeks later. He also strongly considered an offer to lead Alabama State.

"I didn't think I'd be here as long as I have been when I first came," Spry said.

"The reason I've stayed at Paine College as long as I have is the many people in the community and college who have impacted my life."

Now the people who assist Spry will try to lead his players to a victory to help him achieve a landmark win.

"The credit goes to a lot of people," Spry said. "I've just been blessed to be in a position to win 500 games."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.