Ernest Tolbert's impact at Paine College could be immediately seen, Roscoe Williams said.
Tolbert, who died Saturday at 81, replaced Williams as the first full-time Lions basketball coach in 1968. He led Paine for a decade, a successful span.
"He began to bring in larger numbers of more quality basketball players," Williams said. "Tolbert got some kids who really could play. They were excellent students, too."
Tolbert led Paine in its first basketball game against then-Augusta College in the first round of the Augusta College Christmas Invitational Tournament, Dec. 20, 1969. The Jaguars, who went 27-3 that season and advanced to the second round of the NAIA Tournament, defeated Paine in that first matchup, 71-68.
"He had some outstanding teams," then-Jaguars coach Marvin Vanover said. "The games were just dogfights."
Vanover said Tolbert was a good coach, a good competitor. His best quality might have been his willingness to help start the Paine-Augusta rivalry.
"It was a natural thing to happen. It needed to happen," Vanover said. "I think it helped with relationships in the community."
Tolbert stepped down in 1979. He remained busy in athletics, though, continuing work as a local referee. In 2005, Tolbert received the Atlanta Tip-Off Club's lifetime achievement award.
He worked 46 years as an official. Charlie Bloodworth, of the Atlanta Tip-Off Club, said at the time that Tolbert was a well-deserved honoree. He was one of just 21 officials to receive the club's highest honor.
"We should've done some of this earlier with some that we've missed," he said. "Ernest is one of those."
As for his time at Paine, Tolbert made a great impact. In 1977, he led the Lions to the District 25 championship and their first postseason appearance in the NAIA Tournament.
"He was well-liked by a lot of people," Williams said. "He really was a nice person. It was unfortunate he passed.
"He had such a positive impact on so many young people."
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.
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Paine's current coach should learn from Mr. Tolbert. I saw a game in which Ron Spry acted like a spoiled brat on the bench. He would yell and perform all sort of antics if one of his players did not execute. It appeared that he wanted only one player to shoot the ball. He had no idea what to do with his center who was open all the time. why pull a player off the court if you do not have someone (an assistant???) "COACH" him? There is no value in pulling a player and have him sit for a minute then put him back into the game.