The Family Business
Not only is there more to life than basketball, there's a lot more to basketball than basketball.” —former Chicago Bulls headcoach, Phil Jackson
Nobody knows the truth in this statement better than Steven and Bradley Lambeth. They are a father and grown son from the small northeast Texas town of McLeod (pronounced McCloud for those readers who have blinked while driving through). The Lambeths love basketball and have made it their mission and passion to coach high school students. Football, baseball, or a number of other sports can be mentioned in their presence with minimal input from the Lambeths, but mention basketball and all of its game strategies, fundamentals, and memories that it holds for these two, and you have yourself a story. It is a true tale about a father and son who have an everlasting love for the game and all the unexpected opportunities and blessings they have experienced over the years because of it.
Steven Lambeth was born a McLeod Longhorn. He attended the small school that borders the Texas/Louisiana state line from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Steven says that his grandmother was the first to expose him to sports. She would buy Steven sports equipment and take him to basketball games long before he was old enough to participate. Under his grandmother's watch, he learned the basics of the game and formed a competitive spirit at a very young age. In the third grade, Steven began playing peewee basketball in McLeod's gym. That turned into middle school basketball and then high school basketball. He sat under the coaching of men like Tommy Brown and Kirby McCord, who he still holds in very high regard. Because of them, Steven remembers thinking that he, too, wanted to coach basketball one day and share his love of the game. He also longed to influence the lives of future players beyond what he could teach them on the court.
After graduating from McLeod High School in 1996, Steven followed the college path that would lead him to a coaching career. 1997 brought marriage and a newborn son. It was a lot of responsibility but one that he accepted as he continued toward his goal of coaching. In 2001, Steven returned to his alma mater to coach basketball after college graduation. It was the perfect fit since he bleeds maroon and gold, so much so that he has remained coaching at McLeod High School for 22 years, with 19 years as head basketball coach. He is proud that as head coach, his varsity boys' basketball teams have made it to the playoffs 13 times in those 19 years. Since 2010, Steven Lambeth has served as Athletic Director for McLeod ISD, still holding the head basketball coach position. He quickly tells you he absolutely loves his job and can not see himself doing anything else. He coaches varsity basketball with enough enthusiasm for everybody in the stands. He loves his players and never tires of the game of basketball.
In Steven's 22-year coaching career, his son had a courtside seat. Bradley Lambeth, Steven's son, says he grew up sitting on his dad's bench and wouldn't trade those memories for anything. When Bradley was old enough to play high school basketball, he had the unusual experience of playing for his dad. The day-to-day father/teenage son dynamic can often be a tightrope walk. Throw a little varsity basketball coached by your dad on top of the tightrope walk, and that dynamic is literally a whole new ballgame.
Laughing about it now, Bradley said, "When I played for Dad, he used to really get under my skin."
"That's because you thought you knew a lot," Steven chuckled, responding to his now-grown son. "I felt like I had to prove Bradley's place on my team, which he took care of himself. He was a good ball player," Steven proudly adds.
Bradley said that now as an adult, he realizes that his coach/dad was only trying to make him better and to respect the game. "I love the game as much as my dad does. I grew up in a house where I got to talk to my dad all the time about what we both loved... basketball. What could be better than that?"
Bradley attended the University of Central Arkansas and graduated in May 2020. With a bird's eye view of his dad's coaching career, Bradley knew, without a doubt, that he wanted to be a part of the game of basketball as long as he could. So after graduation, the younger Lambeth followed in his dad's footsteps and became a coach. Steven told Bradley that a coaching career in the same school district is rare. Most coaches enter the profession knowing there will be several moves from school to school. Steven encouraged his son to do his best and build on all the experiences coaching was sure to teach him. Bradley heeded his father's advice and has coached everything from football to track to basketball in three different school districts. This year, however, coaching brought Bradley to Hart's Bluff ISD, a relatively new, small school district on the outskirts of Mt. Pleasant, TX. He was offered and gladly accepted the head coach position for boys' varsity basketball. He is coaching the sport he grew up watching, playing, and loving. Adding to the excitement of his new coaching position, Harts Bluff is only about an hour from his hometown of McLeod. It is a dream come true!
It is funny how life works sometimes, and Bradley Lambeth quickly learned that after accepting his new coaching position for the Harts Bluff Bulldog basketball team. The 2022-2023 schedule had already been prepared and confirmed by the previous coach. Much to his surprise, Bradley Lambeth's first game of the season was scheduled for November 11, 2022, in McLeod, TX, against the Longhorns...and his dad. So, the prep work for the showdown immediately began on both the Longhorn and Bulldog basketball teams. A healthy dose of smack talk also began between Coach Lambeth and Coach Lambeth.
Bradley called his dad one night and said, "The only thing that would make my win better would be to coach from my old high school bench, so I could beat you on your own side."
Steven just laughed and took it all in stride. The game was touted as Lambeth vs. Lambeth and Dad vs. Brad. The hype was intense! Leading up to the November game, Bradley's wife was on edge because she loves her father-in-law, but she is married to his son. Steven's wife/Bradley's mother was a nervous wreck because she had loved and supported the elder Lambeth all these years, but how could she not cheer for her baby? One McLeod school board member captioned a social media post saying, "The young bull versus the old bull- who will win?" Another person from the community immediately fired back, quoting John Wayne. "I've seen 'em fight all day, from dawn to dark. Sometimes the young one wins, and sometimes the old. Young one's got more muscle. Old one's got more experience." It was sure to be a game for the ages.
November 11 rolled around, and the Lambeth vs. Lambeth game commenced. Spectators could feel the electricity in the air. The bleachers were packed shoulder to shoulder. A Hart's Bluff fan commented, "Where did all these McLeod people come from? There are more people in this gym than what the population sign says lives in this town." How often do you see a father and son coach against each other? It was fantastic! Bradley's wife bit her fingernails the entire game, while Steven's wife/Bradley's mother stood in the corner of the gym for the duration of the game with her hands covering her eyes. It was entertaining to see the Lambeth son being just as animated as his father while coaching his team. The elder Lambeth paced back and forth in front of his bench for four quarters, as did his son on the opposing team. It was amusing to see both coaches exhibit the same body language and use a lot of the same hand gestures. It was as good as basketball gets! The spirit of competitiveness and the love of basketball was on full display that November night.
In the end, Steven Lambeth's McLeod Longhorns beat Hart's Bluff 56-46. After the game, there was a hug and an "I love you, good job" between Lambeth and Lambeth. Lasting memories were made. There were also two Lambeth wives, admittedly glad it was all over.
It was all over until Steven and Bradley Lambeth decided to do it one more time. Just for fun, they took the Longhorn and Bulldog basketball teams to the American Airlines Center last month, where they played another game against each other on the Dallas Mavericks' basketball court. Townspeople traveled to the big city to watch Dad and Brad do it all over again. The coaches and their teams did not disappoint the second time around. The score was closer this time, but Dad defeated son again 53-52. The teams were treated to a Mavericks game after the second father/son match-up.
"When I coach against Bradley, I have to treat it like any other game because, both times, the scores have been so close," Steven said.
Discussions are currently underway between the Lambeth coaches. They say they would love another match-up next year, maybe at Hart's Bluff this time. One thing is for sure, though. Steven and Bradley Lambeth deeply value their relationship as father and son. Now, they can add even more depth to that relationship by sharing a passion for teaching the game of basketball. Both are extremely thankful for the opportunity it affords them to establish deep and lasting bonds with the high school students they coach.
On the other hand, the trash talk only adds to the competition between the two. "I'm going to get him next year," Bradley boasted.
"Stop right there, son. As it stands, you're 0 and 2," Steven said with a grin.
So far, the old bull and his experience have prevailed, but the young bull and his muscle have watched and learned from the best. Even John Wayne would buy a ticket to watch these two go at it on the hardwood.
