C.J. Woollum steps down after a 15-13 season that includes his 500th win and an NCAA Tournament bid. CNU athletics file photo

After 26 years and 502 victories, including a trip to the Elite Eight, Christopher Newport men's basketball coach C.J. Woollum is stepping down from his coaching position and will focus on his dual role as the school's athletic director, it was announced Wednesday morning. 

"It's been an unbelievable run," says Woollum. "When you first take a job you never think of things like years, wins or championships. But then, at the end, you look back and feel good."

Woollum steps down after a season in which his team got him his 500th coaching victory, and then went on to claim a 13th conference title and 17th NCAA bid. He's the third men's basketball 500-game winner to step down in the past month, following Rochester's Mike Neer and Hope's Glenn Van Wieren.

Woollum finishes with a career record of 502-221, after going 111-76 (.594) the past seven years. Captains teams from 1997-01 posted a combined record of 98-14 and won four consecutive conference championships. His teams had finished either first or second in the conference standings for 15 straight years and played in the conference championship game 15 times in 16 years.

"We've built a program that I think is nationally respected and there's no reason that success can't continue," Woollum says. "We're going to hire a great coach and we have some talented players returning. There's no reason to skip a beat."

Said Christopher Newport president Paul Trible: "C.J.'s love and knowledge of the game of basketball, his dedication to the success of his student-athletes, on and off the court, and his passion for CNU have built one of America's most respected athletic programs. Coach Woollum has left an indelible mark on this university, this community and the countless student-athletes he taught to work hard, play as a team and pursue excellence in all things."

Over the years, Woollum coached nine players who won All-America honors a total of 13 times, as well as 11 who went on to play professionally all over the world. Among them was three-time All-America Lamont Strothers, who became was selected in the second round of the NBA draft and played two seasons with the Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks.