James Strong Director of Basketball Operations Third season at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt, 2000

James Strong exhausted his eligibility as a Commodore player, but decided to stay in the program. He begins his third season as the team's director of basketball operations.

Strong played four years for Vanderbilt before joining the coaching staff. He finished third in career steals with 209 thanks in large part to his junior season in which he led the SEC with a school-record 77 steals.

Considered the team's most athletic open-court player, Strong had great leading ability and the knack to finish on the break. He was a hard-nosed defender who earned a reputation as one of the best defensive players in the SEC.