Photo by Brian Hoffman
Robert Hudson is moving over a spot on the Lord Botetourt High School boys’ basketball bench. Hudson, who has served on the LB staff since 2022, was named to take over the program last Thursday.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I feel like I already have a good relationship with the Botetourt community and I’m anxious to get started.”
Hudson certainly knows the personnel, having coached the jayvees to successful seasons in recent years while serving as a varsity assistant to Josh Aliveto, who stepped down after two years as head coach. Robert assisted LB head coach Andrew Hart prior to that and still keeps in touch with Andrew as well as Kevin Garst, who was the head coach at Salem High when Hudson was a student. Robert was a member of the 2013 Spartan team that won the Class 4 state championship.
“I still talk with coach Garst all the time,” said Hudson. “I also keep in touch with coach Hart, coach Aliveto and Billy Hicks.”
Before arriving at Lord Botetourt, Hudson spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Hidden Valley High School boys’ basketball program. Throughout his coaching career, he has earned a reputation for building strong relationships with student-athletes while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and character.
His impact extends beyond the high school season. Coach Hudson has also worked as a counselor for both the Roanoke College Boys Basketball Camp and the Lord Botetourt Kids Basketball Camp, helping young players develop their skills and passion for the game.
“Robert understands what it means to be a Cavalier,” said LB Athletic Director Tim Fulton. “He has invested in our students, our program and our community. His passion for basketball, determination to grow and develop as both a coach and mentor, as well as commitment to developing our young people, make him an excellent choice.”
Hudson has hit the ground running. He has the Cavaliers competing in the North Cross summer league and he’s entered the team in varsity and jayvee camps at Northside and also at Roanoke College. He indicated he’ll retain the current assistants and might add one or two additional coaches. He’s currently deciding who the new jayvee coach will be.
Hudson indicated he plans to pull from his past experiences with coaches he has played for and worked with, but will put his own stamp on the program.
“We want to push the pace and get a lot of shots up,” he said. “We’ll pressure the ball and get up and down the floor. The game has changed so much in recent years with the three-point shooting.”
Robert inherits a team that went 7-16 and lost in the first round of the Region 3D tournament. The Cavaliers graduated four players and will be senior heavy this year with seven seniors expected to play in the coming season. Hudson is quite familiar with the program having served as an assistant and is anxious to help the boys grow as both players and citizens.
“I look forward to continuing to build relationships with our players and parents,” he said. “It’s always bigger than basketball. Together, we will work to uphold the tradition, pride, and values that make Lord Botetourt basketball special.”
