Tom Palombo, who guided the Guilford men’s basketball team to 420 wins, three NCAA Division III Final Four appearances and five Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships in 22 seasons, is leaving the College in May for a coaching position at Division I Longwood University in Farmville, Va.

After compiling 658 career wins as a Division III coach, Tom will be associate head coach on the staff of Ronnie Thomas, who was named head coach of the Lancers on March 23. Ronnie was on Tom’s coaching staff at Guilford for six seasons, including three seasons as associate head coach, before moving to Longwood in 2020.

Ronnie was named Longwood’s new head coach last month days after Griff Aldrich left the program to become associate head men’s basketball coach at the University of Virginia. Tom says he was not looking to move until Ronnie called and made the offer.

“It was a hard decision to make because this is a life-changing move,” said Tom. “I’ve loved every year at Guilford, but in the end I’m doing this because I’m excited about helping Ronnie. That’s how much he means to me and my family.”

Video: Tom discusses his move, his memories and what Guilford means to him.

“Coach Palombo means so much to so many Guilforidans,” said Acting President Jean Bordewich. “He has been incredibly dedicated to the College and our students for more than two decades. He not only led men’s basketball to a lot of competitive success but he also mentored his players to be good students and to graduate and move on to fulfilling careers. We’re grateful for all he contributed at Guilford and wish him well.”

Director of Athletics Bill Foti – himself a successful former college men's basketball coach – called Tom “a Guilford legend.”

“For the past 22 years he and the men’s basketball team have represented Guilford College with class and distinction,” said Bill. “To take different generations of Guilford players and lead them to ODAC championships and Final Four berths speaks to his longevity and coaching excellence. There is no finer men’s college basketball coach in the country, at any level.”

Bill said a national search for a new coach is underway.

Ronnie said it was important to add a coach to his staff with extensive experience and a proven track record as a successful head coach. Tom certainly fits those requirements. At Guilford, he had 21 winning records in 22 seasons, and each of the last 19 campaigns, and nine seasons of 20 or more wins, including five of the last nine seasons. He holds college records for men’s basketball coaching wins (420) and winning percentage (.711). Only Jack Jensen was head coach longer, 29 years. The 2024-25 team was 22-7, won the ODAC title as the first bottom-half seed to win the conference crown since 2009, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

"Having had the opportunity to work alongside Tom in the past, I have great confidence in his commitment to excellence and his passion for developing young men both on and off the court," said Ronnie. "His approach reflects championship-level standards in all that he does, which made this decision an easy one. I am excited to welcome him as we continue our work to elevate Longwood into a nationally respected mid-major program in college basketball for years to come."

The Quakers reached the Division III Tournament eight times under Tom, and advanced to the national semifinals three times – in 2009, 2010 and 2024. Two players were named National Player of the Year: Ben Strong ’08 and Tyler Sanborn ’10. In 2024, Tyler Dearman ’23, ’24 MISM became the team’s first Josten’s Trophy winner for excellence both on and off the court.

Tom arrived at Guilford in 2003 after winning 100 games in six seasons as head men’s coach at Defiance College (Ohio). He also coached women’s basketball for three seasons at Defiance and three seasons at Virginia Wesleyan College (now University), where he graduated in 1989 and was a men’s basketball and baseball player.

Prior to being named head coach at Longwood, Ronnie was an assistant coach for the Lancers for five years and helped the team compile a 97-64 record with two NCAA Tournament berths and a pair of Big South Conference championships.