Quistors’ Rombaugh reaches 500 career wins, adds to legacy

Key Points

• Rombaugh reached 500 career wins in a rivalry victory over Center Hill.  
• He has built a sustained winner, taking Olive Branch to Jackson five of the last six years and winning two state titles.  
• His legacy extends beyond wins, with more than 65 players earning college opportunities under his leadership.

OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. — Olive Branch boys’ basketball coach Eric Rombaugh joined one of Mississippi’s most exclusive coaching clubs earlier this season, earning his 500th career victory earlier this year when the Conquistadors defeated longtime county rival Center Hill. The milestone, achieved in his 24th year of coaching and 21st at Olive Branch, reflects a career built on consistency, community, and a commitment to doing things the right way.

“It means I’ve been doing it a while, but it also means we’ve been winning at a high level,” Rombaugh said, noting that most seasons end with his teams in the high 20s in wins. “There’s 500 times that we did it right that night.” 

A Career Rooted in Olive Branch

Rombaugh began his coaching career at Lafayette County High School in Oxford, where he coached football and basketball before arriving at Olive Branch. Over two decades, he has coached nearly every sport on campus — including volleyball, track, soccer, and football — but basketball has remained his anchor.

When he first arrived, he worked under longtime boys’ coach Andy Orr and girls’ coach Donnie Weeks. After Weeks left, Rombaugh coached the girls’ program before eventually taking over the boys’ team. The responsibility came with a deep sense of stewardship.

“Alumni here are different. They still come to games. Basketball is a big deal to them,” he said. “I just want to keep this program in a good spot — something they’d be proud of.” 

Building a Sustainable Winner

Olive Branch has become one of Mississippi’s most consistent programs under Rombaugh. The Conquistadors have reached the state tournament in Jackson five of the last six years, a run he considers one of the defining stretches of his career.

“It’s been with many different players,” he said. “We’re not a one‑hit wonder. We’ve been pretty good for a while.” 

Rombaugh has won two state championships — the star‑studded 2018 team featuring DJ Jeffries and Cameron Matthews, and the 2024 squad that relied on chemistry and basketball IQ rather than rankings. He’s also coached three state runner‑up teams.

Beyond trophies, he takes pride in helping more than 65 players reach college basketball, many through JUCO, Division II, Division III, or NAIA opportunities.

“We gave these kids a chance to go to college for free and use basketball as their vehicle to get a degree,” he said. “I’m as proud of that as I am of the wins.” 

A Milestone the Community Celebrated — Even If He Didn’t Want the Spotlight

Olive Branch High School honored Rombaugh before a recent home game, a gesture he appreciated but admitted felt unusual.

“I’m always behind the scenes. I’m not one to celebrate me,” he said. “It’s really about the kids.” 

Why He Stayed

Despite opportunities to move to college coaching or other programs, Rombaugh has remained loyal to Olive Branch. He remains rooted in Olive Branch, with his wife of 20 years Christy, and son Landon, a senior at Olive Branch High School.

“I’m about setting my roots and building something,” he said. “I’m not one of those guys that bounce around for the next best thing. I want to make my best thing right here.” 

With his son, who also plays football and baseball, graduating this year, he acknowledges that the future is open — but he still feels he has “a lot of basketball left.”