Ed Crenshaw, St. Dominic, University City
Mr. Crenshaw was drafted and served on an Army basketball team with other stars.
In 1960, a friend got him the coaching job at what was then Assumption High School in O'Fallon, later renamed St. Dominic High School. At the time, he was the only black coach in the state teaching at an all-white school, according to Bester, a retired physical education teacher.
Mr. Crenshaw taught at St. Dominic from 1960 to 1973. He left for University City High School, where he coached from 1974 to 1994.
He retired with an overall record of 677 wins and 266 losses. He was inducted last year into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
The gymnasium at University City and the gym floor at St. Dominic are named after him.
Allen Davis, DeSoto High School
Coach Davis has built the DeSoto Dragons into a regional and statewide powerhouse in his career. He has built a career record of 512 – 230 for a winning percentage of 69%. Coach Davis was the Missouri State Coach of the Year in 1993, he has been the Jefferson County Coach of the Year 16 times, and twice been named the Dream Team Coach of the Year. His Dragons have dominated the Jefferson County Conference winning 18 conference championships as well as 10 district titles. Coach Davis led his teams to the Missouri Final Four in both 1993 and 2003.
David Fox, Jefferson City High School
Coach Fox has a career record of 304-198 in 17 years as the head coach at Versailles and Jefferson City High Schools. He has won 5 district titles and led his teams to the Missouri Final Four in 1998, 2002, and 2004. Coach Fox was the 2004 MBCA Coach of the Year. He is a member of the Rock Bridge High School Hall of Fame and the Central Methodist University Hall of Fame. Coach Fox has been a leader within the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association for his entire career, serving as president of the association and on its board of directors. Recently, Coach Fox has developed and led the MBCA Coaching Clinic in the Fall and he has overseen its rise from the beginnings to one of the largest coaching clinics in the nation. Coach Fox retired from his coaching duties to assume the role of Executive Director of the MBCA, the 2nd person ever to hold this title.
Mike Kuwitzky, Maryville High School
Coach Kuwitzky has a career record at Maryville High School of 438-225, for a winning percentage of 66%. Coach Kuwitzky has been named Coach of the Year 6 times. His teams have won 3 conference championships, 6 district championships and have been district runners-up 3 other years. Coach Kuwitzky let the Spoofhounds to the Final Four in 1994, 1995, and 2004, finishing as the state runner-up in 1995 and 2004.
Doug Light, Helias, Jefferson City, Borgia, Union
Coach Light has a career record of 502 wins and 218 losses for a winning percentage of 70% at Union, Borgia, Jefferson City, and Helias High Schools. Coach Light has been coach of the year on 8 occasions. He has won at least one district title at each of his 4 schools and has 9 total district titles, 4 conference championships, and has led his teams to 4 Final Fours. Coach Light has coached 20 All State players in his career.
Lynn Long- Bakersfield, Crystal City, Norwood, Skyline, Lebanon, Fair Play, Stoutland
Coach Long has a career record of 560-263 for a winning percentage of 68% and won back-to-back state championships at Skyline High School in 1996-1997. He was MBCA Coach of the Year in both of those years. Coach Long has won 8 conference championships, 10 district titles, and has led his team to 4 Final Fours.
Bill Martin, North County High School
Coach Martin amassed a career record of 421-215 in 24 seasons at Lesterville and North County High schools. Coach Martin won 9 Coach of the Year awards in his career, including the 1977 Missouri Coach of the Year. He won 8 conference championships and 3 district championships. In 1977, Coach Martin led his Lesterville squad to the Class A Missouri State Championship.
Jerry Meuschke - Harrison (Kennesaw, GA), Hallsville, Meadville
Coach Meuschke has an overall career record of 547-401. He has won Coach of the Year honors on 7 occasions and is a member of Georgia’s Winningest Coaches Club. Coach Meuschke won 3 conference championships and 4 district titles at Hallsville and led the Indians to the 1981 Final Four. At Harrison his teams have qualified for the Georgia State Tournament in 8 of his 14 years at the helm.
Dave Niemeyer- Princeton, Mercer
Coach Niemeyer has accumulated 708 wins and 383 losses for a career winning percentage of 65% in 27 years. He has twice been named Coach of the Year. Coach Niemeyer has led his teams to 10 conference championships and has won 13 district titles.
Stephanie Phillips, Kickapoo High School
Coach Phillips accomplished more in 9 years as the head coach at Kickapoo High School than most coaches who have the opportunity to coach 30 years. Her teams compiled a 214-38 record for an unbelievable winning percentage of 84.9%. Coach Phillips led the Lady Chiefs to State Titles in 2003 and 2005, finishing the 2003 season ranked #13 in the nation. Her teams won 9 consecutive conference championships, never losing in the Ozark Conference in her career along with winning 5 district titles. Coach Phillips served on the MBCA Board of Directors and was the President of the Association the past 2 years. Coach Phillips will not only be remembered for her leadership on the court, but for her courageous battle with cancer. Her efforts have led to an amazing increase in cancer awareness throughout the state and an upswing in “Paint it Pink” games sponsored by the American Cancer Society throughout Missouri.
John Sheehy, John Brown University
Coach Sheehy has a record of 535 wins and 452 losses in his illustrious career. He was a 4 time collegiate college conference coach of the year and recently John Brown University named the court in the Bill George Arena, “John Sheehy Court.” Coach Sheehy won the 1991 National Christian College (NCCAA) National Championship, and in 2005 he led John Brown to the NAIA Division I National Title.
Bill Sodemann, Parkway West High School
Coach Sodemann compiled a 389-221 career record at Parkway West High School over a 22 year head coaching career. He was the 1991 MBCA and St. Louis Post-Dispatch Coach of the Year, 6 time Suburban West Coach of the Year, and 2 time Suburban South Coach of the Year. Coach Sodemann won 6 conference championships and 5 district championships. In 1991 he led the Longhorns to the Missouri 4A State Championship.
Ray Steinhoff, New Haven High School
Coach Steinhoff has coached at New Haven High School for the past 31 years, 27 as the head coach. He has collected 504 wins vs. 253 losses for a career winning percentage of 67%. Coach Steinhoff is a 4 time 4 Rivers Coach of the Year and a 2 time MBCA and Missouri Sportswriters Coach of the Year. He has won 4 conference titles despite being by far the smallest school in his conference. His teams have been to 23 district championship games while winning 10 district titles. Coach Steinhoff has led the Shamrocks to 4 Final Fours and won the Missouri State Championship in 1997, 1999, and 2001.
