2023 MBCA COACHING CLINIC SCHEDULE

The annual MBCA Coaches Clinic is right around the corner, September 15-16, 2022.  Register HERE and check out the line up this year! New University of Missouri Men's Basketball Coach Dennis Gates kicks off the event! There will be on the court speakers, practices, and break out sessions. 

The MBCA is excited to announce the return to an in-person clinic, hosted for the first time at Mizzou Arena on the campus on the University of Missouri. 

MBCA Hall of Fame MEMBER PASSES

Springfield - Bobby L. Brown passed away on December 25, 2020. He was born July 20, 1934 in Stoutland, MO. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Nora Brown, wife Barbara A. Brown and his son, Bobby S. Brown. He is survived by his children, Pamela Brown of Jenks OK, and Bill Brown of Stoutland MO; grandchildren, Carson Brown and Jake Brown of Springfield MO; son-in-law, Roy Payton and his brother, Charles Brown of Richland MO.

Bobby graduated from Stoutland High School, Stoutland, MO. He also attended Southwest Missouri State University on a basketball scholarship and earned a Bachelor's degree in Education. He earned a Masters at Drury University. He met his wife Barbara Brown, while going to high school in Stoutland, MO. They later married on August 28th, 1954 at the First Baptist Church of Sedalia, MO.

Bobby Brown excelled at everything he did. He was an outstanding husband and provider for his family. His children grew up with passion and drive. He was strong and caring while he taught his children to be strong and independent. He had a great love for his grandchildren and always made sure they had everything they needed.

Bobby Brown received numerous coaching awards over his career. He was first inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a charter member. He then was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and finally the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame.

Bobby Brown, a native of Stoutland, MO, began his coaching career at Richland High School in 1956, where he coached for three years and compiled an 80-17 record while finishing 3rd in the State tournament in 1957 before moving on to Bolivar High School. Coach Brown then spent four years at Bolivar and compiled a record of 93-35, highlighted by a 30-4 record and state Class M Championship in 1960. Coach Brown moved to Ruskin High School in KC in 1962 and compiled a record of 40-11. Coach Brown became the head basketball coach for the Parkview High School Vikings of Springfield in 1966 and coached the Jolly Green Giants to a 27-1 record. The team finished 2nd in State and still remains the only Springfield Public School to complete a regular season undefeated. Coach Brown made another trip to the State tournament in 1981 where his team finished 3rd with a 26-4 record. In 1986 he retired from teaching and had a record of 581-242. A 19 per season win average for his first 30 years. Upon retirement Coach Brown made the trip to the University of Tulsa with his son Billy to continue his coaching career. Coach Brown remained on staff with TU for two seasons and made a trip to the NCAA tournament before moving on to Western Kentucky University for three seasons. He made a brief stop at Ponca City High School before returning to Springfield Catholic in 1993 and served there for his final six years of coaching. Over his coaching career, he took teams to the state tournaments a dozen times and won numerous conference championships and compiled a record of 691 wins and 353 losses. He was always there to mentor his son's coaching career with enthusiasm and dedication. He loved defense, and he loved basketball.

Bobby Brown enlisted in the Missouri National Guard in 1958. The military was just as important to him as the profession of coaching. He saw his rank rise over the years until he reached the rank of Colonel. His assignments included Chief of Plans and Operations at Headquarters Stark, Commandant of the Missouri Military Academy and Commander of Medical Battalion. He was very proud of his service. In1988 Colonel Bobby Brown retired from one of his lifelong passions.

Bobby Brown had a dream to keep and maintain the property that he was raised on. The family farm was homesteaded in 1861. He worked very hard to purchase the property from his siblings when his father passed away. Upon his purchase of the property Bobby and Barbara started a registered herd of Charolais. To this day the herd has direct bloodlines to the 3 cows they purchased. He has seen his herd grow and property expand over the past 40 years. He also, had a love for wildlife and conservation. He would spend many of hours with Bobby Scott hunting quail on a cold afternoon. He enjoyed the sight of a well-trained dog locating a covey in the brush.

His love for his wife Barbara was so very strong and was there for all to see as they spent many hours sitting together and just holding hands. People would always say they admired their love and support for each other. Bobby's eyes would light up when Barbara walked into the room. He would always refer to Barbara as Sugar.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 pm Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 and 9:00-10:00 am Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 am Jan. 2, 2021 in the funeral home. Burial will follow at Maple Park Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (573) 634-2080.

2018 Norm Stewart Classic Results

The mission of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association is to promote basketball in the state of Missouri.

MBCA Hall of Fame Inductees

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association is proud to release their 2020 Hall of Fame class to be inducted at a ceremony on Sunday, September 13, 2020 at 1:00 pm. 

Awards Celebration put on hold

Holley is receiving the Hall of Fame’s Pinnacle Award, which was created in 2019 and is presented to an individual for a lifetime of work enhancing sports in the Show-Me State. Holley coached 51 seasons, including 48 as a college head coach. He compiled a 918-577 record, making him the all-time winningest coach among Missouri four-year colleges. He spent 40 seasons coaching the men’s basketball program at William Jewell College before retiring after the 2019 season, with his teams earning a 831-458 record. He led 14 teams to the NAIA Tournament. Four of those teams reached the NAIA Final Four and three advanced to the Elite Eight. His teams also won 11 Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season crowns. He also guided 25 William Jewell teams to 20-win seasons. His program produced 24 All-Americans. A graduate of Jameson High School and William Jewell, Holley coached one year at Harrisburg and six seasons at Central Methodist (61-93) and two seasons at Northwest Missouri State (26-26) before taking over at William Jewell in 1979. He is a 2009 inductee of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

In November 2019, Neier entered his 33rd season as the boys basketball coach of St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in Washington, with a record of 722-212, nine Final Fours and five state championships (1993, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2009). The state titles are tied with four others for fourth-most in state history. Neier has guided the program to four other Final Fours, earning three runner-up finishes (1998, 2010, 2011) and third-place hardware in 1995. His teams also have earned 24 district titles. A 1971 graduate of Borgia, Neier played football at Central Methodist University, basketball at East Central College and graduated from the University of Central Missouri. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Washington High School. At Borgia, he also coached baseball (1991-1994), earning a 44-35 record, and his 1994 team reached the state quarterfinals. He has been the boys golf coach since 2000, winning the Class 3 state title in 12 and 10 district titles.

Neier was previously selected to the MBCA Hall of Fame.

Congrats to the following coaches for reaching a significant coaching milestone during the 2019-2020 season.

800 wins

June Events explained

The complete list of matchups for the 2019 Norm Stewart Classic, which will be played at Mizzou Arena after 11 years at Columbia College. 

East Buchanan HS is proud to announce the naming of the high school basketball court after the Iba family.  Lucille, Henry, Howard, Clarence, and Earl Iba were born and raised in Easton, and from there, went on to have successful basketball coaching careers. Most notably Henry Iba who went on to win two NCAA National Titles at Oklahoma State University, served as head coach of three U.S. Men’s Olympic basketball teams, and finished his career with 751 wins.  Henry is enshrined in seven hall of fames, including the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. All four of the Iba brothers are enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame located in Springfield, Missouri.

Thursday, November 21 a banquet to honor the family will be held at the Stoney Creek Inn, St. Joseph, Missouri with dinner starting at 6:00P.M., and a question and answer session to follow.

The following coaches are scheduled to appear:

Moe Iba - Son of Henry Iba

Gene Iba - Son of Clarence Iba

Skip Iba - Son of Clarence Iba

Norm Stewart - University of Missouri

Kim Anderson - Pittsburg State University

Tom Smith - Missouri Western State University

Larry Holley - William Jewell College

Sundance Wicks - Current Missouri Western State University coach



These coaches have over 3,200 combined wins



Tables are very limited and will be sold on a first come-first serve basis. Individual tickets will not be sold, only tables of eight. Table cost is $240.00



Friday, November 22 - The East Buchanan High School basketball

court will be named after the Iba family. Ceremony will begin at

6:00P.M.



For tickets, please call the East Buchanan Middle School at

(816)-473-2451 or email David Elms at elms@ebs.k12.mo.us

On Monday, October 21 more than 30 high school teams converged on Columbia, Missouri to participate in the kickoff for the 2019 Norm Stewart Classic. Norm Stewart welcomed an overflow crowd with funny stories and inspirational wisdom.

The Norm Stewart 48 Hours of Hoops will move to Mizzou Arena this on December 6 tipping off at 6 pm and concluding in the evening of December 8. 

Friday 12/6/19

 5:00 pm  East Buchanan vs Clarksville Academy (TN) boys

7:00 pm  Incarnate Word vs Blue Springs girls

9:00 pm  Jefferson City vs Hazelwood Central girls

11:00 pm  Centralia vs Mexico boys


Saturday 12/7/19

1:00 am Father Tolton vs St. Joseph’s Academy girls

3:00 am  Harrisburg vs Calvary Lutheran boys

5:00 am  Columbia Independent vs Green Ridge boys

7:00 am  Booker T. Washington (OK) vs St. Louis Christian boys   ESPN U

9:00 am  Father Tolton vs Mehlville boys   ESPN U                                      

12:00 pm  Wentzville Liberty vs Liberty North boys

2:00 pm  Rock Bridge vs Kickapoo girls

4:00 pm  Hickman vs Clarksville Academy (TN) boys

6:00 pm  East St. Louis (IL) vs Raymore Peculiar boys

8:00 pm  Bishop Miege (KS) vs Cardinal Ritter boys

10:00 pm  Battle vs Raytown South boys


Sunday 12/8/19

12:00 am  Jefferson City vs Warrensburg boys

2:00 am  Glendale vs East St. Louis (IL) girls

4:00 am  Community R6 vs Otterville boys

6:00 am  Community R6 vs Otterville girls

8:00 am  Battle vs Lincoln girls

10:00 am  Hickman vs School of the Osage girls

 12:00 pm  St. Elizabeth vs Nixa boys

 2:00 pm  Rock Bridge vs Webster Groves boys

 4:00 pm  Whitehaven (TN) vs Trinity Catholic boys

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association is excited to announce the addition to veteran head coach Bob Huggins to open the MBCA Clinic in Columbia, Missouri on September 19 & 20.  Huggins joins a long list of outstanding coaching to visit with Missouri coaches at the MBCA clinic. 

Mike Procopio, former Director of Player Development for the Dallas Mavericks and renowned coach in the professional basketball community joins the 2019 MBCA Clinic lineup September 19 & 20 at Columbia College.  

Procopio, who has been with the Mavs since 2013 and has worked individually with Kobe Bryant and over 150 other NBA players, will help enhance customer, vendor and other relationships and expand the company’s footprint in the continuously growing basketball market.

"He's my Jack Bauer," said Bryant in a 2010 Sports Illustrated article. "He gave me all the edits and scouting reports and wrote defensive rotations of the Celtics. He was my eyes and ears, so when I played the game I'd use all the scouting reports and all the information. And it was huge for me."

Procopio served as a Strategic Game Management Coach for Bryant from 2009-2012, breaking down his game film as well as giving him insight on upcoming opponents. Bryant won two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during the four-year period.

Joining the MBCA Coaching Clinic lineup for the 2019 clinic, September 19 & 20 at Columbia College former NBA strength/speed coach brings a wealth of experience. 

Hackett's professional strength and conditioning experience spans over 20 years with the Vancouver Grizzlies, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks (2011 NBA Champions), Milwaukee Bucks. 

Prior to working in the NBA, Hackett designed and directed the strength and conditioning programs at the University of Wisconsin for the school’s men and women basketball, football (1993 Rose Bowl Champs) and track teams. 

He has extensive experience in testing, teaching, and coaching athletes. He also served as an assistant track coach for three years for the Badgers. 

Hackett is a graduate of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree of science. While at Wisconsin, he competed as a sprinter on the badger track team, where he was a three – time USA Olympic Trial Qualifier and NCAA Champion; competed in the 100 and 200 meters.

Billy Donlon was introduced as the 7th head coach in Kansas City men’s basketball history on March 28th, 2019.  Introducing Donlon to Missouri basketball coaches, the MBCA is proud to welcome Donlon to speak at the 2019 coaching clinic at Columbia College on September 19  & 20. 

Several Columbia area hotels have offered discounts for coaches attending the 2019 MBCA Coaches Clinic.  Please see information below for opportunities to save your staff money. 

The MBCA is excited to announce the addition of Drury University head coach Molly Miller to the 2019 clinic line up.  As season ago Miller guided Drury to a  magical season finishing 35-1, advancing to the NCAA-II national semifinals, winning the Midwest Regional, and winning their third-straight GLVC championship in 2018-19. The Lady Panthers became the first team in GLVC history to win three league titles in a row and were the first team ever to go unbeaten during the regular season and win the conference tournament in the same year. Drury ended the year with a number three national ranking after being ranked number one in the coaches' poll throughout the second half of the season. 

As a result of her team's success, Miller was named the NCAA-II Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and was the GLVC Coach of the Year. In addition, Drury forward Hailey Diestelkamp was named the Division II Player of the Year by the WBCA and she was a finalist for the Honda Female Athlete of the Year in NCAA-II while Daejah Bernard was the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year.  

During her five seasons as head coach, Miller's teams have gone 148-17 (.897), 85-5 (.944) during the GLVC regular season, and have captured the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship in four of her five years at the helm. The Lady Panthers earned a trip to the NCAA-II tournament in each of Miller's five seasons and they have advanced to at least the round of 16 for four straight years.

She will enter the 2019-20 owning the best winning percentage among head coaches in all of NCAA-II women's basketball. Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game winning streak at the O'Reilly Family Event Center (the second-longest home court winning streak in the nation), the Lady Panthers have posted a 66-2 record at home under Miller's leadership that includes a 45-0 mark at home in the GLVC through five seasons.  

In 2017-18, Miller guided the Lady Panthers to a 31-3 record, a 17-1 mark in the conference, a first place finish in the GLVC West Division, and her team became the first squad in 13 years to repeat as conference champions. That team produced an All-Midwest Region player in Hailey Diestelkamp, the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year (Daejah Bernard), five all-conference selections including three on the first team and an All-Freshman Team selection. 

A year earlier, Miller led Drury to a 30-4 record, a GLVC championship, the GLVC West Division title with a 17-1 league record during the regular season and an NCAA-II national tournament appearance that featured the Lady Panthers advance to the Midwest Regional championship game for the second straight season.
 
Before taking over as head coach, Miller spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Lady Panthers, including the 2013-14 season which netted a final 27-4 record and the program's third NCAA-II Elite Eight appearance.
 
As a player, Molly (Carter) Miller was a four-year standout for the Lady Panthers from 2004-08, and still ranks as Drury's number three all-time scorer with 1,570 points. She ranks second all-time in assists (439) and steals (409) and was also the winner of the GLVC's Paragon Award as a senior, the highest honor bestowed to a student-athlete by the league. She earned All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors three times and was Third Team NCAA-II All-American as a senior. She was named the Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year in 2005 in Drury’s final season as a member of that league.
 
In her four seasons in a Lady Panthers' uniform (three with head coach Nyla Milleson, one with Steve Harold as head coach), Drury amassed a record of 112-18, qualified for the NCAA-II Tournament four times (including the 2007 Elite Eight in Kearney, Neb.) and captured the GLVC title in 2008 as well as the Heartland Conference crown in 2005.
 
Miller also had a storied high school career helping Kickapoo High School in Springfield to state championships in her freshman and junior seasons. In 2002-03, her Lady Chiefs team went 31-0 and were ranked 13th in the nation by USA Today. Kickapoo went 110-9 during her four years on the varsity squad. She was named an all-state performer three times in her career, a four-time all-academic selection in the Ozark Conference as graduated from Kickapoo as the valedictorian of her high school class.

For her time as a player, Miller was inducted into the GLVC Hall of Fame in 2014 and became the first Drury individual from any sport to receive those honors from the league. 
 
After graduating from Drury University in 2008, Miller spent four years as the marketing director at Springfield Neurological and Spine Institute before returning to her alma mater as an assistant coach.
 
Miller is married to former Missouri State football player Derek Miller, and the couple has a daughter, Crosby, who will turn three-years-old before the start of the 2019-20 season.

Three-time National Champion head coach Craig Doty is in his second season as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Emporia State University.  Doty will speak at the 2019 MBCA Coaching Clinic held at Columbia College on September 19 & 20. 
 
Doty wasted no time making noise at the national level of NCAA scholarship basketball. In his first game as head coach, Doty’s Hornets defeated #20 NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State University, 83-74 on the road. This would foreshadow the season to come as Emporia State would double their MIAA win total from the previous season, have the most wins since the 2013-14 season, and win an MIAA tournament game in Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium for the first time since the 2010-11 season. Along the way two ESU student-athletes would sign overseas professional basketball contracts to add to the long list of pro players that Doty has produced in his coaching career.
 
In his first season Doty brought an exciting brand of basketball which saw the Hornets break the single-game scoring record by scoring 127 points in a game. Six different players scored 20 or more points in a game which hasn’t happened since the 1988-89 season. Three different players scored 30 or more points in a game.
 
Off the floor, Doty’s Hornets were just as impressive. From the spring semester to the fall semester the men’s basketball program improved their team GPA by an astounding half a grade point. Additionally, the ESU men’s basketball team had 100% participation in community service which included winning Emporia State team of the week during the spring semester for their work with the Emporia Express special needs basketball team.
 
On April 27, 2018, Doty was introduced as the new head men’s basketball coach at Emporia State University by athletic director Kent Weiser. In seven seasons as a head coach, Doty has won three national championships and has a 176-66 (.727) career head coaching record including a 79-42 (.653) mark in conference play. Doty’s teams are an unprecedented 29-5 (.853) in post-season play.

Prior to his arrival in Emporia, Doty led Graceland University to national prominence. In just two seasons at Graceland, Doty’s program had a 49-22 record and won the 2018 NAIA Division I National Championship in the school's first trip to the national tournament at Kansas City's historic Municipal Auditorium. Along the way Doty earned NAIA National Coach of the Year, HoopDirt.com NAIA National Coach of the Year, and the 2018 Don Meyer Award. Upon winning the 2018 national championship, Doty had led his teams to the National Championship game four out of the previous five seasons.

Prior to Graceland University, Doty spent four years as the head men's basketball coach at Rock Valley College where he built a national powerhouse. In 2012, when Doty took over the program, Rock Valley was ranked last in Region IV preseason poll.  Over the next four years, Doty would put Rock Valley College on the national map leading the Golden Eagles to four consecutive national tournaments including three straight national title games. Rock Valley was crowed National Champions in 2014 and in 2016, the first and second national championships in the 50-year program history.

Doty compiled a 113-28 record (.801) at Rock Valley. Doty's program shattered the school record for wins in 2013-14 posting a 30-5 record while re-breaking that record the next two seasons going 31-4 and 33-3, respectively. Doty led the Golden Eagles to the #1 ranking in the country for the first time in program history on October 27th, 2014 and his program held on to the #1 ranking for the rest of Doty’s tenure at RVC which included 24 consecutive national polls over 729 consecutive days.

Prior to Rock Valley College, Doty served as an Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at University of Sioux Falls (NCAA Division II) in South Dakota.  In 2011-12, Doty was an Assistant Men's Basketball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Riverland Community College (NJCAA Division III) in Minnesota.

In the summer of 2010, Doty was hired as the full-time Assistant Men's Basketball Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Central Wyoming College (NJCAA Division I). Following the season, Doty served as Interim Head Men's Basketball Coach for two months at CWC. Doty received nine commitments and recruited a roster that would go on to achieve a 20-11 record the following season.

A native of Alcester, South Dakota, Doty came to Central Wyoming after serving as a volunteer Assistant Coach at his Alma Mater Morningside College (NAIA Division II) in Sioux City, Iowa. During Doty's tenure with the program as a player and a coach, the Mustangs had a 56-37 record, made the Sweet Sixteen of the NAIA DII National Tournament, held a National Ranking of #10 in the country, and won a Great Plains Athletic Conference title.

Doty is a graduate of Alcester-Hudson High School. In his senior season, Doty set the school record for points per game in a season with an average of 25.5. His junior season, Doty led his squad to a 17-4 record and a number four ranking in the state of South Dakota.

Doty and his wife, Alexys, reside in Emporia with two children, 10-year old son Braylon and one-year old daughter Amery. Doty graduated from Morningside College with a Bachelor's Degree in English and a minor in Business Administration.  


Doty Highlights
              Selected to speak at the NABC convention at the 2019 NCAA Division I Final Four in Minneapolis, MN
              3-time National Champion head coach (2014, 2016, 2018)
              3-time National Coach of the Year (2014, 2016, 2018)
              Don Meyer Award Winner (2018)
              HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year (2016, 2018)
              Paul Maaske Memorial Iowa Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year (2018)
              NJCAA DIII National Runner-up (2015)
              NABC National Coach of the Year for all levels of junior college (2016)
              2-time NJCAA Coaches Association National Coach of the Year (2014, 2016)
              Selected to speak at the NABC convention at the 2017 NCAA Division I Final Four in Phoenix, AZ
              Led Rock Valley to a #1 national ranking for 729 consecutive days
              4x Don Klaas NJCAA Region IV Coach of the Year
              4x Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year
              4x NJCAA District 2 Coach of the Year
              2x Gary S. Cole Coach of the NJCAA DIII National Tournament (2014)
              2x NJCAA Allstar game coach in Las Vegas, NV (2014, 2016)

Steve Forbes has a strong coaching pedigree and his four seasons as a head coach at East Tennessee have been outstanding.  Following a 25-win season Forbes is set to address coaches at the 2019 MBCA Clinic in Columbia. 

Forbes enters his fourth season with the Buccaneers in 2018-19, and has totaled 76 wins and a .724 win percentage in his first three seasons. He holds the 14th highest win percentage among current NCAA Division I head coaches. 
 
The Buccaneers are also coming off a 25-win campaign in 2017-18, including a 16-game win streak, which tied a program record and also stood as the longest win streak in the country at one point during that run. The Blue and Gold also tied a program record with 11 true road wins a year ago on their way to a third consecutive appearance in the Southern Conference Tournament championship game.

In 2016-17, Forbes and his staff added to the winning tradition of the Buccaneers’ program, earning the team’s 10th trip all-time to the NCAA Tournament with a victory over UNCG in the finals of the Southern Conference Tournament. The victory marked a championship sweep for the Bucs, who also claimed a share of the regular season title after going 27-8 overall and 14-4 in SoCon play. The Bucs’ 27 wins matched the second-highest total in school history and gave ETSU 51 victories overall in Forbes’ two seasons in Johnson City – the most wins by any team in the Southern Conference during that time frame. For his efforts, Forbes was named the NABC District 22 Coach of the Year.

Forbes and his staff wasted little time reinvigorating the ETSU program during his first season with the Buccaneers, combining an energetic style of play, an engaging approach with the fan base, and plenty of success on the court. In all, the Bucs finished the 2015-16 season with 24 wins – which marks the program’s third highest win total in the modern era – and collected 14 victories in Southern Conference play, which is second only to the 15 collected by the Bucs’ 2003-04 squad. ETSU also reached the Southern Conference Tournament finals, which marked the 12th time the program has played in a conference championship game, and the team also earned a postseason tournament berth for the 14th time with an invite to the inaugural Vegas 16 Tournament.

Prior to ETSU, he served two seasons as an assistant coach at Wichita State where he helped take the Shockers to the Sweet 16 in 2014-15. When the Bucs hired Forbes following the 2014-15 season, then ETSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Richard Sander said Forbes’ recruiting ties and his extensive background as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level – which included a five-year stop at the University of Tennessee – made him the perfect fit for ETSU.

"As we talked to the inner circle of college basketball coaches, it was clear that Coach Forbes was one of the preeminent coaches in the country,” Sander said. “The profile we had for our next coach led us directly to Wichita State and to Coach Forbes. With his guidance, our teams will play with great energy and passion, and they will show what it means to be a great teammate. When you look at his accomplishments, it’s easy to see that Steve Forbes and winning are synonymous.”

Forbes said he has worked his entire life for this opportunity.

“Being named the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at ETSU is a dream come true,” Forbes said. “Over the past 26 years I’ve worked so hard for an opportunity like this and I can’t wait to get started. I want our fans and loyal supporters to know my staff and I will work diligently each and every day to perpetuate the excitement and passion that has surrounded Buccaneer Basketball throughout the years.

“We will provide ETSU and our community with a program that will make everyone proud. We will play hard, we will play smart, and we will play together. Together we will make Freedom Hall an electrifying environment and a true home court advantage.”

Forbes also thanked those that made this day possible.

“I’ve been blessed throughout my career to work alongside so many outstanding administrators, coaches, and players,” Forbes said. “The past two years I’ve had the honor and the privilege to work for the best coach in all of college basketball, Gregg Marshall.  He provided me with a blue print for success that I will use at ETSU. If it wasn’t for Gregg Marshall, I wouldn’t be standing here today.

“Most importantly, I want to thank Dr. Noland, Dr. Sander, and Scott Carter for believing in me and believing in my vision for the future of ETSU basketball.  The future is bright!”

At Wichita State, Forbes helped coach the Shockers to two of the most successful seasons in program history.

This past season, Wichita State went 30-5 on the season and recorded its third consecutive season of 30 wins or more. The No. 7-seeded Shockers advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to No. 3 seed and ACC champion Notre Dame.

In 2013-14, Wichita State won a NCAA record 35-straight games before losing to eventual National Runner-up Kentucky in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Shockers' 35-1 record also shattered all of WSU's and the MVC's winning streak records, including Indiana State's 33-game record in 1977. WSU entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed, a first for the program.

Forbes came to Wichita State from Northwest Florida State, where he coached the Raiders to a 61-6 record during his two-year tenure in Niceville, Fla. Five of his junior college players recently transferred to Division I schools in the offseason.
Forbes’ Division I experience includes five years at Tennessee, two seasons at Texas A&M, one year at Illinois State and three years at Louisiana Tech and one year at Idaho.

In the five seasons at Tennessee, Forbes helped coach the Vols to an average of 26 wins per year, and advanced to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments – making three Sweet Sixteen appearances and advancing to the program's first-ever Elite Eight in 2010.

The Vols won a school-record 31 games in 2008, and their 14-2 league record gave the program its first outright SEC championship in more than 40 years. Following a 66-62 win at top-ranked Memphis on Feb. 23, 2008, UT earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history.

Forbes’ experience also helped Tennessee's 2006, 2008 and 2010 recruiting classes to a top 10 national ranking by multiple ratings services.

Forbes came to Tennessee after spending two seasons at Texas A&M, where he helped turn the Aggies from a team that had posted a 7-21 record the previous season and hadn't received a postseason invitation in 11 years, to a program that averaged more than 21 wins in his two seasons and advanced to postseason play both years.

A&M posted back-to-back seasons with the most Big 12 Conference wins in school history with Forbes on the bench. Picked to finish last in the Big 12 prior to the 2004-05 season, the Aggies won their first 11 games and went on to a 21-10 record and made an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. In 2005-06, Texas A&M advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1987 while recording a 22-9 record, the third-most wins in school history. The Aggies defeated Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual Final Four participant LSU on a last-second shot.

Texas A&M's recruiting also benefited from Forbes' experience, as each of the Aggie's two recruiting classes during his time in College Station were ranked among the top 10 in the nation.

Before joining Billy Gillispie's coaching staff at Texas A&M, Forbes coached at Illinois State (2003-04) and spent three years at Louisiana Tech (2000-03), where he helped sign two nationally-ranked recruiting classes, including a top-10 class in 2003. In 2002 the Bulldogs posted a 22-10 record and went 2-1 in the National Invitation Tournament, their first postseason appearance in 10 years.

In 1998 Forbes joined the Idaho coaching staff as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach for the 1998-99 season. In his first season, the Vandals improved to 16-11 and signed a nationally-ranked recruiting class.

Forbes compiled a 68-28 record in three years (1995-98) as the head coach at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan.

During his three seasons competing in the Jayhawk Conference, the Cougars produced three All-Americas, twice finished the season with a national ranking and earned victories over 15 nationally-ranked teams.
After spending two years (1989-91) as an assistant coach at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, Forbes was promoted to head coach in March 1991.

A native of Lone Tree, Iowa, Forbes graduated from Southern Arkansas University with a degree in secondary education in 1988. A former baseball student-athlete for the Muleriders, Forbes spent one year at his alma mater as the sports information director before embarking on a coaching career.

Forbes and his wife Johnetta have three children, Elizabeth (27), Christopher (21) and Johnathon (13). 

What others are saying about Steve Forbes …

Gregg Marshall, Wichita State head coach: "I'm very happy and proud of Steve Forbes as he takes the reins of a Division 1 program as the Head Coach at East Tennessee State University. He is very well qualified. He is a great recruiter and builds tremendous relationships. The Johnson City area will quickly embrace his personality, style of play, and character of the individuals within his program. We appreciate Coach Forbes’ contributions to our recent success."

Bill Self, Kansas head coach: "Steve has won at all levels and has played a major role turning around programs.  Fans of ETSU should be excited about the basketball programs journey ahead."

Buzz Williams, Virginia Tech head coach: “I think in five years, Steve Forbes will be on the same level as Dr. Sanders’ other hires, Anthony Grant and Jeff Capel. He’s a tremendous person … kids trust him, parents love him, he’s a great on the floor coach, and nobody works harder at preparing his team. He is the perfect fit in Johnson City and will be involved 1000 percent in the community.”

Ron Baker, Wichita State guard: “I couldn’t be happier for Coach Forbes. He’s a great guy to play for and works hard to build trust and lasting relationships with his players.” 

Fred VanVleet, Wichita State guard: “He’s fun. He’s real. I think of him as a mentor first and a coach second. He obviously is a great basketball coach, but I enjoyed our off the court relationship just as much – if not more – than our basketball relationship. Just a great guy and we’ll miss him.”

One of the most anticipated annual events on the mid-Missouri prep basketball calendar is changing venues.

The Norm Stewart Classic is departing Columbia College’s Southwell Complex and heading across town to Mizzou Arena.

This winter’s event will be the 12th annual basketball showcase with the former Missouri men’s basketball head coach’s name attached to it, starting Dec. 6 and running through Dec. 8.

Stewart never coached a game at Mizzou Arena, he yelled from the sidelines of the Hearnes Center and Brewer Fieldhouse for 32 seasons. However, the court at Mizzou Arena is named in honor of Stewart. A statue of Stewart also stands outside the main entrance.

The Norm Stewart Classic was founded by the late Gary Filbert with “the intention of honoring Coach Norm Stewart by showcasing student-athletes in Missouri and by raising money for the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer program,” a news release in anticipation of last year’s showcase stated.

Stewart began the pilot program for Coaches vs. Cancer while at the helm at Missouri.

“The thing I like is that we have both boys and girls, men and women,” Stewart said last year about his namesake event. “I enjoy seeing the young people come in and play and compete.”

This year’s event will again feature 24 games in 48 continuous hours of basketball, with each contest airing live on ESPN3. The first game of the showcase will begin at 6 p.m. on Dec. 6. The final contest tips off at 4 p.m. on Dec. 8.

Seven Columbia teams competed at the event last year, including the eventual state champion Rock Bridge boys, who won the final matchup against Raytown South.

Sources told the Tribune that as a part of the move to Mizzou Arena, which seats around 14,000 more than the Southwell Complex, teams with national attention will be sought as competitors.

Out of the 48 teams to compete at last season’s Norm Stewart Classic, 46 were from Missouri. The other pair were from Illinois.

Stewart, an 84-year-old Shelbyville native, won 731 games as the Tigers head coach and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

eblum@columbiatribune.com

(573) 815-1811

MBCA Hall of Fame Inductees

It is time again for the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) Hall of Fame Celebration Weekend in Springfield, Missouri on April 13-14, 2019.  Once again, the MBCA is proud to present the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and Awards and Academic All-State banquet showcasing the top players throughout Missouri.

With a 77-53 win over North Central Central Missouri College on Saturday, February 2, Shelly Ethridge collected her 500th career win and 200th win at St. Louis Community College.  Coach Ethridge is currently in her 10th season as the head coach for the STLCC women's basketball team.  Prior to her time at STLCC, Shelly served as the head women's basketball coach at Southwestern Illinois College and the University of Missouri - St. Louis.  Shelly's coaching career has spanned 26 years and her teams have made five national tournament appearances at the NCAA and NJCAA levels.  The Archers are currently 16-5 and ranked #19 in the latest NJCAA poll. 

Columbia, Mo. — After a storied 31-year career, Columbia College Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Bob Burchard has announced that he will retire following the 2018-19 basketball season.

"Bob has positively impacted thousands of lives over his three decades at CC. He has served as role model and mentor not just to the athletes on his teams, but to countless others," Columbia College President Scott Dalrymple said. "He has earned the respect of his staff members, his athletic peers nationwide, his colleagues across the college, the media, and the community. It seems no exaggeration to say that Bob Burchard is a legend at Columbia College, and beyond."

Burchard, whose career began at Columbia College in 1988, is a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame and is the only NAIA basketball coach to serve on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Board of Directors. Under his guidance, the men's basketball team has registered a 781-261 record (as of Jan. 15), good for a .749 winning percentage. He ranks No. 1 among all active NAIA men's coaches in wins and is 33rd all-time among all college basketball coaches in that category. The Cougars have reached the NAIA National Tournament 22 times during Burchard's tenure as coach including a run to the NAIA National Championship game in 2009.

In 2010, Burchard received one of the NABC's highest awards, the Guardians of the Game Leadership Pillar Award. The goal of that program is to focus attention on the positive aspects of basketball and the role coaches play in the lives of student-athletes, in addition to the contributions coaches make to their communities. The Guardians of the Game program emphasizes the four core values of advocacy, leadership, service and education.

The Cougar Athletic Department has also prospered with Burchard at the helm. The program has grown from five sports in 2011 to 18 sports currently. It also took home the American Midwest Conference President's Cup in each of the last two seasons as the top-performing athletic department in the conference. The program also recently registered its best showing in the NAIA Learfield Director's Cup standings in 2018, finishing 12th. As Burchard concludes his service to the college, a national search for his replacement will begin soon.

"Columbia College is a special place," Burchard said. "I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve the institution and our students."

In October 2012, Columbia College, along with alumni, colleagues, former athletes and friends joined together to establish the Bob Burchard Celebration of Excellence Scholarship. The scholarship provides support for student-athletes and the Department of Athletics at Columbia College. To honor Coach Burchard with a gift to the Bob Burchard Celebration of Excellence Scholarship, please visit my.ccis.edu/burchard.

Founded in 1851 in Columbia, Missouri, Columbia College has been helping students advance their lives through higher education for more than 165 years. As a private, nonprofit, liberal arts and sciences institution, the college takes pride in its small classes, experienced faculty and quality educational programs. The college, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, has more than 30 locations and offers day, evening and online classes. Columbia College educates more than 20,000 students each year and has more than 89,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit ccis.edu.

LIBERTY, MO - After four decades of service, William Jewell College head men's basketball coach Larry Holley has announced that he will retire following the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season. There will be a formal recognition of Holley's extraordinary career during his final home game, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, at the Mabee Center.

"I am thankful for the opportunity I've had to work alongside Coach Holley as a coach and administrator," said Athletic Director Tom Eisenhauer. "His love of the game and passion for Jewell is surpassed only by the love and passion he has for his family. I've always admired his uncanny ability to befriend anyone he meets by making a connection with them. I wish Coach nothing but the best in retirement and hope he knows how much he'll be missed around here."

Holley was named the head coach of the William Jewell College men's basketball program in the spring of 1979 and has been a constant on the sideline ever since, leading the Cardinals to unparalleled success. At the helm of the Jewell program, he owns 830 wins, 12 conference championships, twenty-five 20-win seasons, including 14 with 25 or more wins, and topped the 30-win plateau four times. In addition, he has coached 17 players to 24 NAIA All-America selections. He has also led the Cardinals to 14 NAIA National Tournament appearances, including three Elite Eights and four Final Fours.

Off the court, Holley served as a faculty member in the Department of Physical Education for more than 35 years, started the annual tradition of the High School Holiday Classic, which recently completed its 39th edition, as well as the well-respected Cardinal Basketball camps in the summer of 1980, and helped spearhead the start of the William Jewell Athletic Hall of Fame, which has now inducted more than 150 individuals and teams. Perhaps most impressive however, is that more than 96 percent of his fourth-year players have earned a William Jewell degree.

"I have always said that William Jewell was the perfect place for me as a student and it's been the perfect place for me as a coach," said Holley. "This has been my home for 44 of my 73 years. It has been a privilege and honor to coach the Cardinals for the past 40 years."

Over the course of his 48-year career as a collegiate head coach he has won 916 games, making him the winningest coach in the state of Missouri and ninth all-time among men's coaches at all levels of collegiate basketball, having surpassed Bob Knight in February 2018. In addition, he has been inducted into five halls of fame and is a 15-time Coach of the Year, including the Sears/NABC NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1996 and the 2018 Kansas City Sports Commission Coach of the Year.

Holley has been the recipient of the 2011 Earl Smith Award from the Kansas City Sports Commission, inducting him into the Greater Kansas City Amateur Sports Hall of Champions. In addition, he has received three lifetime achievement awards, including the William Jewell Citation for Achievement in 2009, given to alumni for outstanding contributions to their field. In 2014 he was presented with the Gary Filbert Award for lifetime achievement, which is the highest honor presented by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, and in 2018 he received the Lambda Chi Alpha's Order of Achievement from the national chapter, the highest honor granted to an alumnus of the fraternity for career success.

A 1967 William Jewell graduate, Holley earned varsity letters in basketball, cross country, and track and field for the Cardinals, and was named the Athlete of the Year as a senior. On the court, he scored 1,122 points and received All-Conference and All-District honors in 1967. Much like he is as a coach, Holley was heavily involved off the court, serving as president of his fraternity, president of the J-Club, vice president of the 1967 senior class, member of the chapel choir, concert and pep bands, Aeons Men's Honors Fraternity, and was the recipient of the Colonel Alexander Doniphan Award voted by the senior class as the man mostly likely to succeed.

Born and raised in Jameson, Mo., he graduated as the valedictorian of his senior class and was involved in numerous activities including basketball, track and field, music and speech.

Holley has three daughters with his late wife, Ann: 1998 William Jewell graduate Lindsay, 2002 Jewell graduate Lauren, and youngest daughter, 2003 Drake University graduate Lacey. Today, he is married to wife Linda, of 10 years, and is the proud grandfather of Reagan, Evan, Brea and Stevie.

"I have been so very blessed to have had numerous outstanding student-athletes in our basketball program along with excellent assistant coaches, supportive administrations, and most of all an amazing and loyal family. I have said on many occasions that I have 'out kicked my coverage' twice with my wife of 31-plus years Ann (and our beautiful daughters and grandchildren) and my wife of 10-plus years, Linda and her marvelous family. I haven't lived a perfect life but a lot of perfect things have happened to me along the way and family and William Jewell tops the list," said Holley.

William Jewell College will immediately begin a national search to identify the next head coach of the Cardinal men's basketball program. Interested individuals should submit an application, resume and letter of interest at jewell.edu/employment.

Moberly Greyhounds coach Pat Smith has won over 700 games in his NJCAA coaching career. Coach Smith has certainly earned his way as one of three inductees to the 2019 class of the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Smith has racked up 716 career wins throughout his NJCAA coaching career which includes stops at Lincoln Land (IL), Wabash Valley (IL), Barton (KS), Jacksonville (TX), and Trinity Valley (TX).The Hounds currently have a record of 15-5 for the 2018-19 season.

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association is set to present another outstanding Norm Stewart Classic 48 Hours of Hoop at Columbia College, in Columbia, Missouri. 

The MBCA is currently seeking information on top teams from around the Show-Me State for the Pre-Season basketball rankings.

Dear MBCA Coaches:

Today is the day many of us have been waiting for.  Opening day of the high school basketball season.

Many of you and your athletes have put in a lot of off season hours and effort preparing for this day.  I would like to wish you all the best of luck and a successful season. Remember, the MBCA is an organization that promotes basketball throughout the state of Missouri and as a part of that promotion we strive to support our members.  As coaches, we will experience highs as well as a few lows, but, as we all know, the rewards are the opportunities we have to spend with our teams and see them grow together. Also, don’t forget to enjoy the moments you have to share with your staff as well.  As you celebrate the victories on the scoreboard, don’t forget to celebrate the victories off the court as well.

Again, best of luck as all our Missouri coaches, players, officials and others prepare to hit the court.

Brad Conway

MBCA, President

It is that time of the year again!  Time to pool our knowledge and predict who is going to be the best teams in the state again this year.  However before we get going with that I have to inform all of you that my Reign of Terror on the polls is over.  I am no longer coaching in the state of Missouri and therefore will not be putting together the polls.  Thank you for all of the help over the years.  It allowed me to learn a lot more about basketball across the state of Missouri and how passionate fans are. 

I am asking you for one final favor as I ride off into the sunset.  IF YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP OUT AGAIN THIS YEAR WILL YOU SEND AN EMAIL TO:

polls@mobca.org

Please let them know whether you are willing to help out with gathering records and information on the teams or if you would just like to be a voter.  Remember the more information gathered the more accurate the polls can be.  Thank you all again!  Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. 

Adam Thornhill

Darrin Young

2018 Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame Class announced

The 2018 induction class into the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame (SASHOF) includes five individuals whose competitive and energetic skills have set them apart.  Their accomplishments extend over several decades in Springfield and beyond.

The 2018 class was announced Tuesday in a luncheon at the O’Reilly Family Events Center at Drury University.  Inductees include local high school and college basketball coach Nyla Milleson, local high school legendary coaches Mike Keltner and Roy Green, famed Harlem Globetrotter and Central High School standout Manny Oliver, and LPGA Champion and professional golfer Cathy Reynolds.

The new inductees will be enshrined during the SASHOF annual banquet on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at the Oasis Convention Center in Springfield. 

The Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1985 by Bonus Frost to honor those individuals from the Springfield area, or have a connection to the Springfield area, whose accomplishments merit consideration for the shrine.  This is the 32nd SASHOF induction class and will bring the total membership of the hall to 130 people.

Selections are made by the SASHOF Board of Directors which meets monthly to plan the year’s activities.  SASHOF is a not-for-profit organization and the proceeds from annual induction banquets are made available to local youth groups for the purchase of sports equipment.  Since its establishment, SASHOF has provided over $310,000.00 to over two dozen youth groups and organizations.

 Profiles of the 2018 Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame:

MIKE KELTNER

Mike Keltner likely accomplished more, in less time, than most potential hall of famers.  While some spend decades building their hall of fame resumes, it took Keltner slightly more than twenty years to compile his hall of fame worthy scrapbook. A lifelong Ozark native and graduate of Hillcrest High School and then Southwest Missouri State University, there was never much doubt that Keltner would ultimately coach the game of basketball.  The family bloodline ran deep in the coaching ranks, as his father and uncles preceded him, in coaching more than a half dozen area high school teams over the years. His playing days as a member of the Southwest Missouri State Bears included being part of the 1974 NCAA Division II championship runner-up team.  Upon graduation, he returned to Hillcrest High School where he began his coaching tenure with the freshman and then junior varsity programs for 8 seasons.  In 1984, he made the move across Springfield to become the head coach of the Glendale High School program and for the next 15 seasons guided the Falcons to high levels of success, winning 293 and losing 127.  Included in those nearly 300 victories were 8 Ozark Conference Championships, 7 District titles, two trips to the Missouri High School Basketball Final Four and in 1994 Glendale was the first area program to capture the championship of the prestigious Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions event. His personal honors matched that of his teams, as he was 9 times selected as the Springfield Tipoff Club Coach of the Year, was nominated 6 times as the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year and in 2013 was inducted by the MBCA into its Hall of Fame. His coaching success however was not limited to the game of basketball.  In 1976 and again in 1979 he guided to the Hillcrest American Legion baseball program to a pair of Missouri State American Legion Championships and was twice named the State American Legion Coach of the Year. Despite stepping away from the coaching ranks nearly 20 years ago, Keltner has remained a fixture on the local basketball scene, serving as radio color commentator for many seasons on Missouri State University Bears games.

ROY GREEN

Roy Green became a household name in Springfield basketball circles through his college playing career followed by 38 seasons as a high school coach with a level of sustained success which has earned him a spot in the 2018 Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame induction class. A native of Camdenton, Mo., Green was an all-state player at Camdenton High School and won three varsity letters with the Missouri State University Bears between 1963 and 1966. After three seasons of high school coaching at Miller and Willow Springs, Green joined the United States Army and earned a Bronze Star Award in Vietnam with his 1969-71 Army service. With a master’s degree from University of Central Missouri in 1973, Green was an assistant coach from 1971 to 1983 at Springfield Glendale High. He started a 26-year run of success as head coach at Kickapoo High from 1983 to 2009. His 558-186 (.753) record with the Kickapoo Chiefs marked the most wins and highest winning percentage of any coach in Springfield public high school history. His teams won 14 Ozark Conference titles, 16 district championships and made it to the state semifinals five times with large-class school state titles in 2003 and 2006, a state runner-up finish in 1987 and state third place spots in 1992 and 2005. Green’s KHS teams were nationally-ranked six times and he was the Springfield Tipoff Club Coach of the Year 10 times and the MBCA Coach of the Year three times. He was inducted into the MBCA Hall of Fame in 2005, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and received a Missouri State University Outstanding Alumni Award in 2005.

NYLA MILLESON

Nyla Milleson’s basketball coaching history has been highlighted by three successful stints in Springfield as she joins the 2018 Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame induction class. Prior to her current five-year stint at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Milleson spent 19 years at one high school and two college posts in Springfield, logging 20-win campaigns, league titles and postseason success at all three. A native of Goodland, Kan., Milleson came to Springfield as Glendale High coach in 1992. A 1985 magna cum laude graduate of Kansas State University, Milleson guided the Lady Falcons to six straight 20-win seasons and was 1996 MBCA and AP Missouri Coach of the Year as GHS was 27-3 and captured a Class 4A state title. Milleson crossed town to start the first women’s program at Drury University, taking Drury to phenomenal success from 2000 to 2007, winning 20 or more six times, capturing six conference titles, playing in five straight NCAA Division II tournaments, and finishing as 2004 Division II national runner-up. She was a four-time Heartland Conference Coach of the Year with a 185-36 Drury record (.837). Moving locally again, Milleson went to Missouri State in 2007 and her third club posted the nation’s seventh best winning turnaround at 22-11. It was the first of three straight 20-win MSU seasons as the Lady Bears earned a Missouri Valley Conference title and played in three straight WNIT events. In 2013, Milleson went to George Mason, and 2017-18 was her breakthrough year with a 24-10 record and WNIT trip. It was GMU’s first winning season in 14 years, set a school victory record, and produced GMU’s first postseason victory.

The 4 States Basketball Coaches Association is proud to present their coaching clinic on October 19th at Joplin High School. 

The MBCA is pleased to welcome Nancy Fahey who will speak at the 2018 clinic in Columbia. 

Jerry Krause returned for his second stint with Gonzaga University's men's basketball program in the summer of 2001, this time as Director of Men's Basketball Operations.  He returned from a 5-year civilian term at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was a professor of sports philosophy and Director of Instruction for the department of physical education.

Krause  had a 17-year career as head coach at Eastern Washington University.  During that span, Eagle teams posted a 262-196 record for a .572 winning percentage.  He took a sabbatical from EWU to assist the late Ralph Miller at Oregon State University from 1982-83, then returned to EWU to lead the Eagles from the NAIA into the NCAA Division 1 ranks.

Prior to becoming head coach at EWU, Krause had been an assistant at Northern Colorado for three years, and also had stints at Berthoud High in Loveland, Co and Adair-Casey Community High in Iowa.

Krause was a long-standing member of the NCAA Rules committee, was on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and served on the Selection Committee of the National Basketball Hall of Fame.  He still serves as Research Chair of the NABC.  He is also a member of the NAIA Basketball Coaches and National Association for Sports and Physical Education Halls of Fame.

He received his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in 1959.  He received his master's degree in 1965 and his doctorate degree in 1967, both from Northern Colorado.

Krause has authored 30 books on coaching basketball, produced 40 instructional videos and serves as a consultant to many athletic organization.

Columbia, Missouri native Bret Burchard returns home to present at the 2018 MBCA clinic along with his father, Hall of Fame head coach Bob Burchard.  Burchard has gained experience at the college and NBA levels of basketball and recently took a new position. 

WBCA Offers Special Membership Rate to NHSBCA Members The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association

Sundance Wicks was hired as the new head men’s basketball coach at Missouri Western in March.

A basketball lifer, veteran Stan Van Gundy brings a wealth of experience to the 2018 MBCA Coaching Clinic in Columbia.  Van Gundy served as an NBA head coach in Miami, Orlando, and most recently served as head coach and President of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons. 

Bud Lathrop, the winningest coach in Missouri high school history, a man whose influence at Raytown South spanned six decades, died at his home on Thursday. He was 82.

He won 955 games, 35 conference titles and four state championships as the only boys basketball coach Ray South knew for its first 45 years. He was known for tough love, a voice that could somehow be heard through the loudest gymnasiums and the uncompromising loyalty and appreciation from so many of his former players — some who are still in their 20s, and others who are now grandfathers.

“The first thing I remember is just how much he cared about his players,” said Raytown High School boys basketball coach Cody Buford, who played for Lathrop at Ray South. “And he didn’t just care about you from November to March. It was your everyday life.”

In April, some 250 or so people filled Ray South’s gym for what was called the Lathrop Legacy Event.

Lathrop spent most of the following days calling many who attended — he gave out his phone number, and asked everyone to include theirs in the guest book — in appreciation.

“He was overwhelmed,” said Kent Scott, a former player who helped organize the event. “He couldn’t have been more appreciative, and what we did. The way I think about it, here was a guy, a teacher and a coach his whole life. Really didn’t make a lot of money.

“But he’s got to be one of the richest men in Raytown, no doubt about it. He told me that: ‘Nobody can take away what’s in my heart.’ ”

Lathrop lived a full life. He grew up on a farm with his grandparents after his dad joined World War II, married his high school sweetheart 60 years ago this September, and from 1967 to 1994 won every conference title but one. The 1990 team, led by eventual Mizzou star Jevon Crudup, went undefeated and is widely considered one of the best in Kansas City or Missouri history.


His legacy across high school basketball in Kansas City — and beyond — is immense. When he graduated William Jewell College in 1958, he was the program’s all-time leading scorer. Five decades later, after retiring from Ray South, Lathrop obliged when William Jewell coach Larry Holley sought his advice.

Holley, a member of numerous Hall of Fame classes who surpassed 900 career victories last season, invited Lathrop to implement an offense he used at Raytown South that catered to post players.

“We even called the offense, ‘Bud,’ ” Holley said. “We put in that offense three or four years in a row when we had really talented big men. And let me tell you — we ran that offense pretty successfully. He could work with guards, too, but he was really great working with big guys.”

His last few seasons at Ray South were full of drama and suspensions before he retired in 2006. He later returned to coaching, briefly, with a group of home-schooled kids who made up Kansas City East Christian Academy. But health issues that included regular kidney dialysis were limiting.

Services are pending. In the hours after his death, former players and others who knew him connected one more time to tell stories of the man who influenced so many lives.

“As you might imagine, that event was in the planning stages for about a year and a half,” Scott said. “One of the things we all talked about, and all worried about, was whether he would make it. We were so glad he did. So happy to be able to tell him one more time how much we loved him, and for him to be able to tell us the same.”

Buford, 36, had stayed in touch with Lathrop, who remained interested in the metro’s high school basketball scene until his final days. Buford referred to Lathrop as the area’s best sounding board for ideas — utilizing him most often when things weren’t going particularly well.

“One of my favorite things would be after a game, he’d call me the next morning, and he’d start talking at 6 a.m., and he wouldn’t be done talking until school started more than an hour later,” Buford said. “He did whatever he could to help.

“I try to emulate him as much as possible, but I know that’s impossible. I try my best to have that attention to detail that he had and to care for my players and spend a lot of time with them. Because that’s who Coach Lathrop was.”

It's time to for vendors register for the 2018 MBCA Clinic (Presented by BSN Sports)

Since 2012, the National High School Basketball Coaches association honors coaches for service to their state and efforts toward upholding the MBCA mission, "to promote basketball in Missouri". 

Sonya Morris followed in the footsteps of many other top players at Incarnate Word Academy, annually one of the top girls programs in the nation as she moved through high school.  She helped guide her program to MSHSAA state championships.  She earned a Division I scholarship, choosing to attend DePaul in the fall, and now she has become the fourth member from her school to earn the title Miss Show-Me Basketball, given to the top player in the state. Morris joins previous winners, Napheesa Collier, Taylor Manuel, and April McKinney. 

A two-time Class 5 state champion, Courtney Ramey finished his Webster Groves career as the Statesmen leading all-time scorer in school history as well as the leader in assists. 

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association is proud to release the 2018 Hall of Fame class. Enjoy the Induction Speeches from class of 2018 below along with their coaching bios.

MBCA ceremony was held on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 12:00 PM.  

2018 MBCA Hall of Fame Inductees

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association will induct their 2018 Hall of Fame class on Saturday, April 21 in Springfield at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

2018 MBCA inductees include Julie Matheny, Randy Reed, Darren Taylor, Mike Wilson, Jerry Kirksey, Brad Gaines, Brad Conway, and Earl Austin Jr.

Mark Fisher will receive the Gary Filbert Lifetime Achievement award. 

Those interested in attending and purchasing meal tickets, please contact MBCA President Jeni Hopkins,  JeniHopkins@MissouriState.edu 

Springfield, MO - The O'Reilly Family Event Center on the Drury University campus will play host to 160 of the state's top graduating senior boys and girls basketball standouts when the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association hosts the Missouri Challenge on March 17 & March 18, 2018

It’s time again for the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) Hall of Fame Celebration Weekend in Springfield, Missouri on April 22-23, 2017.  Once again, the MBCA is proud to present the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Academic All-State banquet, and Missouri Challenge showcasing the top seniors throughout Missouri, featured in one weekend.

Presenting the MBCA Hall of Fame Inductees - Class of 2016 

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association is proud to release their 2015 Hall of Fame class.

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association is proud to release their 2014 Hall of Fame class.

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association inducted the Hall of Fame class of 2013 as part of a banquet and induction ceremony at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, MO on Saturday, April 27, 2013.

Coaches and contributors inducted this year include:

The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association inducted the Hall of Fame class of 2012 as part of a banquet and induction ceremony at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, MO.

Coaches and contributors inducted this year include:

Ed Crenshaw, St. Dominic, University City

Ed Crenshaw, St. Dominic, University City

Those who were nominated and approved by the MBCA Board include the following:

Randy Bishop – Branson High School – Randy started his coaching career at Eminence in 1977, moved to Mt. View – Birch Tree, then on to Illinois before returning to Missouri and Branson. Coach Bishop’s teams have won twenty-six (26) tournaments in the past thirty (30) years, eight (8) District Championships, nine (9) Conference Tournament Championships, nine (9) Holiday Tournament Championships and two(2) Blue and Gold Titles in 2003 and 2007.

JERRY BOECKMAN  VIANNEY HIGH SCHOOL

Thirteen Coaches and one Official make up the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) 2006 Hall of Fame Class. They will be honored at a luncheon in their honor on Friday, June 30, 2006 at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield. Family and Friends will gather to honor this group for their outstanding Coaching and Officiating accomplishments. In addition the group will receive their awards that evening at the St. John's€™s Sports Medicine Missouri All Star Games. The games will be played at the Hammons Arena on the campus of Missouri State University. For information on tickets to the luncheon and the games contact:
 
Jim Bidewell - Jim graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1978 where he competed in Basketball, Football and Baseball. He went on to Arkansas State University receiving his degree in 1982. He has been the Head Basketball Coach at Portageville ever since. His teams have won 4 state titles, 2 undefeated seasons (91 & 93), 6 Final Four appearances, 11 District titles and 13-time Bootheel Conference Champions. Both of those undefeated teams are in the MBCA/Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. His teams have compiled a 483-150 record in 23 years which gives them an average of 21 wins per year.
 
Jim Byland - is a founding member of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and served as president during the 1980's. He was the committee co-chair who set up the MBCA Academic All State Team criteria. During his high school playing days Jim scored over 1,000 points while playing at Knox County his first two years and at Moberly High School as a junior and senior. This was followed by two years at Moberly Junior College where he played on two straight National Junior College Championship teams. He started his Coaching career at Cairo in 1969, followed by a year as Graduate Assistant at Northeast Missouri State University. Jim Coached at Salisbury, Eldon and Jefferson City where his 1993 team won the Class 4A State Championship.
 
Bill Carter - has Coached and Administered at a lot of schools along the way. And this year his girls team won number 500 in his career. Bill coached football early in his career and then since 1971 has concentrated on Basketball. He is a 1957 Davenport High School graduate and a University of Dubuque 1962 graduate. He has coached in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and now Missouri. This includes Davenport West, Griswold, Riverdale Port Byron, Wichita Collegiate (twice), Capaun Mt. Carmel, Caproock, Lewisville and Thomas Jefferson on the High School level. In addition he has Coached at Friends University, Cameron University and Texas A& I University. At Capaun his teams won back to back 5A State titles in 80 & 81 with former KU & NBA player Greg Dreiling. At Friends he coached R. C. Buford an NBA player who is now the General Manager of the San Antonio Spurs. He joins Cleo Elbert at what is believed to be the only time in Missouri Basketball history that two Coaches have achieved 500 wins at the same school in the same year.
 
Cleo Elbert - saw his Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School Boys team win game number 500 in his career this past season. He graduated from Pierce City High School and received his Bachelors Degree from SMS/Missouri State and a Masters from Pittsburg State. Cleo has coached both boys and girls teams but not at the same time. He has spent 29 years as a Head Coach and has been in education for 35 years. His teams have won 7 District titles, 3 final fours and 7 undefeated Conference championships. He has coached in the Lions All Star game 5 times and been the Big Eight Conference Coach of the Year 5 times. He joins Bill Carter at what is believed to be the only time in Missouri Basketball histroy that two Coaches have achieved 500 wins at the same school in the same year.
 
Jim Enlow - Jim's teams won 756 games over a twenty-nine year Coaching career at Unionville and primarily at Centralia. He coached both boys and girls at different times and sometimes at the same time. He played at Hannibal High School for Dr. James Ballenger and at Culver Stockton College for W. A. Bill Herington. Both Ballenger and Herington were legends in Northeast Missouri Basketball history.  Jim is in the Culver Stockton Hall of Fame and received the MSHSAA Distinguished Service Award in 2001. MBCA honored him as the 1986-87 Coach of the Year.
 
Larry Buddy Graham - this Indiana native attended Odon High School where he is the all time leading scorer in Basketball. He was an all conference selection at Vincennes University Junior College and at Texas Wesleyan University. His Coaching career has seen his teams win two state titles at Madison, Illinois in 1977 and 1981. He had a four year stop at Oakville before spending 7 years at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where his teams have the record for wins. He coached at Parks College and his team was ranked #1 in the nation for Small College Association. He next spent 9 years at Florissant Valley Community College where his teams averaged 20 wins a season. He is currently Director of Basketball Operations at Lindenwood College in St. Charles.
 
 
Marlin Hammond - graduated from Weaubleau High School in 1970. While there he was an All Conference Basketball player during his Junior and Senior Year. He graduated from Lincoln University in 1974. After stops at Raymore-Peculiar, Pleasant Hope, and Bolivar he became the Head Girls Coach at Lincoln High School. 499 victories later he is still the Head Coach. Along the way his teams have won District Titles 14 times, been in the State Tournament Final Four twice and won 11 Conference Championships. He has been honored as Kaysinger Conference Coach of the Year and All Area Coach of the Year several times. Marlin currently serves as President of the Missouri State Athletic Directors Association.
 
Edward H. Heller - this native of Nebraska started officiating Basketball in 1962 and did not stop until 1993. He graduated Clatonia Nebraska High School and the University of Nebraska. He officiated over 5150 High School and College games primarily in the Northeast part of the state. He called 11 girls state tournaments and many regionals. Ed started calling girls Basketball when they still played 6 on 6 until they converted to 5 on 5. In addition to basketball and his job of 33 years with the Soil Conservation Service he officiated Baseball and Softball. He still coaches softball at Culver Stockton College and has been doing it for 13 years.
 
Andy Jackson - a Louisiana native who graduated from Charles Brown High School then played and graduated from Southwest Baptist University where he was an All District 16 player.    He has seen his team rack up a 623 - 199 record an average of more than 18 wins per season. Andy got his start coaching freshman at St. Joseph Central High School before moving on as a head coach at Hogan Prep in Kansas City, then to West Port and now at Lincoln Prep. Along the way his team have been in the Show-Me Showdown six times, finished 2nd twice, 3rd three times and 4th once. 
 
Ed Lindsay - after attending Silex High School and the University of Missouri,  Ed began his coaching career at Bunceton. His teams record there in 1975-77 did not foretell of his great success at Clopton High School where his teams have won 485 games which include a State Championship in 2005, 15 District titles and 6 Final Four appearances (4 consecutive). He is an 8 time Northeast District Coach of the Year, 3 time MBCA State Coach of the Year and a National Federation of State High School Association Midwest Sectional Coach of the Year.
 
Don Maurer - was an All State Honorable Mention player at Notre Dame - Cape Girardeau and later played two years at Southeast Missouri State University. His coaching stops include Saint Vincent- Perryville, Notre Dame - Cape Girardeau, a 2 year stint as Assistant at the University of Illinois - St. Louis University High and MICDS where his 2002 team won the Missouri State Title. In 1984 he was the District Coach of the Year and in 1999 the Metro Catholic Conference Coach of the Year. In 2002 Don was the St. Louis Post Dispatch Metro, Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and National Federation - State Coach of the Year
 
Rick Mills - attended LaMonte High School where he was the Outstanding Athlete in 1966-67. He graduated from Central Missouri State University and began his Coaching career in 1971 at Lincoln. From there he has coached at Adrian, LaMonte, Bolivar, Warrensburg, Green Ridge and now at Leeton. Along the way his teams have won 501 games which include Final Four State Tournament appearances in 1979-80 at LaMonte and Warrensburg in 1988-89. His 1980-81 LaMonte team went 27-1 and was a Quarter Finalist. His son Jason was an All State player at Warrensburg.
 
Fred Turner - started out as a High School (Bishop Lillis) All-Conference Football Player and then played that sport at Colorado State University. With that kind of a background it is surprising that Fred’s Basketball teams have won 498 games since he began 31 years ago. Fred has coached at West Platte, Bishop O’Hara, Lee’s Summit, Fort Scott Community College, Avila University, Warrensburg and most recently at Oak Park. He has received Coach of the Year honors several times in High School and twice during his College stops. This includes being NAIA District Coach of the Year in 1999.
 
Dale Gene Williams - long time Girls Basketball Coach at For Osage High School where his teams posted 309 wins since 1987. Dale's Coaching career saw him start in 1967 at Piper, Kansas and then had stops at Hanover, Kansas, North Kansas City, Simpson College in Iowa and then to Fort Osage. Altogether his teams have compiled 562 victories. At Piper and Hanover Dale coached boys. He is a member of the Baker University Hall of Fame where he earned his Bachelors Degree. He lettered four years in Football at Baker. He was inducted in the Greater Kansas City Area Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006. Twelve Suburban Conference Coach of the Year have been claimed by Dale. Dale has three children, Bob, Karie and Sheri.

Don Buffington, currently at School of the Osage, he has coached at Hannibal La Grange College and Blair Oaks High School;

RANDY ALBRECHT - Meramec Community College - Randy is a native of Sparta,  Illinois where he was an Illinois All State selection in 1962. He was a three year  letter winner at St. Louis University where he later coached both the Freshman team and then the Varsity. In 1977 he took over the head coaching position  at Meramec Community College and the rest is history. His teams have won eight Region 16 Championships, seven National Tournament appearances, Runner Up in the Nationals in 1989 and 530 wins. His wife Linda of thirty-eight years have two children and three grand children. 

DON EDWARDS - Lawson High School - Don currently serves as principal at  Lawson. In addition he serves on the board of the Missouri State High School Activities Association.. He got his start in basketball at North Harrison 
High School in Eagleville, MO and was a 1974 all-state selection. He graduated  from Northwest Missouri State University where he lettered in basketball. His coaching success was at Jefferson High School in Conception Junction, MO. His teams, both girls and boys, racked up 824 wins over a twenty year period. They appeared in six Final Fours, won three state titles, eighteen Conference Championships, sixteen MSHSAA district titles and Don was a three time Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year. His 1989 girls state championship team was undefeated. He and his wife Susan have two boys. 

DAVID GILL - Southern Boone High School - David retired following the 2002-2003 school year after coaching for twenty-five years at the Ashland, MO school.  He is a graduate of Hickman High School in Columbia and Lincoln University in  Jefferson City. He was an outstanding track and field athlete at both  schools. His first job was at Hatton, MO and in 1977 he moved to Southern Boone. His basketball teams won 537 games. He won Coach of the Year honors at both the Conference and District level. David is a past President of MBCA and also served as treasurer and vice-president. He was active in the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and received their certificate of merit along with the  Northeast Athletic Director of the Year award. He currently serves as Director of Competition for the Show-Me state games. David and his wife Jeanne have three daughters and two grandchildren. 

LARRY LITTRELL - Glasgow High School - Larry started his coaching and teaching career at the elementary level. He was teacher and athletic director of St. Mary's elementary from 1965 to 1972. He jumped to Central Methodist College from 1972 to 1974 as Assistant Basketball Coach. His next stop was Glasgow High School where his record was outstanding. His Boys and Girls teams over a twenty -three year period won 23 Conference Titles, 18 District Championships, 2 State Titles and one third place finish. For thirty-three years organized and worked in the Glasgow Youth Program. The Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters named him Coach of the Year in 1978. He received the Basketball Coaches of the United States Achievement Award in both 1978 and 1980. Five times he was named Coach of the Year for Missouri by Radio Station KRES of Moberly. In 2003 the Howard County R-II Schools honored Larry by placing his name on the Glasgow High School Court. 

TOM SMITH - Missouri Western State College - Tom is native of Gary, Indiana where he played Basketball at Horace Mann High School and gained All-Conference and Honorable Mention All State honors. He attended Valparaiso University and played for Missouri Sports Hall of Fame member Gene Bartow. Again he was selected All-Conference and Honorable Mention All American. Tom=s Head Coaching career started at Central Missouri State University in 1976, where his teams won 86 games. He moved to his alma mater Valparaiso in 1981 where his teams won 84 times. In 1989 he was selected to take over the head coaching position at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph. Since that time his teams have won 334 games and Tom has been honored numerous times. The MIAA has selected him as their Coach of the Year 5 times. His teams have won the Conference Title 6 times and the Post Season Tournament 4 times. Including one year at CMSU Tom's teams have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 11 times. 

BILL HOGUE - Kickapoo High School - Bill started his Basketball career as a High School player in Southwest City. Not only was he an All Stater but he set the single game scoring record at 65 points while averaging 24 points per 
game.  He was a three year letter winner at Tulsa University where he played for Missouri Sports hall of Fame member Clarence Iba. Bill has coached Basketball at nine different High Schools in Missouri. He has coached at all levels including his latest stint as Freshman Coach at Kickapoo High School, where his teams have won 165 times in nine years. His varsity high school teams won 4 conference titles at three different schools and finish second in the state while at Rogersville High School. While at Central High School in Springfield, his teams won the Blue and Gold Tournament twice and finished runner-up once. Bill received the Eddie Mathews Sportsmanship Award at both Sparta High School and St. Agnes High School. 

JIM PHILLIPS - Platte City High School - Jim Phillips played his High School Basketball at Marceline where he was an All-State selection. He attended Truman State University (Northeast Missouri State University) and earned three letters and was Co-Captain his senior year. His High School Basketball Coaching and Teaching career started at Breckenridge and continued for twenty-nine years at ten schools. His teams racked up 504 wins. Included were 10 District Championships and two Third place State Tournament Titles. Jim coached at Callao, Brashear, Glasgow, Knox County, Princeton, Marceline, Bevier, Higbee and Platte City. 

TOM ROBERTS - Schuyler County R-1 High School - Tom spent most of his thirty-seven year coaching and teaching career promoting girls basketball in the state of Missouri and across the country. During the course of that career his teams racked up 507 wins. He served on the committee that started the Girls State Basketball Tournament in our state. He held the first Girls Basketball Clinic in the state in 1971 and started the first Girls Basketball Camp at Tarkio College in 1974. He directed the Mississippi Hills Girls Basketball Camps and the Culver Stockton College Girls Camps in the 70's and 80's. Tom was the third President of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) and served on the MSHSAA Basketball Advisory Committee. He coached four different high schools to the state tournament finishing second, third and fourth. In 1982, Tom was the Class 1A coach of the year for Missouri. 

THAD J. STROBACH - Kirkwood High School - Thad got his start at winning championships by serving as manager of the St. Louis University High School during their state championship in 1958. He graduated from St. Louis University in 1963 and followed that up with a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1965. After serving as a High School Assistant at The Priory, Thad started the Women's Basketball Program at St. Louis University and in four years his teams were 43 and 11. In 1973 he took over the Head Coaching Position at Visitation Academy in St. Louis. 485 wins later he moved to Kirkwood High School where his girls teams won 80 more games. During his stay at Visitation Thad's teams won 5 state championships, finished second 4 times and third once. This phenomenal record included 43 straight wins, 15 District titles, 28 preseason and regular season tournaments and 12 league titles. In addition to all of the above he has organized and directed Basketball Camps and Clinics for over 25 years. Thad served on the MSHSAA Basketball Advisory Committee for seven years. 

KENNETH R WALKER - El Dorado Springs High School - Ken played his High School Basketball at Bernie and was selected to the All-State team in 1962-63. He graduated from Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar. He has coached both Girls and Boys Basketball at several schools during his career. His Boys teams at Stoutland, Bronaugh, Wheeling, Koshkonong and Strafford racked up 109 wins. His Girls Teams at the above schools plus Harrisburg, New Bloomfield and El Dorado Springs won 493 games. Ken has been the Associated Press and MBCA Coach of Year. 

DENNIS J. KRUSE - Hazelwood Central High School - Dennis Kruse started  long involvement with Basketball as a player at St. George of Hermann High School. He lettered three years and was Honorable Mention All State. During his college days at Quincy College he won seven letters, three in basketball, 3 in baseball and on in cross country. He was voted into Who's Who at Quincy College in 1966. He returned to St. George of Herman High School as basketball coach in the fall of 1966. After a stint in the Army where he coached a post team he returned to Missouri and coached and taught as North Callaway, Rock Bridge, Webster Groves High Schools. He switched to College and assisted at Washington University and served as head coach at Maryville University. A short retirement ended in 2003 went he assumed the head coaching position at Hazelwood Central. Along the way his teams won 14 Conference Championships, 12 District Championships, won a State Championship in 1969, finished 4th and 3rd and was named 
Coach of the Year 13 times. All told his teams won 516 times in 36 years and he is still going. 

JOHN AUSTIN: John coached at Wyaconda C-1 High School for 30 years, winning over 830 games as a High School, Junior High Boys, and Girls Coach.  His teams won 13 boys tournament championships and 12 girls tournament championships.  In addition his junior high teams won 12 tournament championships.  Awards include the 1985 District 1A Coach of the Year, 1991 NMOA All-Star Coach, 1994 MAPHERD Teacher of the Year for Secondary Physical Education and 1998 MIAAA 25 Year Service Award for Administration and Coaching.

Bill Ballew

Bill Blanton started his coaching career at Tarkio College as Assistant Men's Basketball Coach and Assistant Baseball Coach in 1972. He then had his head coaching debut atOsborn High School in 1973; he coached there for three seasons, winning as both boys and girls coach. He then sent five years as a head basketball coach at Louisiana, MO. Bill spent one year at South Iron County and a year at Jefferson City Public. He went to Fulton High School for six years, where for the next 26 seasons, he accrued an average of over 20 wins per season; he took Fulton to its first Final Four, in 1987. He then moved on to Jefferson City Helias for the next eleven seasons; his record there was 215 & 90. He lead Helias to two Final Four seasons in 1993 and 1994. Blanton moved on to Russellville for the next four seasons where his teams went undefeated in conference play  during the 2002 and 2003 seasons and made a trip to the Elite 8. His next five years were spent at Laquey High School in South Central Missouri. While at Laquey, many school records were set including two district championships, three consecutive undefeated conference seasons (24-0), two district titles and another trip to the Final Four in 2009. Blanton has led four teams to the Final Four, accrued 13 District Titles, numerous District Coach of the Year Awards, and boasts a career record of 735-342. He is currently ranked 7th in all time wins in Missouri Basketball history.

2000

1999