1989
Missouri Basketball Coaches Association
Hall of Fame Induction
Larry Atwood
Larry Atwood began his 28-year coaching career at Weoubleau High School
in 1961. After a three-year stint at Clever High School he moved on to
Buffalo High School for four years where he guided his team to the Class
M state title in 1965. He retired from Springfield Greenwood High School
following the 1988-89 season with a career record of 547-242.
Jodie Bailey
Jodie Bailey's career winning percentage of .760 makes him one of the
winningest coaches in Missouri basketball. His overall record of 824
wins against 198 losses includes a stretch at his alma mater, Vashon
High School, where he accumulated 400 wins and only 76 losses. He led
led O'Fallon Technical High School to a 1968 state championship and a
record of 128-22. Bailey finished his coaching career at Northwest High
School in 1983, where his basketball teams won 296 games while only
losing 100. During his high school tenure, Bailey coached several
all-Americans, including Jo Jo White and Hercle Ivy.
Rex Bailey
After coaching for six years in Arkansas, Rex Bailey began his 25-year
Missouri career at Caruth. After the initial season he spent three years
each at Steele, Wardell, and Couch High School. Bailey then began his
illustrious 18-year tenure as head coach and athletic director at Potosi
High School. After 31 years of coaching, he retired with a record of
560-222.
Gene Bartow
A Missouri native and Northeast Missouri State University graduate, Gene
Bartow began coaching seasons at Greentop High School and Shelbina High
School. In 1955 he moved onto St. Charles High School where his team won
the Class L Missouri state basketball championship in 1957. His high
school record of 145-39 gives him a .788 winning percentage. His college
coaching career began at Central Missouri State University in 1961,
where he was 47-21 over three seasons. Six more successful years at
Valparaiso University, four at Memphis State University and one at the
University of Illinois led Bartow to succeed John Wooden at UCLA. After
two winning seasons with the Bruins, he took on the task of initiating
the basketball program at the University of Alabama- Birmingham in 1977.
After 10 seasons, the UAB record stands at 210-109. Bartow's 32-season
coaching record is 637 wins and 297 losses for .682 winning percentage.
Ray DeGreef
He spent 27 years as a coach at St. Francis Borgia High School in
Washington, Missouri, where he posted a record of 545-240. Prior to his
time at Borgia, he coached at Browning High School, Southside Catholic
High School, St. Marys High School in St. Louis, Arlington Heights High
School, State Teachers College in South Dakota, Quincy College
(Illinois), and Hickman High School in Columbia. After a 38-year
coaching career, DeGreef's record stands at 703-349.
Gary Filbert
After playing basketball for St. Joseph Benton High School, the US
marines, and the University of Missouri, Gary Filbert began his coaching
career at Mexico Senior High School. In 14 years, Filberts teams
complied a record of 280 wins and 110 losses. He took over coaching
duties at Missouri Western State College in 1969. During his 14-year
tenure, the Griffons were 210-160. Filbert was named NAIA District 16
Coach of the Year in 1972, 1974, and 1982. In 1985, Filbert initiated
the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, which now includes over 500
Missouri coaches. In 1987, he took the first steps toward the creation
of the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame.
Edgar S. Hickey
Eddie Hickey began his coaching career at Creighton Prep School where he
remained for nine seasons before moving on to Creighton University, St.
Louis University, and Marquette University. In 1948, Hickey's St. Louis
University team, led by all-American "Easy" Ed Macauley, won the NIT
championship. He was named national Coach of the Year at Marquette
University in 1959. Throughout his years of coaching, Hickey's teams won
seven Missouri Valley titles, participated in five NCAA tournaments and
nine NIT's. Hickey, who won 436 games, received the NABC/MIBA/NIT award
in 1970 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in
1978.
Maruice E. John
Maurice John's illustrious coaching career began at Moberly Junior
College in 1946. In his twelve years as coach of the Greyhounds, John
had a 285-58 win/lose record. His tenure at Moberly included two
consecutive national championships in 1954 and 1955, six consecutive
regional championships, and a .784 winning percentage. He took over the
helm at Dake University and in 1969 his Bulldogs finished third in the
nation. John won three straight Missouri Valley titles from 1968 to 1970
and was the MCV Coach of the Year for times. John coached the Iowa State
Cyclones from 1971 until his death in 1974. He was also honored by he
NJCAA Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1984.
Boyd King
Boyd King's coaching career began at Pittsfield, Illinois, in 1937 and
continued in Hannibal until 1946. He then returned to his alma mater,
Northeast Missouri State University (previously Northeast Missouri
Teachers College), where he had earned 11 varsity letters in football,
baseball, and basketball. He retired in 1977 with a career record of
475-233. King was inducted into NMSU Hall of Fame in 1983 and received
the Distinguished Merit Award from the National Association of
Basketball Coaches in 1968.
P.B. "Pop" Springer
"Pop" Springer, as he was affectionately known, spent 34 of his 44 years
of coaching at St. Joseph Benton High School. Springer's expertise
extended beyond the basketball court, serving as head football and track
coach as well. His basketball teams claimed seven city championships and
won the Missouri Interscholastic State Tournament in 1931 and 1941. When
he retired in 1959, Springer was the winningest basketball and football
coach in Missouri. He collected more than 530 basketball victories
during his reign at Benton High School. Springer once explained his
unique philosophy by saying, "We go into a game not to win and not to
lose, but to play the bet we possibly can according to the rules. Then
at the end of the game we see what the score is."