Coach eyes win 1,000
LEBANON – Harry Statham recalls his first victory as coach at McKendree University. That’s no small feat – it was in 1966, when the Bearcats beat Westminster, 90-78, in the season opener.
“Shoot, yeah, I remember very vividly,” Statham said. “First game I ever coached, and I was excited. I thought, ‘This is pretty good stuff.’ ”
There will be no forgetting the next one. It’ll be No. 1,000, at the same little NAIA powerhouse in Illinois, a short drive east of St. Louis.
The 72-year-old Statham is poised to become the first men’s coach at a four-year college to reach the milestone, and it could happen today in the second game of the McKendree Classic.
The wins are a testament to consistent excellence from a stay-at-home guy who’s in his 44th season at his alma mater.
“For a man to stay there, be in one place for that long and be that successful, it’s absolutely incredible,” said Matt Laur, an NAIA player of the year earlier this decade and the school’s career leading scorer. “In today’s world, it doesn’t happen.”
Statham has a 999-381 record, including 4-0 this season. The only member of the 1,000-win club is Tennessee women’s coach Pat Summitt.
Statham has averaged 23 victories a season, led the Bearcats to postseason play 38 times and produced all 13 of the school’s NAIA national tournament berths.
