A Tribute to Wayne Winstead: “And We Called Him Coach”

     John Q. Hammons Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Induction Article

A native of Westboro, Missouri, Wayne Winstead began his coaching career at Sheridan High School. His teams at Sheridan won more than 700 games and took 13 conference championships. (Grant City and Sheridan were consolidated in 76/77–WC). He moved to Worth County High School in 1976, where his three year girls basketball record was 56-21. The three winning seasons he produced at Worth County were the first in the school’s basketball history.

In 1979, Winstead moved to Maryville where he took over as coach for the Northwest Missouri State University Women’s program. Winstead has taken the Northwest Missouri State teams to post-season play in thirteen of fourteen seasons. He earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors in 1984, after his 25-5 team won the conference and was ranked number one in the nation and eventually finished eighth in the nation as they upset national powers Southeast Missouri State University and Central Missouri State University.

During a 10-year stretch from 1982-1992, Winstead’s clubs finished in the top-half of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) standings including an MIAA title during the 1983-84 season. He engineered his teams to three 20-win seasons and 16 post-season appearances. He was named MIAA Coach of the Year twice (1984, 1990); his 1984 program sparkled with a 25-5 mark, his best of any season and the 1990 club advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament. Overall, he compiled a 311-244 (.560) mark at Northwest.

And We Called Him Coach

By Connie Dowis

What are those memories we'll always hold dear?

I know they've got to be here, cause we held him so near.

Time has captured a few,

There are some that are oh, so true!

As the memories flow,

it's hard to know just which way to let your mind go.

We can all recall

the way he taught us to play ball

each and every late, late fall.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"Give me 25--cut those corners and you'll do another 5!"

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Looking at that clipboard and checking them off as the drill and the practice rolls on and on.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"You 5 be shirts and you 5 skins." "We're gonna pass and cut, pass and cut--use that backdoor for another score." "Hands up D!" "No, no, no, don't throw across the defense--you know better than that!"

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Putting that whistle inside his shirt to show us one more time how to--STEP and block to get that rebound, or use the board--hit the angle (was it 45?). OK, watch my legs and tell me what the first thing is I do?? Right, BEND those knees.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"On the line, all the way down, black line to black line, down and back, Hustle, hustle, hustle!" "Come on, you can do better than that--harder-harder, push, push" "Shuffle left, now right, back, forward "OK, AGAIN!" "Now everyone on the line shoot 25 and give me 5 for every one you miss!"

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Showing us why defense is the key. OK, here you have a 2-1-2, 3-2, man-for-man, or will it be a box and one? Depend on the night, the game, the opponent which one we'll run.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"Hit the showers and I'd better see the water dripping off of you when you come out!" "Get back in there! You didn't shower" (OK so quickly learn the trick of sticking your arms and legs in and cooling them off and he'll never know--HA)

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Refilling the boxes in the locker rooms with medicated foot powder, but was it really to kill the athlete's foot or maybe did some of our feet stink, big time!

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"Who we gonna beat tonight?" "I can't hear you!" Who we gonna beat tonight?"

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Shaking the hands of the captains, the coaches, and the refs as the game begins. Gathering us all in the huddle and touching hands, "Let's Go!"

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

"D. D. Big D!!, Hands-up--get in his face! Box out! Grab that rebound! SET IT UP. You're open--shoot--shoot! Pass, pass, pass, cut, look! Use the board!

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Twisting that hair at the corner of his head when things are going a little bit tough! Pacing, back and forth, back and forth.

CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

Praising and Chewing, Praising and Chewing, Always, Always, Praising more than the Chewing.

CAN YOU SEE HIM?

Drawing those plays on the chalkboard at halftime? Slamming that clipboard against the stage? Calling you over to sit your butt down cause you didn't EXECUTE…and probably, tweaking that piece of hair one more time.

CAN YOU SEE AND HEAR HIM!

Shaking all the players hands and telling each and every one, "Good Game"

CAN YOU SEE AND HEAR HIM--smiling and laughing and telling just one more joke or…and Now, I'm telling you, this is a true story?

As the years have passed by,

how many times were you privileged to see him and

he was so glad to see you.

Gotta' give you a hug and know what is what,

and forever and again

let you know how very much you meant to him.

So, so many memories to hold and share.

and WE CALLED HIM COACH,

but he was so much more,…teacher, principal, mentor and friend

but WE CALLED HIM COACH.