A Coach's Perspective

In this episode, our Human Champion Profile is legendary, local, and Hall of Fame broadcaster Dan Lucy! Dan gave us the entire hour as we explored his journey from a military kid to a Patriot at Millard South High School in Omaha, Nebraska to the University of Missouri Journalism school. We talked about his experience as a sports director in Columbia and then in 1988 making the move to Springfield, Missouri’s KOLR 10 where he has set roots down ever since. Dan discussed how his favorite sport is ‘whatever is in season’ and how he has thoroughly enjoyed coaches in this area. He also stepped away from the studio and talked with us about his battle with cancer, his relationship with the Boys and Girls Club, and what he does when he is not working diligently to cover our local, state, and national sports.

Celebrating Champions is the focus of this episode as we congratulate two champions from Missouri State University, Women’s Swimming and Diving won the Missouri Valley Conference Championship and the Missouri State University Handball Team won all three divisions (Men’s, Women’s, and Combined) at the National Collegiate Handball Championships at the University of Texas. Chelsea Dirks-Ham, Associate Head Coach of the MSU’s Women’s Swimming and Diving Team, recapped the swim teams 4th consecutive Conference Championship and its 12th in the past 13 years. We then caught up with Dr. Tommy Burnett, coach of Missouri State Handball, along with assistant coach, Sam Esser, and players Christina Peacaut (All-American), Meghan Mudd, Jack Morris, and Denny Schmidt. The handball team won its 16th women’s title, 10th men’s title, and 15th overall combined title.

In this episode, we kick off the show with a FastBreak Update and look at two nationally ranked Drury wrestlers: (#6) Jared Rennick and (#8) Peter Kuster were here, along with their coach James Reynolds in his fourth season at Drury. Best of luck to all of the Drury Wrestlers as they get ready for Regionals.

We were then joined by former Olympians Christian and Teri Cantwell, and their son, Jackson. During our discussion we looked into their journey at the Olympics and with sports and how they are now integrating those valued characteristics into their parenting. Using sports as part of their family culture, the Cantwell’s have developed a strong bond in an out of the shot-put ring. Their experience at the national and world levels have prepared them for success in life. Now they enjoy and embrace the path that Jackson is traveling as he soars to the top of the charts in his own right winning the National Championship in the shot put in his age division!

In this episode, we continue our series on Sports Family’s and showcase a local family that epitomizes the theory of implementing a sports culture into their family dynamics to create successful athletes and people for generations. Hall of Fame athletes Scott and Tracy Opfer have five children that have had stellar high school careers and showcase college careers and, in turn, are now successful professionals that positively contribute to society every day. Lorin, Austin, Alix, Kasey and Kinjo have set this family apart through their accolades and accomplishments, but the family’s real source of pride is their character and how they represent themselves in the community. My thanks for this family’s willingness to share with us their philosophy on success on and off the field!

In tonight’s episode, we profile legendary Hall of Fame, seven-time NCAA national championship gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field. Miss Val, as she is widely known, discussed her philosophy and motivation to develop life champions through the sport of gymnastics. She discusses her relationship with John Wooden and her Ted Talk, that has been widely viewed over 1.2 million times, and emphasizes how success does not always include winning. She also talks about her book, “Life is Short, Don’t Wait to Dance” and how she approaches coaching and life with no regrets. We also discuss the difficult experience of having a player confide to her that she was sexually assaulted by Team USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. After reported, two more players and her assistant coach came forward as victims, too. We discussed what she did to help them heal and process this horrific situation. My thanks to this Human Champion and how she has positively impacted hundreds of athletes throughout her career.

In the first of our series on Sports Families, we gather with the Garrison Family: Marty, Susie, Carie, Corey, Callie, Casey, Coday, and Conley. We explored how sports, in particular with this family basketball, has been an integral part of their family dynamics. The way that they support each other, and the way they compete with each other, has developed a lasting bond of appreciation, respect and loyalty. The generational success in this family has been noted by the multiple accolades, but they all agree that their family is their favorite team.

In this special Human Champion Profile episode, we reflect on Don West’s broadcasting career and congratulate him on his upcoming induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. My thanks to our special guests that expressed congratulatory statements and gratitude for working with Don West: Matt Coatney, Mike McClure, Corey Riggs, Trevor Casterlin, Scott McCauley, Rob Evans, Jon Rippenger, and Dan Lucy. Congratulations to Hall of Fame broadcaster Don West!

In this episode, we preview the number one attended high school basketball tournament in the country, the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions! This weekend, at the former JQH Arena on the campus of Missouri State University, Springfield Public Schools Athletic Director Josh Scott and Assistant Athletic Director Marty Marsh will host the 36th Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions (TOC). We previewed and evaluated the teams, bracket, and events going along with this weekend’s tournament. Josh Scott and Marty Marsh gave us the “stats” of the tournament and previewed the incoming teams, along with local teams Greenwood Laboratory School and Kickapoo High School. We also caught up with Kickapoo coach, Mitch McHenry, and three of his players Anton Brookshire, Elijah Bridgers, and Micah McIntire about the tournament and their season. We also spoke with Greenwood players Aminu Mohammed, Grant Harper, and Tommy Pinegar about what they hope their team will gain from playing in the TOC. For more information on the tournament, visit www.tofc.weebly.com.

In this episode we welcome back our officials’ panel! The stripes were in the studio! My guests included Southwest Missouri Coordinator of Officials Kelly Holt, and officials Mike Denbow, Jeff Grevillus, and Matthew Holt. The panel did an excellent job of expressing the mentality of an official and answering our listener and coaches’ questions. Each one had a unique perspective and shared those point of views with us.

Happy New Year! Wow! 2020! What an exciting time!

We ring in the New Year with another challenge for our legendary duo, Art Hains and Ned Reynolds. These two broadcast gurus decided to accept another test from Coach Hopkins. We met at Ebbett’s Field (thank you – such a great place to eat and catch up on the latest sports scene) and, this time, had a panel of judges/studio audience. We hosted our St. Louis Cardinals correspondent, Don Louzader who did a terrific job and is always a welcome guest on the show. We also had one of my former assistants and current school principal Misty Ramsey join us for the first-and after her performance definitely not her last-appearance! We also hosted my younger brother, and Kansas City Chiefs Superfan, Jeff Burnett-one of my favorites to have on the airwaves.

The challenge was to play, what I now like to call, Play by Play Charades. I showed a one-minute video clip to Ned and Art of a lesser known sport – but still nationally or globally recognized –and, without saying what sport it is, they painted the picture so that the panel could guess. The panel had dry erase boards and after one minute, they wrote down what sport they felt like Ned and Art described. We went through 14 sports! It was fun, some they knew and some, well, I had to have some that “stumped the chumps”. Jeff was the winner with seven correct and we had a great time playing (cue dramatic music in your mind)…Play by Play Charades! Listen to the show and give it a try, see how many you get!

My thanks, again, to Ebbett’s Field for their hospitality. Also, thank you to Greg Burnett for compiling and selecting the sports and videos, he did an excellent job! We hit sports from all around the world. Kudos to Ned Reynolds and Art Hains for, again, proving how they are the sports broadcast legends of this area and to my stellar panel Don Louzader, Misty Ramsey, and Jeff Burnett – you all were wonderful sports and we appreciated your valued participation!