California coach hits 900 victories as Sue Phillips, Evan Massey also surpass milestone win totals.
Kiernan, California's all-time winningest coach, completed his career with exactly 900 wins as reported by the Cal-Hi Sports Record Book. The Monarchs finished the season 25-8 with his 900th win coming in the Southern California regional playoffs against Mission Hills (San Marcos). He will remain as the school's athletic director.
Massey is the only new coach to go over 1,000 career wins in 2024. The Silver Streaks went 26-7 to put Massey at 1,018-397 in his 47-year coaching career. He sits 135 wins behind the state's all-time winningest coach, Dorothy Gaters of
Marshall (Ill.), who retired in 2021 with 1,153 wins.
Mitty's Phillips eclipsed the 800-win milestone with a 30-1 season that saw the Monarchs finish No. 2 in the nation according to the MaxPreps Top 25 rankings. Phillips is 819-138 during her 32-year career.
Kevin Kiernan of Mater Dei reached the 900-win plateau before stepping down as head coach. He's among a handful of coaches to add to their totals in the MaxPreps National High School Girls Basketball Record Book. (Photo: Nick Koza)
Tommy Gates of
Navasota (Texas) joined Kiernan in the 900-win club as the Rattlers posted a 32-4 record this year. He has a career record of 922-319.
Other coaches going over the 800-win milestone include Fred Priester of
Oakton (Vienna, Va.) with 805, Paul Runey of
Bishop England (Charleston, S.C.) with 805, Sue Liddy of
Academy of the Holy Angels (Demarest, N.J.) with 804, Donna Moier of
Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.) with 804 and Gina Maher of
Irvington (N.Y.) with 803.
Lamar Rogers of
Clarkrange (Tenn.) remains the winningest active coach in the nation with 1,329 wins (1,329-318). He closed to within 50 wins of No. 2 all-time leader Joe Lombard of
Canyon (Texas), who retired in 2020 with 1,379 wins. Leta Andrews, who retired from
Granbury (Texas) in 2014, holds the all-time lead with 1,416 wins.
