Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) girls basketball coach Terry English, the 2020-21 MaxPreps National Coach of the Year, died Tuesday of a stroke according to the school. He was 72.
English led Bishop Miege to 22 state titles while compiling a 910-168 from 1975-2021. Though English retired after the 2021-22 season, he was planning on returning to his head coaching role after being an assistant for his son Jeff.
"Coach English will be deeply missed by his family, colleagues, friends, students, and players," representatives of the school said via social media. "He demonstrated commitment, grit, and love as a husband, father, educator, and coach. From 1975 to 2021, Coach English dedicated his life to a program that became a dynasty during his decades at Miege. 22 state titles reflect the team spirit and work ethic he instilled in his players."
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MaxPreps profile of him for his National Coach of the Year honor pointed out that English had a .500 record in state title games, but he said his focus wasn't on wins and losses.
"I know I've done a good job if the kids are smiling at the end of the season," he told MaxPreps.
English is survived by his wife Susie and four children, Mark, Greg, Jeff and Jenny, all of whom went to Bishop Miege.
"Coach English has meant so much to Bishop Miege, and Bishop Miege has played such an incredible role in his life," the English family wrote in a letter posted on Twitter upon Terry's retirement. "From being a graduate of the class of 1968, returning to teach for 30+ years, and coaching for 45 years — Bishop Miege runs through his blood."
Over the years, English admitted he mellowed over the years, but told MaxPreps: "I've been able to change …Reluctantly at times. But I'm very open-minded — if a friend on the street gives me an inbounds play and it works, I'll run it."
One thing that didn't change under English was Bishop Miege's full-court press.
"Pressing is something we're known for," he said, noting that when he started in 1977 not many girls teams employed a press in Kansas.
English, though, didn't care how girls were playing.
"My whole idea from the start was to tell my players, 'I want you to ignore the phrase girls basketball. We're going to play basketball.' "
