Terry English had a .500 record at
Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) ... when it comes to state championships. Along with winning 910 games in a 44-year career that ended this season, English won 22 state titles, including another one in March. He has been named the 2020-21 MaxPreps Coach of the Year in girls basketball.
Despite that amazing record, English isn't as focused on wins, losses and banners on the gym wall as one might expect.
"I know I've done a good job if the kids are smiling at the end of the season," he said.
That said, they might not have been smiling all year, as English admits he's "an emotional guy. When I chew somebody out, I chew 'em out pretty good."
But players, even elite players, listen.
Payton Verhulst, a MaxPreps All-American who graduates from Bishop Miege this year, puts it simply.
"He knows just about everything about basketball," she said. "He's so wise, when he speaks, everyone listens."
"I tell the girls, 'Don't listen to how I'm saying it, listen to what I'm saying,' " English said. "I've mellowed in some ways, but as far as the way I am on the sidelines, I haven't changed."
And then he considers the passage of time.
"Well, I'm probably not as explosive as I was in my younger days."
But to simply classify English as one of those coaches who yells a lot would be a mistake, because there's a short shelf life for those who rely heavily on vocal volume. English can relate to his players and also to shifts in how the game is played.
"I've been able to change," he said. "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 hasn't changed at Bishop Miege is reliance on a 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.'"
And play they did, better than any team in Kansas and as good as any team in the nation. And though English will still help his son Jeff – Bishop Miege's new coach – an era in Kansas basketball has come to an end. English has no regrets.
"It's been a great experience," he said. "I wouldn't change it for anything."
Past MaxPreps National Coaches of the Year
2020 — No award given
2019 — Terri Bamford, La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
2018 — Frank Orlando, Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.)
2017 — Joe Lombard, Canyon (Texas)
2016 — Karen Weitz, Centennial (Las Vegas)
2015 — Tom Gonsalves, St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.)
2014 — Dan Rolfes, Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
