High school basketball: Activing coaching wins list topped by Gary McKnight of California powerhouse Mater Dei

Gary McKnight of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) begins the high school basketball season as the winningest active coach in the country. He is just three victories away from moving into second place on the all-time list.

Others who could move up on the all-time list include Charles Smith of Peabody (Alexandria, La.) and Jeff Bell of Graford (Texas). Smith, who has been reported by some media outlets with 1,208 career wins, has 1,180 by our count. He needs just six wins to move ahead of Bob Hurley of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) with 1,185 wins for No. 7 on the all-time list.

Bell, meanwhile, is the closest to joining the 1,000-win club as he has 986 wins to start the season.

MaxPreps has identified 37 active coaches with over 800 career wins including six coaches who have coached 50 or more years. Active coaching wins leaders

1. Gary McKnight
Career record: 1,272-140 (.901)
Years coached: 1983-present
Schools: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

2. Richard Duease
Career record: 1,240-439 (.738)
Years coached: 1976-present
Schools:  Manchester Academy (Yazoo City, Miss.), Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison, Miss.)

3. Freddy Johnson
Career record: 1,190-328 (.784)
Years coached: 1977-present
Schools: Greensboro Day School (Greensboro, N.C.)

4. Charles Smith
Career record: 1,180-211 (.848)
Years coached: 1985-present
Schools:  Peabody (Alexandria, La.)

5. Tony Harper
Career record: 1,142-513 (.690)
Years coached: 1971-present
Schools: Burges (El Paso, Texas), Montwood (El Paso, Texas), Cathedral (El Paso, Texas)

6. Danny Broussard
Career record: 1,139-351 (.764)
Years coached: 1983-present
Schools: St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.)

7. Mike LeDuc
Career record: 1,072-272 (.798)
Years coached: 1980-present
Schools: Damien (La Verne, Calif.), Glendora (Calif.)

8. Ron Insinger
Career record: 1,053-296 (.778)
Years coached: 1974-present
Schools: Loyalsock Township (Williamsport, Pa.)

9. Paul Rodio
Career record: 1,027-274 (.789)
Years coached: 1977-present
Schools: St. Augustine Prep (Richland, N.J.)

10. Jeff Bell
Career record: 986-317 (.757)
Years coached: 1982-present
Schools: Lorenzo (Texas), Dimmitt (Texas), Smithville (Texas), Lampasas (Texas), Liberty Hill (Texas), Taylor (Texas), Brock (Texas), Midway (Waco, Texas), Bland (Merit, Texas), Fort Worth Christian (North Richland Hills, Texas), North Hopkins (Sulphur Springs, Texas), Graford (Texas)

11. Ken Novak Jr.
Career record: 967-187 (.838)
Years coached: 1982-present
Schools: Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)

12. Aaron Straub
Career record: 964-247 (.796)
Years coached: 1983-present
Schools: Elk County Catholic (St. Marys, Pa.)

13. Harvey Kitani
Career record: 957-300 (.760)
Years coached: 1980-present
Schools: San Fernando (Calif.), Fairfax (Los Angeles), Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro, Calif.)

14. Neil Alexander
Career record: 955-429 (.690)
Years coached: 1977-present
Schools: Lincoln (Ill.)

15. Ron Naclerio
Career record: 939 wins
Years coached: 1981-present
Schools: Cardozo (Bayside, N.Y.)

16. Pat Eidson
Career record: 931-424 (.687)
Years coached: 1983-present
Schools: Easley Christian (Easley, S.C.), Pinewood Prep (Summerville, S.C.)

17. Todd Sutherland
Career record: 927-203 (.820)
Years coached: 1993-present
Schools: West Orange-Stark (Orange, Texas), Kountze (Texas), Hardin-Jefferson (Sour Lake, Texas), East Chambers (Winnie, Texas)

18. Butch Waller
Career record: 918-385 (.704)
Years coached: 1966-present
Schools: Wicomico (Salisbury, Md.)

19. J.R. Holmes
Career record: 913-372 (.710)
Years coached: 1971-present
Schools: Bloomington South (Bloomington, Ind.)

20. Greg Wise
Career record: 908-165 (.846)
Years coached: 1996-present
Schools: Lee (Houston), Davis (Houston), Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City, Texas), Yates (Houston, Texas)

21. Rudy Carey
Career record: 908-234 (.795)
Years coached: 1976-present
Schools: Denver East (Denver)

22. Jim Scanlon
Career record: 894-276 (.764)
Years coached: 1976-present
Schools: Union Star (Mo.), North Harrison (Eagleville, Mo.), Penney (Hamilton, Mo.), Benton (St. Joseph, Mo.), Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.)

23. Jim Murphy
Career record: 872-274 (.761)
Years coached: 1984-present
Schools: Hope Christian (Albuquerque)

24. Richard Hoogendoorn
Career record: 860-553 (.609)
Years coached: 1976-present
Schools: Schulenburg (Texas)

25. Joe Fenlon
Career record: 856-345 (.713)
Years coached: 1983-present
Schools: Tampa Prep (Tampa, Fla.)

26. Kevin Boyle
Career record: 855 wins
Years coached: 1989-present
Schools: St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)

27. Joe Hosman
Career record: 849-450 (.654)
Years coached: 1979-present
Schools: Massac County (Metropolis, Ill.)

28. Lester King
Career record: 848-575 (.596)
Years coached: 1979-present
Schools: Goodrich (Texas)

29. Dave Rogers
Career record: 839-256 (.766)
Years coached: 1975-present
Schools: Martinsburg (W.Va.)

30. Ken Shaw
Career record: 839-297 (.739)
Years coached: 1976-present
Schools: Merino (Colo.), Yuma (Colo.), Sterling (Colo.), Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins, Colo.), Smoky Hill (Aurora, Colo.), Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.)

31. Tim Whipple
Career record: 837-319 (.724)
Years coached: 1981-present
Schools: Irmo (Columbia, S.C.)

32. Rick Mills
Career record: 833-494 (.628)
Years coached: 1972-present
Schools: Northwest (Cedar Hill, Mo.)

33. Larry Kostelac
Career record: 822 wins
Years coached: 1985-present
Schools: Trinity (Camp Hill, Pa.)


35. Dave Galovich
Career record: 813 wins
Years coached: 1987-present
Schools: Crosby-Ironton (Crosby, Minn.)

36. Doug Schumpert
Career record: 810 wins
Years coached: 1990-present
Schools: Carnegie (Okla.), Anadarko (Okla.)

37. Norm Persin
Career record: 801-256 (.637)
Years coached: 1979-present
Schools: Chesapeake (Ohio), Oak Hill (Ohio), Wilmington (Ohio), Valley (Lucasville, Ohio), South Webster (Ohio)