In all the years Notre Dame principal Bill Maupin knew Jim Myers, he never called him by name.
He just called him “Coach.” Everyone did.
“That’s just who he was. Jim was the heart of the basketball team,” Maupin said. “In his spare time, he would help out other girls in basketball who weren’t even our students.”
Myers had just begun his 11th season as head coach of the Notre Dame High School girls basketball team. He died Friday after a seven-year battle with cancer.
“He did so much for the kids. The kids were always his top priority,” Maupin said.
Myers continued to coach until the end of his life. Three days before his death, he coached his last girl’s basketball game from a wheelchair — the season opener against WACO. Two days before his death, Myers attended his final basketball practice.
“I’m glad he got to keep coaching until the very end. Not being with the kids would have been the worst thing for him,” Maupin said.
On Monday night (Nov. 29), the girl’s basketball team returned the favor by dedicating the game and the season to Myers. A display of roses at the game marked his passing.
“He lived and breathed basketball,” Maupin said. “But he was a great guy off the court.”
Myers helped lead the Nikes basketball team to a Class 1A state championship in 2014. He coached winning teams at Burlington High School and Southeastern Community College, as well. He coached the Nikes to over 100 wins during his tenure at the school.
No matter the circumstances, Myers knew how to get it done.
He was also a family man with three children who attended Notre Dame. Maupin said Myers went out of his way to engineer social activities for parents and students.
“He was just a fun-loving guy,” Maupin said.
Former Notre Dame principal Ron Glasgow knew Myers before he became a basketball coach. Although he didn’t coach him, Glasgow remembers watching Myers running up and down the court for Burlington High School.
Myers developed a special bond with his coach, Don Gibbs, who was not only a mentor but a trusted and endearing friend throughout his adult life.
During his senior year, Myers guided the Grayhounds to a Mississippi 8 conference championship in basketball and a fourth-place finish in the state tournament.
He led the Mississippi 8 in rebounds and was second in scoring.
He continues to hold the record at BHS for most rebounds per game. He was an All-State selection by the Iowa Newspaper Association.
He was the 1984 All-Hawk Eyeland Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year.
After graduating from Burlington High School in 1984, Myers played college basketball at Wayne State in Nebraska, Southeastern Community College, and William Penn College, where he graduated in 1988. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1989 and served aboard the USS Cayuga during Desert Shield.
When Glasgow became athletic director of BHS, Myers was already the head basketball coach. And he was a darn good one.
“Jim was a really strong fundamentals coach. I was really impressed with the way he ran his practices. He did a lot of work in the off-season with the kids,” Glasgow said.
More importantly, Myers understood the value of hard work — unrelenting, never-ending hard work that has value beyond basketball.
“There’s just some life lessons you can learn from people like Jim Meyers. I think those kids are going to have that benefit throughout their life,” said Glasgow.
A believer in community involvement, Myers volunteered his time.
He served on the American Little League Board, coached Little League, and officiated basketball games and flag football games.
Burlington City Councilman Matt Rinker called Myers a “great Burlingtonian,” and paid tribute to him during the Monday night city council work session.
“He will be deeply missed, and his impact in our community will not only be felt at Notre Dame but throughout the community. A great man, the life of a room. Anyone who knew him was blessed to know him.”
Corey Stephens will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.