McFall wins 500th game

Former Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Community College player John McFall recently won his 500th game as a high-school basketball coach.

McFall, a 1964 graduate of Fort Scott High School who also played at FSCC from 1965-67, currently coaches the girls' team at Mill Valley High School in Shawnee. Win No. 500 came against Kansas City-Piper on January 13.

His overall record in 32 seasons as a head coach is 500-202. He has won 13 league championships and guided teams to 13 State tournaments, seven State championship games and Class 6A titles with Olathe South in 1997 and 2004.

In his coaching career, McFall has been the head boys' coach at Shawnee Mission North (1980-84), Shawnee Mission West (1984-88) and Olathe South (1988-2007). He coached all three of his sons at Olathe South.

He left jobs twice for his family. He left Shawnee Mission West after a 23-2 season in 1987-88 because his children were entering high school at Olathe South. He "retired" following the 2006-07 season so he could watch his youngest son, Clint, play at West Texas A&M.

This is his fourth year at Mill Valley. He has said this will be his last head coaching job.

-- Some information from the Shawnee Dispatch, published Friday.