Jim Shannon of New Albany and Rick Risinger of Heritage Christian School have been chosen as Indiana’s nominees for the National Federation of State High School Associations national basketball coaches of the year.
Shannon guided New Albany to the Class 4A state championship in 2015-16 with a 27-1 record and was voted an IBCA District 3 Coach of the Year. In 18 seasons with the Bulldogs, Shannon’s teams are 331-97 with 10 sectional titles, two regional titles, one semistate title and one state crown. In 32 seasons as a head coach, he has compiled a 496-236 record with 13 sectionals, two regionals, one semistate and one state title.
Shannon is a 1978 graduate of Anderson, where he earned three varsity letters. He attended Ball State, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in government, U.S. history and physical education.
He began his coaching career while a college student as an assistant at Anderson (1980-84). He became a head coach for three seasons at North Decatur (1984-87) and followed with six years at South Dearborn (1987-93) and five years at Lebanon (1993-98) before becoming the New Albany coach (1998-present).
Shannon, who teaches U.S. history at New Albany, was named IBCA District 5 Coach of the Year in 2002 and an IBCA District 3 Coach of the Year in 2008.
Shannon and his wife, Tammy, have two adult children – Spencer and Ally – and two grandchildren.
Risinger has won more state championships than any other Indiana girls’ basketball coach with seven titles on his resume. The most recent of those came in February when his HCS squad defeated North Harrison 51-45 for the Class 3A state championship.
In 11 seasons with the Eagles, Risinger’s teams have compiled a 257-43 record with state titles in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2016. His teams also have won Indianapolis City Tournament championships all 11 seasons. They also have won nine sectionals, eight regionals and seven semistates.
Risinger is a 1969 graduate of Richmond High School, where he was chosen to the Indiana All-Star Team following a career where he scored 1,084 points in 66 games as a varsity player under coach Dick Baumgartner. As a senior, he led the North Central Conference with a 23.4 scoring average and had a high game of 41 points.
Risinger matriculated to Purdue, where he was a four-year member of the Boilermakers’ basketball team for George King. He earned a business degree in 1973 and retired after 38 years working for the Verizon Corp.
Risinger and his wife, Jane, have three adult children – Clay, Courtney and Megan.
