Congratulations to the 2016 state championship coaches
Boys
Class 4A: Jim Shannon, New Albany. Shannon has coached the Bulldogs for 18 seasons, including a 27-1 record in 2015-16 and a 62-59 victory over McCutcheon for the 4A state championship. He has a career record of 496-236 in 32 seasons as a head coach, including a 331-97 mark at New Albany. Over the years, Shannon’s teams have won 13 sectionals, two regionals and one semistate. He previously coached at North Decatur, South Dearborn and Lebanon. Shannon is a graduate of Anderson High School and Ball State University. He has been an IBCA District Coach of the Year in 2002, 2008 and 2016.
Class 3A: James Blackmon Sr., Marion. Blackmon guided Marion to a 23-7 slate in 2015-16, including a 73-68 decision over Evansville Bosse for the 3A state crown. In 12 seasons as a high school head coach, his teams have posted a 202-85 record, including a 56-22 mark in three seasons at Marion. He previously was the coach for nine seasons at Fort Wayne Luers, guiding the Knights to five sectional, two regional, two semistate and Class 2A state championships in 2008 and 2009. As a player, Blackmon scored 1,897 points at Marion, was chosen an All-American and finished as runner-up for the Indiana Mr. Basketball award in 1983. He later played at the University of Kentucky and was selected in the fifth round of the 1987 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets.
Class 2A: Jimmie Howell, Lapel. Howell directed Lapel to a 26-4 record last season, including a 59-37 triumph over Indianapolis Howe for the 2A state title. Howell has compiled a 565-254 record in 35 seasons as a boys basketball coach. That includes a 203-88 mark in 12 seasons at Lapel, a 221-102 record in 14 seasons at Mt. Vernon (Fortville), a 50-21 record in three seasons at Muncie South and a 91-43 record in six seasons at Brownsburg. His teams have won 11 sectionals, four regionals, two semistates and two state titles. He has been named an IBCA District Coach of the Year in 1985 (boys), 1991 (girls) and 2016 (boys). Howell is a 1972 graduate of Lapel and later was a three-year starter and two-year co-MVP at Charleston Southern University.
Class A: Jason Chappell, Liberty Christian. Chappell guided Liberty Christian to a 26-4 season in 2015-16, including a 64-45 victory over Bloomfield for the Class A championship. He has compiled a 153-140 record in 12 seasons at Liberty Christian, his alma mater. That mark includes five sectional titles, three regionals, one semistate and one state crown. Chappell is a 1991 graduate of Liberty Christian, which he helped to an Association of Christian School state championship as a senior. He attended Anderson University, where he played soccer for one season and tennis for four seasons.
Girls
Class 4A: Kristi Ulrich, Penn. Ulrich had overseen the Penn program for seven seasons, compiling a 158-21 record with the Kingsmen. That includes a 28-2 mark in 2015-16 capped by a 68-48 triumph over Columbus North for the Class 4A state championship. During her tenure, Ulrich’s teams have captured six sectionals, four regionals and three semistate crowns. Her teams also were 4A state runners-up in 2011 and 2014. She was an IBCA District Coach of the Year and the Indiana Junior All-Star head coach in 2014. Ulrich is a 1999 graduate of Mishawaka High School. She played basketball at Bethel College and helped the Pilots to Christian College national championships in 2000 and 2003.
Class 3A: Rick Risinger, Heritage Christian. Risinger has coached the Eagles for 11 seasons, including a 26-4 mark in 2015-16 and a 51-45 victory over North Harrison for the 3A state crown. He has a career record of 257-43, including 2A state titles in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2015. Risinger was an Indiana All-Star player in 1969 for Richmond High School, then played four years of basketball at Purdue. He became coach at Heritage Christian in 2005 and the Eagles have won nine sectionals, eight regionals, seven semistate and seven state titles during his tenure.
Class 2A: Craig DeVault, Lafayette Central Catholic. DeVault directed the Knights to a 25-5 effort in 2015-16, including a 56-43 triumph over Covenant Christian for the 2A state title. DeVault’s teams are 85-27 in four seasons and have captured four sectionals, four regionals, four semistate titles and two state crowns, including the 2015 Class A title. DeVault is a 1990 graduate of Lafayette Central Catholic, where he competed in basketball, baseball and tennis. He attended Danville Area (Ill.) Community College, playing one year of basketball, and Purdue University.
Class A: Scott Smith, Jac-Cen-Del. Smith guided the Lady Eagles to a 27-1 record last season, including a 57-39 decision over Argos for the Class A crown. During his 15 seasons as coach, Smith’s teams have compiled a 258-102 record with 12 sectionals, four regionals, one semistate and the one state title. Jac-Cen-Del also has captured six Ohio River Valley Conference titles during his tenure, and Smith has been voted an IBCA District Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2016. He is a graduate of Jac-Cen-Del, where he one of just three players to score more than 1,000 points and grab more than 500 rebounds, and Northern Kentucky University.
