IBCA E-Newsletter

Career coaching records

The IBCA long has featured a "Coaches Club" in the annual boys’ basketball Record Book. From June 2025 through March 2026, IBCA associate executive director Tom Beach has worked to verify entries in the past boys’ Coaches Club list and add previously omitted coaches to the list. The current boys’ Coaches Club includes 1,383 coaches with 100 or more victories.

Simultaneously, IBCA director of special projects Pat McKee has worked to compile a girls’ Coaches Club for the inaugural girls’ basketball Record Book. The current girls’ Coaches Club includes 614 coaches with 100 or more victories.

The two lists are in the linked PDF files: Boys | Girls

Indiana’s career victory leaders are J.R. Holmes for boys and Donna Cheatham for girls. Holmes, the current coach at Bloomington South, is 948-388 in 56 seasons. He previously coached at Tunnelton and Mitchell. Cheatham retired in 2020 with a career mark of 730-274 in 45 seasons. She coached at Scottsburg, Southwestern (Hanover) and Scottsburg again.

BOYS LEADER: Bloomington South coach J.R. Holmes offers instructions to players during the 2023-24 season. (Photo by Bobby Goddin, Bloomington Herald-Times).

GIRLS LEADER: Donna Cheatham makes a point during a game during the 2017-18 season at Scottsburg.

The IBCA extends its gratitude to the many individuals who assisted in compiling these lists, including: Bob Adams, John Harrell, Jerry “Rocky” Kenworthy, Jeff Luzadder, Gene Milner, John Mullen, Jennifer Vorheis, Judi Warren and Steve Witty.

If anyone has verifiable information that can help us correct, update or add information for a coach, please email information on boys’ coaches to Tom Beach at tbeach22@gmail.com or girls’ coaches to Pat McKee at patmckee77@aol.com.