By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

Cletus Green, who closed out a lengthy coaching career in basketball with a stint as women’s coach at Crowder College, naturally hasn’t been disappointed with the decision of sons Steve and Kelly to follow him in the profession.

But Steve upstaged his dad — and younger brother Kelly — last Saturday night by guiding South Plains College of Levelland, Texas, to the men’s NJCAA Division I national championship.

The 67-56 win against Salt Lake Community College of Salt Lake City gave Steve Green his first championship in four trips to the Hutchinson (Kan.) Sports Arena.

Kelly, men’s coach at Arizona Western College of Yuma, has taken two teams to Hutchinson.

Cletus Green took two Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College teams to Hutchinson in 16 years.

“I was very happy,” Cletus Green said Tuesday of Steve’s title. “I finally realized that I have two sons who are better coaches than myself.

“We tried to help Kelly coach,” he said of a visit this season to Arizona with his wife Carolyn. “We offered advice to Steve. But they had their own ideas.

“It was a trying experience,” Cletus Green, turning serious, said of the four games at Hutchinson. “Those games were very competitive.”

South Plains, which missed its first eight shots and 17 of its first 19, trailed Salt Lake 17-4 with eight minutes left in the first half. Amazingly, South Plains recovered to lead 24-22 at the half. It built the second-half lead to 56-40 with 6:15 remaining.

“Emotional?” Cletus Green said. “No, for me, not really. Oh, yes, Carol became emotional.

“Carol and I still are riding on a high wave,” Cletus Green said.

Cletus Green, as well as the sons, graduated from Miami High School. Steve helped the 1971-72 Wardogs, coached by Don Overton, win a state championship.

Cletus Green amassed more than 700 victories during his career. Steve and Kelly together are nearing that plateau.