By Ryan Atkinson
ratkinson@joplinglobe.com
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Webb City head coach Eric Johnson spent his final game on the Cardinal sideline like he has most games during his 24-year career at the school.
He sat quietly in his chair, called few timeouts and saved his words of wisdom for the locker room or for one-on-one conversations on the bench.
After all, Johnson said, why change things now.
“You try to be pretty much the same,” Johnson said of coaching his final game. “When I started coaching quite a few years ago I was up and yelling a lot, but you mellow out over the years. It’s not that you feel like you’re wasting your time yelling at them, it’s that they don’t need to be yelled at.
“I try to coach and do it with common sense in a professional way. I just get their attention and remind them about things. It doesn’t do any god to yell at them. They respond because they’re competitors.”
Johnson announced in January that he would retire at the end of the season. He picked up his 500th win on Jan. 11 against Carthage and then led the Cardinals to 15 straight victories and a berth in the Class 4 state tournament. He finishes his career with 516 wins — more than 400 of which came at Webb City.
Minutes after his Cardinals earned the Class 4 third-place trophy with a 70-52 win over Lincoln Prep on Saturday, Johnson said it didn’t yet feel like his time at Webb City was over.
And, he said, it might take a while.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Johnson said. “Maybe in about two weeks when I’m out on the golf course, I may think about it.”
The only timeouts Johnson called during Saturday’s game came in the final two minutes, when Webb City had the game in hand. Johnson made sure the team’s underclassmen got a chance to get on the floor and that the squad’s five seniors were able to leave to standing ovations from the Webb City faithful.
Johnson shared long hugs with the seniors as they came off the court and more as the team medals were being presented.
“It feels good because of the win, but I’m sad about losing the seniors,” Johnson said. “You’re always sad about losing the seniors and it’s no different under these circumstances.”
The Cardinals struggled early, but seemed determined to send Johnson out with a win.
“It feels great,” senior Alan Pink said. “It’s great for the whole team. We all wanted to make sure we did it the right way. It was a great win.”
Sports
March 8, 2008
Winning one for the coach
Career victory No. 516 marks end for WCHS' retiring Eric Johnson
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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