By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Darin Lee Meinders, boys basketball coach at Aurora High School, directed his first practice of the preseason on Monday.
The late start for Meinders, as many people in athletics throughout southwest Missouri know, is a result of the death of his father.
Vernon Lee Meinders, 64, died on Nov. 8 in Warrensburg at his home.
Vernon Meinders was more than a dad in that he was junior varsity coach/confidant for his son at Aurora.
The elder Meinders guided Aurora B to a 14-2 record last season, according to a proud son, after serving as a volunteer assistant in Darin’s first season at Aurora.
“It was hard,” Darin Meinders said of Monday’s practice session. “The past seven years (five at Walnut Grove) we’d started practice together. We actually spent another season coaching together — I believe it was in 1997-98 (with the girls at Centerview Crest Ridge) — and we were 27-3 and reached the quarterfinals in Class 1. He was the principal at Crest Ridge.
“His clothes basically were packed,” Meinders said. “He was getting things ready (to join son, daughter-in-law Dana and grandsons Dallas and Dawson in Aurora).
“He had my back, of course. I could ask him questions and bounce ideas off him,” Meinders said. “He would be honest ... no matter what.
“There was some anxiety on how I’d react without him there,” Darin Meinders said. “But I believe we had a good practice. Dad is still with us and he’s still with me.
“This would have been dad’s last year (in coaching),” Meinders said. “He was getting out to watch our kids play in junior high.
“Our expectations don’t change,” Meinders said. “He would expect us to give everything in practice and each game throughout the season.”
Meinders said that he was “blessed” by two old Houn ’ Dawgs “stepping in and helping out” during his absence. Jim Waggoner, athletic director, and Bill Kirby, junior high principal, directed the workouts.
Kirby, ironically, did his student teaching under Darin Meinders at Morrisville.
Aurora returns just three lettermen from last season’s 27-2 edition that was unbeaten in the Big 8 Conference.
They are 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior Waylon Doty; 6-3, 225 senior David Eckman and 6-0 junior Aaron Cox. Doty received honorable mention all-league honors.
“Doty is getting looks in both basketball and football,” Meinders said. “He’s keeping his options open.
“We’re a young ballclub,” Meinders said. “But I believe our players expect to win. They’ve had a taste of success. They’ve shown they can handle adversity.
“Doty is one of the best post players in the area,” Meinders said. “I believe Cox, a very quick guard, is ready to take over a leadership role. We expect Eckman, who has lots of potential, to step up this season.
“We have several new players wanting to be successful,” Meinders said. “We aren’t backing away.”
The younger Meinders battled adversity — sickness — during the summer and apparently has conquered it.
Aurora has upgraded its schedule, Meinders said. New opponents from last season include Ozark and Parkview. Aurora also will play in the Nixa and Republic tournaments.
The elder Meinders, a native of Iowa, played basketball at Indian Hills Community College before securing his undergraduate degree at Truman State. He did most of his coaching at Crest Ridge and was its first boys basketball coach.
Former players from Aurora and Walnut Grove as well as Crest Ridge attended services in Warrensburg. Former players read letters. Sixth-grader Dallas read a letter to grandpa. Third-grader Dawson sang a song.
“It was a fitting tribute to a man who taught and coached so many young people,” Darin Meinders said.
