MCMAHON RETIRES AS FREDERICKTOWN COACH

Loud basketball coaches always seem to grab the spotlight. Chair throwing, towel throwing and foot stomping often seem to be prerequisites for the job.

If those truly were requirements, Fredericktown coach Dave McMahon never would have enjoyed 30 productive seasons as a high school boys basketball coach.

McMahon, who has spent the last 19 years at Fredericktown High School, recently announced plans for retirement. Fredericktown Middle School coach Don Huff will coach the Black Cats next season."I think it's time for a change," said McMahon, who also holds the position of athletic director. "I'm looking forward to doing something different and being a grandpa."McMahon and his laid back style appear a perfect match for retirement. It served him well in the heat of battle for 30-plus years as he compiled a 464-245 record."It's been enjoyable and Ive had some good athletes to work with," said McMahon. "The kids always gave a good effort. Sometimes it worked out for a good season and sometimes for an average season. It was enjoyable."A former first team all-state player at Clarkton, the former prep star made the `McMahon' name well-known in Fredericktown and in the Mineral Area Activities Association.

Through several of his seasons, McMahon was both coach and father to several players on the court. Sons Kevin, Ken, Keith and Kerry all played key roles for the Black Cats. All four played on district championship teams while Keith was also a first team all-state point guard and Kerry a second-team guard selection.

During his 19 years at the helm, McMahon compiled a 333-183 record, won seven conference titles and seven district crowns at Fredericktown, a Class 3A school. He also won three of each in a nine-year stint at North Pemiscot.

From 1984-89 Fredericktown won five straight conference titles in the 10-team MAAA. Through the years, his tallest starter was 6-foot-5, and most of the time his outsized teams relied on outside shooting skills. And when the 3-point shot was instituted in 1987-88, Fredericktowns outside sharpshooters were merely awarded an extra point for shots they were already taking."The 3-point shot helped our team quite a bit,"said McMahon.

Despite winning seven district titles, the Black Cats never advanced past sectional. Six of their sectional losses came to the eventual state champion, while the seventh came to a state runnerup. The most heartbreaking of the losses came in 1986-87 on a last-second shot by Charleston's Cedric Rogers which snapped a tie and vaulted the Blue Jays on to a state title.

The Black Cats had their best season under McMahon the following year, going 26-4 and losing to New Madrid in sectional play. In 30 seasons, McMahon coached teams only had four losing seasons.

Fredericktown last won its conference in the 1993-94 season. The Black Cats finished the recent season with a 5-17 mark, McMahons worst ever."We knew we lost five starters from last year's conference champions," said McMahon. "We knew we were going to be down but I figured I'd go ahead and finish out."Huff, who has coached the eighth-grade team for over 15 years, has already been putting fingerprints on McMahon's varsity teams."He helped bring along a lot of our players and introduced them to basketball," said McMahon. "He gave them their background and fundamentals."