Inductees

Some college graduates want to go straight to the big time after walking across the graduation stage.

However, Jim Scanlon wasn’t afraid to start his career at the bottom of the coaching ladder. Nor was he allergic to rolling up his sleeves to get a job done.

Call it a great road taken.

Scanlon coached Missouri high school boys basketball for 43 seasons, with his first six spent sharpening his skills in small towns before going on to an impressive, 36-year run leading Columbia’s Rock Bridge High School Bruins, a Class 5 program.

Along the way, his name became synonymous with success – nearly 800 wins, including seven trips to the Final Four and a state championship — which is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to induct Scanlon with the Class of 2019.

“At each school, I had to rebuild and start from scratch,” Scanlon said. “I wanted to build a winning culture and implement my system. Being in the profession of coaching for so long I have had to change a lot as well as society has changed with kids, parents and administrations.”

Scanlon owns an overall record of 796-241. At Rock Bridge since 1983, he was 656-197, which includes six trips to the Final Four (1991, 1997, 2009, 2011, 2018, 2019) and the 2019 Class 5 state championship.

He previously coached at Union Star High School (the 1975-1976 season), followed by two seasons at North Harrison High School in Eagleville, three seasons at Penney High School in Hamilton and two at Benton High School in St. Joseph. His 1980-1981 Penney team reached the Final Four and placed third.

Overall, his teams have won 20 district titles, including 16 at Rock Bridge.

All this from a 1969 graduate of Breckenridge High School who later graduated from the University of Missouri. He had been an all-state basketball player and all-district in football at Breckenridge.

“Really, in high school I had no idea what I wanted to do. My parents wanted me to go to college, so I did. I had no idea what I was going to do,” Scanlon said. “I thought going to college would allow me to watch college football and basketball. Indeed it did.”

Union Star hired him as head football and head basketball coach. At Penney, guards who could shoot and a good post player carried Penney to Scanlon’s first Final Four in 1981. Each of his three teams there won district titles.

“All stops were eventful yet different,” Scanlon said. “I feel that I grew as a coach at each school. Each move was to a larger school. By making those moves I elevated my coaching and had more talent to coach.”

He clearly made his biggest mark at Rock Bridge.

“The Rock Bridge job was somewhat unique as my brother Mark was teaching and coaching at Mexico High School,” Scanlon said. “He told me about the Rock Bridge job and said I should apply as he said it was a classy school.”

After his interview Superintendent Dr. Russ Thompson, Dr. Jim Ritter, Dr. Wayne Walker, and athletic directors Hap Whitney (MSHOF 2011) and John Henage (MSHOF 2015) pursued him heavily.

In his second season, the Bruins beat Columbia Hickman.

“At that time Hickman was very good and were twice our size,” Scanlon said. “There was a stretch we defeated Hickman 20 games in a row. The cross-town rivalry is good for the hype of high school sports.”

Scanlon reached the top in March 2019 as Rock Bridge won the program’s first state title in a 63-59 victory against Christian Brothers College High School.

Previously, Rock Bridge place third in 1991, 1997, 2009, 2018 and fourth in 2011. The 1991 team was Rock Bridge’s first Final Four since 1978.

Scanlon’s teams featured 33 All-State selections. He coached three at Penney, one at Benton and 29 at Rock Bridge, including 11 since 2010. Six Bruins have gone on to play in NCAA Division I basketball, and two played professionally overseas.

Scanlon appreciates so many for his success, especially family – wife Lori and their children Brennan, Blair, Stewart and Sarah.

“It has been a pleasure, for the most part, to coach all three of my sons,” Scanlon said. “Believe me, I was hard on them and they had to learn my roles, Dad and Coach. I also want to thank all administrators, assistant coaches, players, parents and family for supporting and helping with this journey. It was definitely a TEAM effort throughout the process.”