Inductees

In sports, the old saying is, “Be ready when your number is called.” And that could not have been truer for John McNabb in 1988.

He had spent the decade as a football assistant coach at Camdenton High School, as part of staffs that helped the Lakers win a pair of state championships. He had coached multiple sports, too.

“In 1988, I was asked to be an assistant coach in track,” McNabb recalled. “Girls track had been very successful in the early 80s, but interest and numbers had really dropped off. I had been helping with the meets and wanted the chance to do something new. We recruited the hallways and athletes from the other sports and got our numbers up.”

Well, that’s not quite accurate. McNabb boosted the success of Camdenton’s girls track & field program through 2022 – all as part of 46 coaching seasons for Lakers in various sports. And it’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted him with the Class of 2025.

A girls track & field assistant from 1989 to 1991, McNabb then spent the next 31 seasons as their head coach. Three teams finished in the top 10, with the 2017 winning the Class 4 state championship. The 2018 Lakers placed third and that was just four years after finishing in the top 10.

Additionally, his Lakers won two sectionals (2001, 2017), five district titles (1989, 2001, 2007, 2017, 2018) and had three district runner-up finishes in 1991, 2005, 2015.

Individually, 179 girls were state qualifiers, including 58 state medalists. Five were state champions, and another was a relay state champion.

As an assistant for the boys teams, he helped the 1989, 1991, 1992, 2005, 2006 and 2021 teams win districts. Four other teams (1990, 2000, 2003, 2015) were district runner-up.

In essence, his diligent work in prior roles became valuable.

“After the 1990 season, the head coaching position was open and I applied for the job,” McNabb said. “As a middle school phys ed teacher, I was constantly looking for athletes and recruiting. During those early years we began to share coaching of both boys and girls. Our focus as a staff became working the hardest at the field events and relays. We had moved into the largest class in track, and we thought that was our best chance for success. My primary coaching responsibilities became the sprints and relays.”

A graduate of Downers Grove (Ill.) High School, McNabb had family ties in the Ozarks. One set of grandparents lived in the Marshfield and Elkland area, and they had taken him to the Blue & Gold Tournament in Springfield several years.

That led him to attend, and later graduate from, Missouri State University. Extended family lived in Camdenton, and that became his first – and only – school district.

Early on in his career, he coached multiple sports and handled several after 1990: cross country head coach (1976-1977), and a varsity assistant in football (1982-1992), boys basketball (1992-1996), volleyball (1995-1997, 2011-2014), baseball (1997-1999), and head girls basketball coach (1997-2001).

Along the way, he coached under football’s Bob Shore (MSHOF 2004) and basketball’s George Wilson (MSHOF 2008), as well as two Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Famers in Randy Draper and Skip Brock.

Fortunately, MSHSAA moved Camdenton to Class 4 in 2015 after several years in the highest classification, setting the wheels in motion for the 2017 state title season.

“I think I could write a book about that season,” McNabb said. “While I never talked about it, I knew we had a chance to win a state trophy by finishing in the top four. While we only qualified five girls to state, they were in eight events.”

Turned out, Camdenton qualified for the finals in all eight events and then weathered a five-hour rain delay.

While McNabb sensed the Lakers had a chance to win state, he shielded the athletes from the pressure. In fact, he told the 4×400 relay, their final event, to “just do your best.” Well, they won the event, and Camdenton won state by one single point.

Overall, what a career it was for McNabb, who had the support of his wife, Maurice, and children Jayme, John and Julie. He also thanks assistants Stacy Asante, Steve Bayless and Bret Enos, among many others.

“The people who deserve the most credit for our success were obviously the kids,” McNabb said. “I am so thankful for the journey and all the great people I worked for over the years.”