SportsJune 20, 2023
Trailblazer to icon: Legendary basketball coach Lennies McFerren honored with Semoball’s Lifetime Achievement Award
SIKESTON — In the rolling hills of southeast Missouri, where the Mississippi River winds its way through sleepy towns and fertile farmland, a legend lives on. Lennies McFerren is a trailblazer, the first black high school basketball coach in southeast Missouri and across a wide stretch of land from St. Louis to Memphis when he took over the Charleston Bluejays program in 1977...
By Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat
SIKESTON — In the rolling hills of southeast Missouri, where the Mississippi River winds its way through sleepy towns and fertile farmland, a legend lives on.
Lennies McFerren is a trailblazer, the first Black high school basketball coach in Southeast Missouri and across a wide stretch of land from St. Louis to Memphis when he took over the Charleston Bluejays program in 1977.
With 10 state championships under his belt, McFerren’s name has become synonymous with winning in Missouri High School Basketball.
The recently retired Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Member shattered barriers and inspired generations of players. He is a pioneer, mentor, friend and legend who led his teams to glory on gym floors across the Show Me State, but his impact went far beyond the basketball. He was a trailblazer, hero, and now, a recipient of the Semoball Award’s Lifetime Achievement honor.
This is his story.
When asked what set him apart from other coaches, McFerren was quick to give credit to his players.
“I just had the pleasure of having some great players,” he said. “The players make great coaches. All of my teams have had great players that are second to none. I was lucky to have the opportunity to coach them. They’re the ones who had to play some ball.”
But McFerren’s success wasn’t just due to his talented players. He also had a winning mentality that he imparted to his teams, pushing them to work harder and strive for excellence.
“The players and communities fed into the program because of who I was,” he said. “They wanted me to succeed because they saw themselves in me, just like I saw myself in them. They didn’t want me to fail, so they did things that nobody else wanted to do, and that was bust their brains out trying to win basketball games.”
McFerren, 74, was born in North Lilbourn, Missouri, into a large family. Growing up, he developed a passion for basketball and excelled on the court, earning All-Conference honors in his junior and senior seasons at Howardville High School.
“That’s all we had at the time was basketball,” he said.
In 1967, after graduating from high school, McFerren joined the Army and was stationed in Naples, Italy for three years.
During his time there, he fell in love with the country and may have considered staying for the rest of his life.
However, his father informed him that his mother wanted him to return home.
“I volunteered because everyone was getting drafted because of the Vietnam War,” McFerren said. “I didn’t want to sit around and wait. I decided that if I passed the physical, then I’m going to volunteer to get it over with.
“I lucked up and Uncle Sam knew I didn’t belong in Vietnam and ended up in Naples, Italy for three years,” he continued. “The reason I left Naples was because I had my mom and dad at home, but I loved it. I had my family, a nice job in communication and nothing to be worried about. So I had fun.”
After serving his country, McFerren returned to his hometown and caught the attention of Lilbourn basketball coach Ted Mauk during a pickup game at the high school.
Mauk recommended McFerren to Three Rivers Community College coach Bob Cradic, but Cradic ended up taking a job at Southeast Missouri State before the season began.
McFerren went on to play for fellow Missouri Sports Hall of Famer and Semoball Awards Lifetime Achievement honoree (2015) Gene Bess at Three Rivers Community College, earning All-Conference honors during his two years.
“Coach Bess was the one who taught me basketball,” McFerren said. “I didn’t know anything until I met him, and he is the one I tried to copy. I was lucky to get to learn some swift lessons from coach Bess because it helped me out a lot.”
McFerren’s skills on the basketball court did not unnoticed, and he earned a reputation as a “magician” with the ball among his teammates.
After two successful seasons at Three Rivers, McFerren transferred to Southeast Missouri State to play for Cradic.
McFerren also received serious interest from Eastern Illinois University but ultimately chose SEMO to be closer to his family.
However, McFerren later learned that the Eastern Illinois coaching staff held him in such high regard that they believed he had the potential to play in the NBA.
McFerren’s transition from player to coach was somewhat unexpected, and he isn’t entirely sure what led him down the path.
“When I left SEMO, I had the same dream of every college ballplayer: To play in the NBA. Then all of a sudden I was coaching,” he said. “I think it happened because I loved to be around the kids.”
However, McFerren’s talent and passion for the game could not be contained, and he soon found himself coaching at Charleston High School.
It was a friend and fellow coach, Mitch Haskins, who played a pivotal role in his coaching career. When McFerren received an offer to coach at another school, he shared the news with Haskins.
Haskins advised McFerren not to accept any offers until they could meet in person. This decision would prove to be crucial, as McFerren ended up serving as an assistant on Haskins’ staff for two seasons before taking over as head coach in 1977.
“That’s how we started talking basketball, and I eventually followed in his footsteps at Charleston,” McFerren said.
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As the first Black head coach in the region, McFerren faced a host of challenges that his white counterparts did not early in his career.
One of the most significant was the lack of respect he received from referees and other coaches, who often ignored him and treated him dismissively or worse.
“No one respected you,” McFerren recalled. "The referees didn’t respect you. They walk right past you going to the scorer’s table and didn’t even say hello. I took a lot of time to earn their respect, and it was a tough and trying time.”
McFerren also remembers instances where the referee crew would go to his white assistant coaches for information or assistance, assuming that they were the head coach instead of him.
“It was frustrating and demoralizing,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if they didn’t want to speak to me or if they just assumed that I wasn’t capable of being the head coach.”
Despite these challenges, McFerren persevered and earned the respect of his peers through his hard work and dedication.
He went on to become one of the most successful coaches in the state, proving that skin color was no barrier to success in the world of sports.
McFerren’s debut season as head coach was nothing short of remarkable. Leading his team to the state's Final Four was a feat that few young coaches coach accomplish.
Unfortunately, his team fell short in the big game, leaving the coach questioning his abilities and his approach.
But McFerren didn’t stay down for long. With the help of his brother Al, an experienced high school basketball official, McFerren was able to reflect on what went wrong and adjust his approach.
“The kids didn’t lose that game, I lost that game because I didn’t know how to coach in the Final Four,” McFerren said. “I hollered and screamed because I was young, and I didn’t know how to act. My brother Al just told me to be myself and be the person I am on a regular day. That was very helpful. He had seen what it took to be successful in those high-pressure games and what a championship-winning team looked like. He taught me a lot.”
In 1980, McFerren returned to the Final Four and captured his first state championship. The championship team included notable players such as Jewel Crawford, James Campbell and Tyrone Rogers.
McFerren later reflected on the experience, noting the first championship is always the most memorable. He realized that he didn’t need to be someone he wasn’t, and instead focused on being his authentic self.
This approach paid off, as McFerren led his team to victory without yelling and hollering, but by being himself and leading with confidence.
McFerren’s journey from his initial defeat to his championship win is a testament to the power of reflection, growth and learning from mistakes.
It’s a story that reminds one that success is not just about winning, but about becoming a better version of one’s self.
McFerren went on to win seven state championships with an overall record of 408-97 at Charleston. He also won 14 district titles in his tenure with the Bluejays.
In 1994, McFerren decided to leave Charleston and take a job at New Madrid County Central. This decision was driven primarily by financial considerations and a desire to provide a better life for his family.
However, it is worth noting that NMCC was and still is one of Charleston’s biggest rivals, adding an extra layer of complexity to McFerren’s move.
“I had to chance to get a little bit more money and that was it,” he said. “I was just trying to help my family, and I don’t regret that.”
Even now, years later, McFerren acknowledged that there are still some in Charleston who hold a grudge against him for leaving.
“The Charleston community didn’t like it when it happened and they still don’t like it now,” he said. “But they didn’t know I left because I was trying to help my family. They just thought I was skipping out and abandoning them. They don’t like me, and that’s something they might never get over. A lot of people in Charleston feel like I deserted them. But they had some pretty good coaches who came behind me there, which should have kept them pretty happy.
“Those players at Charleston just didn’t want to lose,” he continued. “That’s still there today. They have a winning attitude and expect to win no matter who they are playing. I really didn’t know how great I had it until I got away from Charleston and had to go back into the Charleston Gymnasium. That’s a hard place to play. I didn’t know that that place was so loud. The fans are great to have on your side. Charleston is dynamite when comes to fans loving the game.”
McFerren won back-to-back state titles at NMCC in 2000 and 2001 and six district titles after amassing an overall record of 221-16 during his three stints with the Eagles from 1994 to 2001, 2005 to 2006 and 2018 to 2022. He won his 10th state title and third at NMCC this past March.
He also coached at Kennett High School from 2016 to 2018 and compiled a record of 17-32.
McFerren’s legacy
McFerren’s legacy is defined by the countless young people he mentored and inspired throughout his career.
“I’ve had so many players that just loved the game of basketball,” he said. “I had a lot of greatest around me.”
McFerren explained that basketball changed a lot of these young men because it instilled in them a desire to do more for their families and communities.
His coaching philosophy, which emphasized the importance of teamwork and hard work, has inspired countless young players to pursue their dreams both on and off the court.
McFerren’s words hold much weight, as he has seen firsthand how basketball can be more than just a game and a way out of poverty and a path to a better life.
“The game of basketball changed them because it made them want to do more for their families,” he said. “They don’t just want to be standing up in the corner.”
McFerren said he was most proud of the players he coached, the relationships he formed and the opportunity to make a positive impact on their lives. He believes that coaching is not about him, but rather about the players.
“You can fool them, but you can’t trick them,” he said. “The players can tell what your true intentions are and they know if you really about them.”
McFerren has seen his former players’ lives take many different roads.
“I always tried to let my players know that I loved them,” he said. “I was a father to some, a brother to others but the thing about it was that we loved each other and that’s what it’s all about. I just tried to do what I could do to provide and help the families.”
The 2023 Semoball Awards are presented by SoutheastHEALTH and supported by title sponsors: The Bank of Missouri (Official Bank Sponsor), SEMO ESPN Radio, St. Louis Cardinals and rustmedia. The event will be held Friday, July 14 at the La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with red carpet festivities and the show begins at 7 p.m.
There is a $10 off promotion for VIP and General Admission tickets when you use the code Lifetime (the discount can be applied to multiple tickets).
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