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The Coach
The Coach grew up on a farm ten miles away from Kalona, Wellman, church, and the grocery store. The rural homestead quite possibly contained more basketball hoops than cattle.
"They had a basketball hoop in the barn, on the outside of the barn, in the kitchen, and upstairs in his room," said mother Iva Showalter. "He really did love basketball. We saw that at a very early age."
The Coach had four younger brothers and even more area friends. Their pick-up games resembled gladiatorial combat, and the kids would be drenched in sweat after executing a run-and-shoot offense...in the kitchen, right next to where Iva was making food for five hungry boys.
The Coach has been at Mid-Prairie for 25 years, and 2 more as a student and star basketball player. But before Mid-Prairie, he was a social student at IMS who showed 4-H cattle every summer. Before his junior year in high school, Mid-Prairie coach Cal Hickman visited the quick point guard, and his parents made the decision to transfer him to a school so that the young, energetic boy could channel his energy into the sport he loved.
After 40 years and 521 wins, Don Showalter is one of the greatest coaches in the history of Iowa high school basketball. He is not only a born winner on the court, but is known around the country as one of the best teachers of basketball fundamentals. The wins have piled up, but that is not what his players remember most.
"He's a great guy, he's real fun loving, and he takes time to talk to everyone," said Travis Kern, a four-year varsity starter and star of the 2005 state tournament team.
"He's very inspirational in everything I do today," said Darian Patterson, the leader of the gutsy 2007 state-runner up team.
"He's a great person, and a highly respected coach," said Drew Yoder, a two-year starter who just graduated.
His players remember him as much for the on-court guidance, as they do for the man sitting in his office, always ready to help anyone.
His assistants remember him as a true friend and mentor.
"There is nobody I would rather have coach my two boys," said assistant Chris Kern. "It was an honor."
The Man
The man spent much of his time dedicating his life to the teaching of basketball to young people. When he wasn't coaching high school all-stars at summer camps, he was coaching his two children to become great people off the court. Melissa, 30, is a doctor in Cedar Rapids. She developed a love for science at an early age when her father introduced it to her.
"Melissa used to go with him to the labs the night before and she got interested in that kind of stuff," said Vicki Showalter, Don's wife of more than 35 years.
Brent, 28, a lawyer in Indianapolis, played for his dad, and in high school devoted his time to becoming a great basketball player, which came easy, considering the coaching he got on the court and at home.
Now, when he isn't coaching high school players, Don Showalter coaches his three grandsons, who range in age from three years old to two months old. His oldest grandson already had a hoop when he was starting to walk. Why walk when you can run and dribble?
Although basketball is his passion, the Man cares much more deeply about family than anything else. In December 2006, Donald Showalter Sr., his father and inspiration, died at the age of 76 from complications from diabetes. The Man planned the funeral, grieved his father, coached, and won basketball games all in the same week.
"He was a real leader during that time," said Iva. "He took charge and planned the whole thing."
Although Don was having a difficult time, he soldiered on and coached because he knew that's what his father would've wanted.
"Dad was an avid fan, he loved sports," said Don Showalter. "It was difficult, but it was one of those deals where I knew he was looking down on the game, and he wanted me to coach."
The Man coaches because he loves nothing more than to see a kid develop as a basketball player, and as a good person.
"The winning and losing is not the big picture of what Don does. It's the relationships he makes," said Vicki. "It's amazing."
The Legend
There are many stories about Coach Showalter circulating around the halls of Mid-Prairie and around the community. As a student, I have heard them all. There are stories about Showalter knowing legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
"Mike and I have a great relationship," said Showalter. "We talk frequently, mostly about basketball, sometimes about recruits. In fact he called to congratulate me after the (USA Basketball 16U team's) gold medal in Argentina."
Okay, so Coach Showalter has the coach of the USA's 2008 Olympic Gold Medal team on his speed dial, and is a recruiting advisor to one of the best programs in the history of basketball.
What about arguably the greatest basketball coach ever, The Wizard of Westwood John Wooden?
"John Wooden is a very close friend. Our kids grew up calling him grandpa. It's a neat relationship."
Showalter is even mentioned on page 205 of John Wooden's book, They Call Me Coach ("Don Showalter is another regular, as (the coaches) bring their families, I have watched their kids grow over the years").
What about the story where Michael Jordan, yes, THE Michael Jordan gave Showalter a pair of autographed shoes a token of appreciation for coaching his youngest son, Marcus.
"That one isn't true," laughed Showalter. "I have met Michael, but I'm not sure he would remember me if he saw me."
Can't win 'em all coach.
Most coaches become legends because they can win. Showalter is a legend because he can teach, and of course, winning isn't much of an issue. This year Showalter received the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Basketball Coach of the Year. It was because of a combination of things - his coaching a successful Mid-Prairie team, his Snow Valley camp, which attracts more than 1,300 students of the game to Wartburg, his alma mater, in the summertime. And his work with the USA basketball development team led to the award.
Showalter runs his own camp in Waverly, Snow Valley. He also coaches at Kobe Bryant's camp, LeBron James' camp, and used to coach John Wooden's camp. When he's not coaching superstars like James, and Carmelo Anthony, he coaches the USA Basketball 16U team. A job he got after serving 9 years on the USA Basketball Development Committee, where he was in charge of picking the players and coaches that were on the youth teams. That means the players he chose in say, 2001, were part of the U.S. 2008 Olympic Gold Medal team. Some Olympians need to have steroids, and blood doping to win. The USA has Don Showalter.
Don Showalter is from here. But he's been everywhere. When I asked him to tell me some of the places he's been for basketball, I might as well have been watching the Travel Channel.
"I've coached in Argentina, Italy, England, Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Russia, and Australia."
Not only that, but Showalter plans on attending the 2012 London Summer Olympics. In what capacity, he doesn't know yet, but he is excited for the opportunity.
With all of this experience with many of the most important basketball coaches and players of our era, why doesn't Coach Showalter coach Division 1 College Basketball?
"I haven't pursued D1 colleges, you spend a lot of time on the road recruiting, to me it's not a good family way of life, you're on the road constantly. I always felt my niche is high school. I like that age group. And I love the kids at Mid-Prairie, it's a nice fit for me. It's refreshing to have our kids come back and they work hard and listen."
But, what if the perfect situation came along?
"If Mike Krzyzewski asked me if I wanted to come to Duke you'd have to seriously consider it. It's something I would consider, but probably I'd still say no. I just feel real comfortable where I'm at. I love the administration, the coaches, the kids, it's been good to me and my kids and family."
That kind of devotion to being a teacher and coach, no matter where he is at, is why Don Showalter is a legend. It's not because he has won 500 games. It's not because he had a part in helping players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Carlos Boozer become NBA stars. And it's not because Mike Krzyzewski asks him for recruiting advice.
It's because Don Showalter cares about people. He cares about teaching the game, and he cares about his family. I have firsthand experience with Coach Showalter, as he is the one who helped me realize my passion for sports journalism, and I never even played basketball for him. The Man, The Coach, and the Legend doesn't care who you are, or where you come from, all he cares is that he has made a positive impact in your life. You can ask me, his assistants, his former players, his wife, or even his mom, and the answer you'll get every time is the same. Don Showalter is not just a basketball coach. He's a life coach. And he's a legend because of it.
