Gibson County's Wilkins Retires From Coaching After 1,126 Victories

When the Gibson County girls basketball team was eliminated in the Class 2A semifinals on March 11, most Lady Pioneer fans didn’t know it at the time, but it marked the end of an era. Around one week later, head coach Mitch Wilkins announced to his team that he was retiring after 14 years at Gibson County.

“It’s been a long time coming obviously, with this being year 50,” Wilkins said. “I still enjoy it. Working with kids and being able to watch them mature into now young ladies that hopefully can be productive in our community and leaders. I coached boys for the first 36 years of my career, with 30 of those in Missouri. It has all been a true blessing to me. But with the family continuing to grow and expand, I think it’s time for me to get in a different role.

“When I first took the job at Gibson County, I had no idea that I wanted to coach girls. I had coached boys all my life, but God presented the opportunity. I stepped into it apprehensive and not knowing how it would go. But I was blessed right off the bat with young ladies that wanted to go to work with a tradition that Gibson County had. It has been such a blessing and uplifting.”

Wilkins led the Lady Pioneers to two state championships–2019 and 2024–and one state runner-up finish in 2016 in a total of eight trips to the state tournament.

“Those state titles have been a great way to finish a career, and I’ve been blessed,” Mitch Wilkins said. “God has honestly blessed me with success throughout my career. I have been in programs that wanted to be successful and Gibson County is no different. With the boys’ programs, we were able to win district titles and get to the state tournament, and we weren’t able to win a state championship. We competed very hard every year, but to finish with the ultimate crown, God has truly blessed me.”

But Wilkins’ legacy goes much deeper than what he has done at Gibson County.

He started coaching in 1976 at Parma High School in Parma, Mo. He transitioned to Kelley High School in Kelley, Mo. in 1979 and then to Troy Buchanan in Troy, Mo. in 1983.

At all three stops, he coached boys basketball and got to coach all three of his sons – John, David and Mark.

In 2006, he made the move to Henry County to coach boys’ basketball, and after four seasons, he made the move to Gibson County in 2012 and coached girls’ basketball for the first time.

Through his career, Wilkins has a 1,126-365 record, which is a 75.5 percent winning percentage.

During his career, Wilkins has won 25 district championships, made 12 state tournament appearances and won 20 coach of the year awards to go with 30 20-win seasons and five 30-win seasons.

Through most of his coaching tenure, his wife Jane was right by his side.

“When you think of all of the ups and downs,” Wilkins said. “Jane says it best, ‘Sometimes, one night we’re on top of the world, and the next night, we are at the bottom of the valley. Her supporting me and the kids, watching them, supporting me, supporting them, it’s amazing. If you could figure out how many ball games she has been in the bleachers for 47 years with me."

His sons followed in Mitch’s footsteps into coaching.

David Wilkins won his first state championship with Huntingdon girls in March.

Mark Wilkins was at South Gibson before transferring to coach Independence boys, and he was a state runner-up at Independence in 2023 before winning the 2024 state championship.

John Wilkins coached boys and girls at McKenzie and led the girls to the 2022 and 2023 state championships before transferring to Brentwood girls the past two seasons.

“I guess when I am involved myself and in the thick of battle, You are not thinking about it more than any other game,” Wilkins said. “But when you are watching your children compete, you are on every play and right there with them. I think it is harder watching them and sitting in the stands cheering them on.”

Here is what each son had to say about his dad’s retirement:

John Wilkins: “Congrats Dad on your retirement and the legacy you’re leaving behind. Growing up, you were my hero. I can still see myself as a little kid, a water boy with my brothers, just watching you. You were larger than life to us. The way you coached, the passion you had, and the way you demanded the best out of everyone around you is something I'll always remember.

"But honestly, what stands out most isn't basketball. It's the way you loved Mom, how you always prioritized our family, and how you made sure our faith in God was the most important thing in our lives. You taught us a lot about basketball and about life, but those are the things I'll remember the most.

"It's going to be a weird feeling not hearing your voice in the gym or seeing you working the sidelines. But hopefully me and my brothers can carry on what you've taught us and make you proud. Some of my favorite memories are watching the players you coached grow into better young men and women, and even more importantly, the impact you've had on so many lives for the Kingdom.

"Starting my career as your assistant for six years was invaluable, not just for the experience but for the memories I'll always have. You've always been a winner and one of the best to do it, but more than that you've always done things the right way.

"I look forward to seeing you more often in the gym, not coaching but behind our bench like I know you and Mom will be. And even more, getting to see you in the stands or on the sidelines cheering on and coaching your grandchildren, who already look up to you as their hero just like we did. This retirement isn't just your legacy, it's yours and Mom’s together.

"I look forward to carrying on your legacy in my own way. A part of you will always be with me on the court. I love you Dad.”

David Wilkins: “Congrats dad on retirement. Over the years you have shown me what it means to be a godly man, husband, and father as well as how to lead in a coaching role for Christ. Dad  has always done a tremendous job at getting his teams to play really, really hard! If there is one take away I have learned from a basketball standpoint in coaching, it is that having relationships with your players and getting them to play really hard trumps any types of x’s and o’s. Also dad would tell you that players matter more than plays!

"Leaving coaching, dad leaves behind a legacy of years of hard work, showing up for each player and each team day after day and year after year takes a lot of character and discipline. Being close enough to see it firsthand, there are literally thousands of men and women who have played for dad whose lives have been greatly affected, and he left a positive impact on.

"Dad began his coaching career in the 1970s and so his coaching career spans many decades, and many changes, culturally and socially, and throughout it all Dad consistently found ways to hold kids accountable and to challenge them to reach their full potential as individuals and that is a unique gift that he was able to pass on to all that played for him."

Mark Wilkins: “So excited for Dad being celebrated for his unbelievable coaching career. 50 years of coaching and having the success he's had is unheard of.

"His motto since he has been a coach is ‘You Gotta Have Heart.’ He exemplifies this in whole life.

"He loves the Lord and his family with all his heart.

"Countless players have been blessed to call him coach, but I'm thankful to call him Dad! Congratulations, Dad on an amazing coaching career.”

There will still be days of giving advice to his boys – if they ask him for it. And while he won’t rule out some type of coaching, he doesn’t want to pick one son over the other two. So Huntingdon, Brentwood and Independence should be ready to see him on a weekly basis in the winter.

But what Mitch Wilkins is looking forward to most in retirement is the time he will spend with his ten grandchildren.

“Paw-paw, as they call me, it is time for me to be able to be at their games,” Wilkins said. “I want to be able to be a part of their lives more than I am currently. So it is an expanding role, and I’m excited for it.”