Media Guide 06-07.indd - Redlands Community College

Cougar Basketball 2006-07
Steve Eck, Head Coach
Redlands Head Coach Steve Eck enters his 30th year of coaching, with an overall
record of 559-76. Coach Eck begins his sixth season at the helm of the Redlands’
program with an overall record of 151–20, averaging 30+ wins a season.
Eck already has a National Championship and a National Runner-Up to show for
his time at Redlands. Coach Eck led the Cougars, with 15 new players, to an
overall record of 30-5 and the 2001-2002 National Championship in his first year
of calling the shots at Redlands. During his second season, Redlands moved to
the Division I level for the first time in school history. Redlands won the Region II
championship, advanced to the NJCAA Division I Tournament, and finished with
a 32-3 record. This was the first time a school moved from Division II to Division
I and made the National Tournament their first year. The Cougars continued their
success in 2003–2004 by winning the Regional II Championship and going to the National Tournament
where they finished as runner-up to the crown. Redlands finished with a 35–2 record and was ranked first
in the country in the final NJCAA poll. Last season Redlands lost in the Region II finals by one point. The
team they lost to went on to win the NJCAA National Tournament. Redlands has been ranked in the top
10 NJCAA poll every year and Eck has produced at least one All-American player each year at Redlands.
Every sophomore at Redlands has graduated and gone on to play and excel at a four-year institution.
Prior to coming to Redlands, Eck was the Associate Head Coach at NCAA Division I University of Missouri-
Kansas City, where he helped orchestrate one of the best one year turnarounds in recent history. UMKC
was 8-22 prior to Eck’s arrival, and during Eck’s season as Associate Head Coach, UMKC posted a 16-12
overall record, including a 10-6 mark in conference.
Before UMKC, Eck coached at Butler County Community College, where he compiled a record of 80-22.
While at Butler, Eck guided his team to an eight-week hold on top ranking in the national NJCAA poll and
was the first coach in school history to lead his team to a regional championship in his first two years.
Eck led Butler to the Final Four during each of his three years at the helm.
One of the most amazing feats of Coach Eck’s teams was at Wichita South High School. His teams won
10 consecutive titles with a staggering record of 227-15, including a 153-7 mark in league play. His
teams reached the state Final Four eight consecutive seasons, winning six state championships. Wichita
South still holds a city league record of 51 straight consecutive wins in league action. Eck is listed as the
highest winning percentage coach of high school coaches in the country with at least 200 wins. Wichita
South finished in the top 20 of the national high school rankings every year. Every senior player received
a college scholarship. Eck began his coaching career at Jardine Junior High School, where his teams
posted an 84-19 mark during his tenure.
The Wichita Eagle named Steve Eck as one of the ten best coaches in all sports for the 20 th Century. Roy
Williams, Eddie Sutton, Tex Winter, Adolf Rupp were some of the other coaches honored. Eck earned his
bachelor’s degree in history and physical education from Newman University in Wichita.
More on Eck
Coach Year School Position Record
2005-2006 Redlands Head Coach 27-6 Region II Runner-Up
33 game Bi-State West winning streak
2004-2005 Redlands Head Coach 27-4 Bi-State Western Champions undefeated
2003-2004 Redlands Head Coach 35-2 Division I National Tournament Runner-Up
Western Division Champions
Bi-State Champions
2002-2003 Redlands Head Coach 32-3 Western Division Champions
Bi-State Champions
Division I National Tournament Appearance
2001-2002 Redlands Head Coach 30-5 Division II National Champions
Coach at Redlands Totals: 151-20 (.883)
Head Coaching Record (27 years): 559-76 (.880)
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