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The man who brought "Spoonball" to several area college programs has died. Charlie Spoonhour passed away Wednesday morning at his home in North Carolina at age 72.
The elder Spoonhour got his first collegiate head coaching shot at Moberly, for the 1972-73 season. He talked about his early days in the Magic City, during an interview on KWIX in 2000..
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The Greyhounds went 26-9 that year, then wound up 32-8 and finished third in the country during the 73-74 campaign. Spoonhour said he cherished his tenure with the Hounds...
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He left Moberly to become an assistant at the University of Oklahoma, then returned to the juco ranks as Burlington Community College head coach from 1975-81. He led the team from Southeastern Iowa to the national tournament three times. His career junior college head coaching record of 205-63 earned him a place in the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1991.
Spoonhour went on to lead Southwest Missouri State from 1983-92, and Saint Louis University from 1992-99. "Spoonball" perhaps hit its high point in 1994. He led the Billikens to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 38 years, was named national coach of the year by the U.S. Basketball Writers and ESPN, and was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He finished his coaching career at UNLV, after the 2003-04 season.
Funeral arrangements are pending for Charlie Spoonhour. Survivors include the current head coach at Moberly Area Community College, his son Jay Spoonhour.
The elder Spoonhour got his first collegiate head coaching shot at Moberly, for the 1972-73 season. He talked about his early days in the Magic City, during an interview on KWIX in 2000..
The Greyhounds went 26-9 that year, then wound up 32-8 and finished third in the country during the 73-74 campaign. Spoonhour said he cherished his tenure with the Hounds...
He left Moberly to become an assistant at the University of Oklahoma, then returned to the juco ranks as Burlington Community College head coach from 1975-81. He led the team from Southeastern Iowa to the national tournament three times. His career junior college head coaching record of 205-63 earned him a place in the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1991.
Spoonhour went on to lead Southwest Missouri State from 1983-92, and Saint Louis University from 1992-99. "Spoonball" perhaps hit its high point in 1994. He led the Billikens to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 38 years, was named national coach of the year by the U.S. Basketball Writers and ESPN, and was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He finished his coaching career at UNLV, after the 2003-04 season.
Funeral arrangements are pending for Charlie Spoonhour. Survivors include the current head coach at Moberly Area Community College, his son Jay Spoonhour.
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