High school notebook: Northeast hires name coaches

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Anders

2002 file photo

Mark Scanlon (right) is moving to Northeast from Raytown, where he coached NBA player Tyronn Lue (left).

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The Kansas City area high school sports program making arguably the most significant offseason coaching changes might not be the one you would expect.

Northeast, of the Kansas City School District and member of the Interscholastic League, has recently hired a 500-win boys basketball coach and a former Chiefs running back to lead its varsity football squad.

Earlier this week, former Raytown boys basketball coach Mark Scanlon finally confirmed rumors that he is now the new Northeast Vikings boys basketball coach. Scanlon’s hire follows another coup for the school. In May, Kimble Anders accepted the position as Northeast’s head football coach.

The two high-profile additions have created a buzz of excitement around the Vikings’ program and, according to district athletic director Ed Corporal, a renewed sense to build competitive athletics.

“We are trying to make changes in the district and the league to bring better coaches in for our kids,” Corporal said. “The Northeast administration has been terrific … They have set the tone with how things need to be.”

Scanlon was hired after resigning in May from his 22-year job at Raytown. Scanlon, who has coached at four other schools spanning 30 years and has won 511 games, maintains that he wanted a new challenge.

In May, Scanlon sought out a separate Interscholastic League opening before turning his attention to Northeast.

“I don’t think the Interscholastic League gets enough publicity. There’s no reason why you can’t build a good program at any of those schools,” Scanlon said. “I’ve been impressed with Ed Corporal and my building athletic director, Steve Schottel. They both seem really interested in winning, which is always nice as a coach to have an athletic director (who) cares.”

Both Scanlon and Anders inherit hard-luck programs. Last year, while the Vikings made a late-season run to finish second in their district basketball tournament, they still finished under the .500 mark at 9-18. And last fall, the Vikings only won a single football game.

Anders, who played his entire 10-year NFL career with the Chiefs, remains optimistic for the future. This summer, he set up a summer conditioning program where attendance was doubled from last year. Anders also implemented classroom football study, something Anders learned as a professional.

“I want to try to get them to the level of Blue Springs and Rockhurst, what I consider a high (degree) of football,” Anders said. “We’re trying to make it the best around us, the atmosphere and (make it) big time where we’re at.”

Gaines is backBrad Gaines, former state champion girls basketball coach at Oak Grove, has been approved as Raymore-Peculiar’s new girls varsity basketball coach.

Gaines coached girls basketball for 20 seasons at Oak Grove and has more than 400 wins as a coach, including winning the 1992 Missouri Class 3A state championship.

In 2002, Oak Grove suspended and later removed Gaines as girls basketball coach for inappropriate verbal conduct with a player. The school district later settled a lawsuit brought on by the player’s family.

Gaines also coached the football team at Oak Grove.

After his departure at Oak Grove, Gaines worked as an assistant football coach at Avila University. He has already taken part in summer camps at Raymore-Peculiar and looks forward to a fresh start.

“I’ve always had a desire to continue my basketball career. I really missed that part of it,” said Gaines, who will continue assisting the Avila program. “I was just waiting for the right opportunity to come along. I really appreciate Ray-Pec and Coach (Tom) Kruse and the rest of the administrative staff for giving me the opportunity.”

Familiar face at RaytownWith Scanlon’s departure as Raytown’s varsity boys basketball coach, the school has reached back into its past to find his replacement.

Brandon Weis, who played for Scanlon in the 1990s, takes over the position. Weis was a player on the 1994-95 team at Raytown that included Tyronn Lue and was immensely popular in the Kansas City area.

That Blue Jays team played in one of the most memorable high school basketball games of all time in Kansas City, when Weis and Lue lost to Derek Hood and his Central teammates in double overtime in a Missouri Class 4A state quarterfinal game at a jam-packed Municipal Auditorium.

He was an all-state player at Raytown before continuing his playing career at Northwest Missouri State. For the past seven years, Weis has coached the Liberty Blue Jays junior varsity team. His return to Raytown will be his first head coaching job.

“He’s a great hire,” Scanlon said. “I think he’s a perfect fit.”

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