BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Chip Sherman stood near the back of the line of honorees, a bit unassuming but still awaiting his time in the spotlight.
The veteran football coach was one of 26 inductees into the inaugural class of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, announced earlier this summer. The ceremony was held Thursday, June 18 at Blue Springs South High School at halftime of the 24th annual GKCFCA Missouri vs. Kansas All-Star Game.
Sherman made an obvious choice, thanks to his legendary 20-year career at Platte County.
“It feels great,” Sherman said. “There were a lot of Platte County people up in the stands. There were a lot of players and ex-players here with me. It means so much. My wife and I lived there a long time. We raised our family there. That’s our home.”
Sherman reeled off 20 straight winning seasons at Platte County before retiring after the 2007 season. He accrued a career record of 191-37 — good for a winning percentage of .838 — and took the Pirates to the playoffs 12 times, including semifinal appearances in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005.
Known for his disciplined, balanced teams, the biggest highlight came with three straight undefeated Class 3A state championships from 2000 to 2002. Platte County ended up winning 52 straight games — the second longest in state history — starting 10-0 in 2003 before losing to Chillicothe in the Class 3 sectional round, the only loss to the Hornets in program history.
Going back to the 1999 run to the 3A semifinals, Platte County won 64 of 66 games during a five-year span.
“My Platte County days, we had so many good things — the first win, our first state championship, coaching my children. It was a great deal,” said Sherman, who now lives in Parkville, Mo.
After retiring from Platte County, Sherman continued his coaching career in Kansas with stops at Salina South, Shawnee Mission East and Olathe Northwest. His career record stands at 241-57 entering 2015, according to the program at the all-star game.
Another inductee with county ties also made the inaugural GKCFCA cut.
Joe Mintner Sr. spent more than 40 years in the metro area, and his final stop was 16 seasons on the sideline at Park Hill. He led the Trojans to district titles in 1988 and 1989 before a long playoff drought plagued the Trojans.
Mintner finished with a career record of 235-93. He died in 2005 at the age of 80, and no family members were on hand to accept his award.
Joe Mintner Jr. coached West Platte for four years from 1970-73, including helping the Bluejays to a Class 2A state runner-up finish in 1973. According to former Citizen publisher Paul Campbell’s book “More Than a Game,” Mintner Sr.’s Bishop Lillis defeated Pembroke Hill to send his son’s West Platte team to the playoffs that year instead of the Raiders.
The 26-member class included 10 honored as pioneer coaches, 14 coaches, one associate and a lone player — Darren Sproles, who went on to gain fame at K-State before being drafted by the San Diego Chargers.