KANSAS CITY — Chris Stubbs had no intentions of coaching basketball. But here he was, 15 years after taking the job as Platte County’s girls basketball coach, talking about the end to another season.
Chris Stubbs
“I was never a basketball coach,” Stubbs said after the Pirates’ district semifinal loss to Smithville on Monday, Feb. 25. “I was asked to take it over by our old principal. I had no desire. … I’ve enjoyed the games, I’ve enjoyed the kids.”
Monday night, however, was his final game in charge of the Pirates. Stubbs confirmed that he’s stepping down as Platte County’s head coach.
“I was hired to do track and cross country,” Stubbs said. “ I was ready to give (basketball) up after we won a state championship in ‘09 and then I just kind of kept hanging on. Then my daughter liked basketball and I decided that once she graduates then I’ll be done.”
His daughter, Jaycie, was a senior on this season’s team that went 14-11. The Stubbs family will go out on a high note after notching milestones in their final season involved with the program. Chris surpassed 200 coaching victories and Jaycie soared past 1,000 career points.
“For him to get his 200 wins and me to get my 1,000 points in one season was pretty cool,” Jaycie Stubbs said on Jan. 31. “It was definitely a special moment.”
Stubbs said assistant Becca Strobbe will take over his position. The move is pending Platte County R-3 Board approval.
“They couldn’t have a better coach. She’s awesome,” Stubbs said.
Strobbe just finished her first year on the Platte County staff, serving as an assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach. Previously, the former Rockhurst University player coached at Lone Jack for three seasons.
“I’m grateful I was able to learn from Chris,” said Strobbe, an Independence native who attended Truman High School. “I was able to step back and observe the program and all the good things he provided. … I’m mostly excited because I know we have a group of girls coming back. We have one of the best freshman (Amaya Blake) in the metro that’s returning, and a great supporting cast that showed a lot of improvement in their JV games.”
Chris Stubbs compiled a career mark of 210-180 across 15 seasons. He led the Pirates to a state championship in the 2008-09 season. Platte County went 25-3 that year, topping Webb City in the Class 4 title game.
Stubbs said he plans on enjoying winters off while continuing his duties as head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach.
“I get a chance to hang out with the (track and field coaches), who are some of my best friends,” Stubbs said. “And I’m not a head coach, so I just have to be jumps coach. It’s awesome.”