About The GKCBCA

OVERVIEW

The Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association (GKCBCA) is a not-for-profit organization that was created in 1997. The idea for creating the organization came from head coaches Ed Fritz (Blue Valley Northwest HS), Chuck Minor (Kearney HS) and Rick Zych (Bishop Miege HS). Working with other coaches in the area, by-laws and policies were established and plans were put in place for the Association to begin operating.

Since its establishment, the Association has worked hard to support and improve the quality of basketball in and around the great Kansas City area. It's goals are to recognize excellence at both the playing and coaching levels, create educational opportunities through scholarship and donate funds to other charitable organizations.

The GKCBCA membership represents over 125 high schools, several college and universities, as well as many youth leagues and organizations. The Association is open to all youth, junior high, high school and college boys and girls basketball coaches (including assistants) in the greater Kansas City area.

PROGRAMS and HIGHLIGHTS

The GKCBCA hosts two clinics each fall that are free of charge to all GKCBCA members.  Over 250 coaches attend each clinic featuring some of the top college coaches from all over the country.  Past speakers have included Bill Self; Norm Stewart; Roy Williams; Mike Anderson; Bob Huggins; Bruce Webber; Steve Alford; Doc Sadler; Frank Martin; Tim Jankovich; and many more.

In addition, the association's annual business meeting is held during the September clinic, and the GKCBCA board of directors meets six times during the fiscal year to coordinate all the events and activities of the association.

The GKCBCA's biggest event is the annual Hy-Vee/Pepsi All-Star Challenge.  This weekend-long event begins with an awards banquet, held this year at the Downtown Marriott Hotel.  The banquet is held to honor the players and coaches selected to participate in the All-star Challenge and to announce several coaching and playing awards such as the DiRenna Award, which is given each year to the top boy and girl players in the Kansas City area.  The coaching awards include the Eddie Ryan Award, Tom Colwell Lifetime Achievement Award, Walt Tylicki Memorial Award.  The GKCBCA Hall of Fame inductees also are announced. 

Hy-Vee and Pepsi have teamed up with the GKCBCA to honor the student-athletes selected to the All-Academic Team and to award ten $1,000 scholarships to deserving senior basketball players.  In addition, two members (one boy and one girl) are selected as the recipients of the Barrett Wepler #4 Award and receive an additional $1,000 scholarship.

The All-Star Challenge features the top senior boys' and girls' in a Missouri versus Kansas format.  This year's event is scheduled for Saturday, April 11th at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri.  The girls game will begin at 2:00pm and the boys game will begin at 4:00pm.  The games will b e shown on a tape-delayed basis on Metro Sports.  Over the past twelve years, this outstanding event has featured several players who have gone on to have tremendous success at the collegiate and professional level.

The Association also hosts an annual holiday social every December and a golf tournament in July each year.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association was founded for the purpose of supporting and improving the quality of basketball in the greater Kansas City area. The objectives of the organization are as follows:

                    ● Promote strong relationships with all basketball related groups

                    ● Create educational opportunities for athletes and coaches

                    ● Recognize excellence at both the playing and coaching level

                    ● Support other charitable organizations

ORGANIZATION

A volunteer Board of Directors governs the organization. The Board consists of officers and representatives from Missouri, Kansas and "at-large."

The GKCBCA membership currently is in excess of 500 members and 125 high schools, colleges and universities, as well as many youth leagues and organizations.