Northwest Missouri State Head Men’s Basketball Coach SteveTappmeyer has announced he has resigned as coach and will retire from hisposition at the University following the 2008-09 academic year after completing21 years of service.

 

“My wife, Lyn, and I have enjoyed our 25 years in Maryville a great deal,”said Tappmeyer. “We have made wonderful friends and can’t imagine a betterplace to raise our daughter, Andrea. We will have great memories of athletes,staff and some special people that were always so supportive.

 

“There’s a good chance I’ll coach again at this level, butfor now, Lyn and I plan on being in Maryville until the end of the summer and then move closer to our families and decidewhat the next season of our lives has in store for us.”

 

Tappmeyer is the winningest coach in program history afteraccumulating a 408-208 record in his 21 seasons (.662). He has more wins thaneach of his last six predecessors combined and more than twice as manyvictories than any other coach in program history.

 

“Coach Tappmeyer is a terrific basketball coach,” saidNorthwest Director of Athletics Dr. Bob Boerigter. “On behalf of the entireNorthwest community we want to express our deepest appreciation to him forproviding us with 21 years of great Bearcat basketball that have includedconference and regional championships, exciting games and memorable moments. Wewish him the very best as he pursues the next chapter in his life.”

 

Tappmeyer’s list of accomplishments includes three MIAAchampionships (1998, 2002, 2007) and four MIAA tournament championships (1989,2002, 2004, 2008). He’s taken Northwest to the NCAA tournament eight times inthe last 10 seasons and 10 times overall. Tappmeyer led the Bearcats to theElite Eight in both the 2002 and 2004 seasons with records of 29-3 and 29-5,respectively.

 

Tappmeyer was named Kodak Coach of the Year following hisfirst seasons at Northwest in 1989. He earned regional coach of the year honorsin 2001 and is a four-time conference coach of the year (1989, 1998, 2001,2007).

 

Tappmeyer led the Bearcats to nine 20-win seasons in thelast 12 years and 10 20-win campaigns overall.

 

One of Tappmeyer’s most impressive feats is the success he’sbrought to the fans at Bearcat Arena. Northwest is 143-25 (.851) at home in itslast 12 seasons. The Bearcats were undefeated, 14-0, on their home court threeseasons ago, the same as they were during the 2002-03 season. The 2002 team was14-1 and the 2004 team was 12-1.

 

Tappmeyer is a 1979 graduate of Southeast Missouri State where he averaged16.3 points per game as a junior and was an honorable mention All-MIAAselection. He was also an honorable mention pick at East Central Junior College , which he attended prior to arriving at Southeast Missouri State .

 

Tappmeyer served as an assistant at Northwest from 1981-85before arriving back at East Central. He was 62-32 in his three seasons as headcoach and was named the 1986 MCCAC Coach of the Year. Twice he guided his team tosecond-place finishes in the league.

 

A search for Tappmeyer’s successor will begin immediately.