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Steve TappmeyerHead Coach
Office: (660) 562-1309
E-mail: stapp@nwmissouri.edu
Steve Tappmeyer is in his 20th season as head coach at Northwest Missouri State University. He continues as the winningest coach in program history, with more than twice as many wins than any of his predecessors. He's won 15 or more games in each of his last 10 seasons, a program record.
Tappmeyer picked up his fourth MIAA Coach of the Year award after leading Northwest to a conference co-championship and its seventh NCAA tournament appearance in the last eight years. The Bearcats were 24-7 overall, 15-3 in the league, and advanced to the second round of the postseason tournament.
The Bearcats also featured the MIAA's Most Valuable Player in sophomore Hunter Henry and the league's Freshman of the Year in Lance Sullivan. Henry is the third Northwest MVP in the last 10 seasons under Tappmeyer and later was named the coach's fourth All-American. Sullivan is the second player under Tappmeyer to be named the league's Freshman of the Year.
The 2006-07 season marked the eighth time in the last 10 years that the Bearcats surpassed 21 wins. Northwest played solid defense, had few turnovers and maintained all 17 halftime leads. The Bearcats ranked fourth in the nation in scoring defense (59.8 ppg.), ninth in scoring margin (+13.1) and 13th in fewest turnovers (12.1).
In 2001-02 and 2003-04, Northwest won 29 games, two shy of the program record, and were the first two Bearcat teams to reach the Elite Eight. The 2002 team won both the MIAA regular season and tournament championships. The 2004 squad won the MIAA tournament and on Jan. 13, earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history. That team went on to score the most points in school history.
Northwest's 2005 team made the most 3-pointers in school history with 268. The 2006 squad won 22 games and advanced to the Sweet 16.
One of Tappmeyer's most impressive feats is the success he's brought to the fans at Bearcat Arena. Northwest is 129-15 at home in its last 10 seasons (.896). The Bearcats were undefeated, 14-0, on their home court a year ago, the same as they were during the 2002-03 season. The 2002 and 2004 teams were each 14-1.
Tappmeyer was named Kodak Coach of the Year following his first season at Northwest in 1989. He earned regional coach of the year honors in 2001.
Tappmeyer is a 1979 graduate of Southeast Missouri State, where he averaged 16.3 points per game as a junior and was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection. He was also an honorable mention all-conference selection at East Central Junior College, which he attended prior to arriving at Southeast Missouri State.
Tappmeyer served as an assistant at Northwest from 1981-85 before arriving back at East Central. He was 62-32 in his three seasons as head coach and was named the 1986 MCCAC Coach of the Year. Twice he guided his team to second-place finishes in the league.
Tappmeyer is a Gerald, Mo., native. He and his wife, Lynette, reside in Maryville and have a daughter, Andrea.
Jerome HadenAssistant Coach
Office: (660) 562-1328
E-mail: jhaden@nwmissouri.edu
Jerome Haden was named the assistant men's basketball coach in the summer of 2006 following five seasons as an administrative assistant at Wichita State University (Kan.). In addition to his coaching duties, Haden has responsibilities in recruiting, administration and coordinating camps.
Northwest was 24-7 in its first season with Haden on staff and was a co-champion of the MIAA. The Bearcats featured the league's Most Valuable Player in Hunter Henry and its Freshman of the Year Lance Sullivan.
Haden earned a master's degree in sports administration at Wichita State in 2002. As a professional, he assisted Wichita State with team travel, the film exchange program and the academic program. He oversaw the team's strength and conditioning program and was editor of the men's basketball newsletter.
The Shockers, members of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), finished 2006 with a 26-9 record, advanced to its fourth NCAA Division I Tournament and won two playoff games for the first time since 1981. WSU won the MVC regular-season championship and posted the second most victories in team history.
Haden was an assistant at Newman University (Kan.) from 1999-2001 and helped lead the Jets to a 52-15 record. Newman was 29-6 in the 1999-2000 season, 12-0 in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) and in the postseason made a run to the Final 16. The Jets also won the MCAC Tournament and tied an NAIA record with 20 consecutive wins that season.
Haden began his coaching career with two assistant stints in Kansas. He started at Riley County High School in 1997-98 and spent the following year at Pomona High School.
Haden is a 1998 graduate of Kansas State University where he earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education. He is the son of Dennis and Pennie Haden of Cheney, Kan.
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