The career of one of Iowa’s most successful high school basketball coaches appears to be over following a controversial decision by the Waterloo Board of Education Monday night. Waterloo East coach Steve McGraw is out after 30 years as coach of the boys basketball team.
The Board of Education approved the recommendation of a committee that selected former Waterloo West all-stater Anthony Thomas over McGraw. McGraw retired from teaching and had to re-apply for the coaching job. The recommendation of Thomas sparked a campaign of support for McGraw, who guided the Trojans to two state championships and three second place finishes and 476 wins since moving from Tri-County Thorburg in 1979.
McGraw ranks seventh on the carreer coaching list with a 590-281 record.
Contributed by Elwin Huffman KOEL Oelwein