News : Coach Ken Stark: Always looking for new and better ways, says colleague

The Vinton-Shellsburg athletic community lost a great coach, friend and mentor – a man who was always looking for new ideas and approaches to coaching – when Ken Stark died on Monday, says fellow basketball coach Harold Shepherd. Shep, as he is known to VS basketball players and fans, came to Vinton in 1970, and started the first girls basketball program in decades. Many Iowa high schools were starting or reviving girls basketball program during those years. Stark was the Vinton boys head coach at the time. “He was really easy to work with,” recalls Shep. “Like all the other boys coaches, he was apprehensive at first about sharing the facility and equipment. But it didn't take any time at all for us to work together. We got along great. He was always very supportive.” Shep explains that Vinton started 9th grade girls basketball (when high school was for grades 10-12) in the 1969-70 season, and varsity basketball in 70-71. Stark, says Shep, was a “great developer of players.” Stark had played college basketball for Taylor University in Indiana, and had traveled with his college team to Asia and South America. Later, he would be inducted into the Vinton-Shellsburg Hall of Fame. “He could take kids who were sophomores and were pretty good and by time they were juniors and senior they were always competing for the conference championship,” he said. “He was always making kids better.” A willingness to learn and try new things was one of the factors in Stark's success, says Shep. “He went to many coaching clinics; he was always looking for something newer and better. He was never mired to one thing. He was constantly making adjustments, trying new and better things.” One of the funny stories involving Stark occurred that first year. Shep says the girls would practice in the gym at Garrison, and the coaches had to divide the basketballs to send over there. “When we split up the basketballs, it looked like the boys were getting all the good, newer ones,” Shep recalls with a laugh. “I said something to Ken and teased him about it. But it worked out.” Shep and Stark developed a great friendship that lasted long after both had retired. “I will miss him,” says Shep. “We would have many good conversations about the way things were going. He always had ideas; he always wanted to take a new idea and say, 'Hey, let's try this.'” Current VS boys basketball coach Joe Johnson also says he will miss hearing from Stark, and points out that Stark's coaching legacy extends beyond basketball. "Ken was one of the first people to welcome me here when I was hired over 13 years ago," Johnson recalls. "We spent many nights talking about basketball and life. He was a great man, whom I've missed talking to. He is in the Hall of Fame along with his state champion golf team." See Stark's full obituary HERE.