Bud Mclearn
Encyclopedia
Vernon E. "Bud" McLearn was an American
high school basketball coach. Most notably the head coach for the Bullettes of Mediapolis High School (Mediapolis, Iowa
) girls six-on-six basketball
team from 1959 to 1987.
, to Ed and Mary Cale McLearn. He graduated from Montrose High School in 1951, were he was senior class president, and then from Iowa Wesleyan College
in Mount Pleasant
in 1955, with a bachelor of arts
degree. He served two years in the United States Army
and did graduate study work at Western Illinois University
in 1957.
) and after two seasons became the head coach at Mediapolis High School (1959-1960 season). In 28 seasons he had a career coaching record of 706 wins and 80 loses (an 89.8 winning percentage). During his 26 year tenure at Mediapolis the girls team went 333-8 (97.6 percent) on their home court. This run included consecutive home winning streaks of 97, 84, and 66 games. McLearn's teams qualified for the Iowa state tournament 21 years out of the 28 (including a stretch of 12-straight appearances), with two state championships, a 51-35 victory over South Hamilton (Hamilton
) in 1967 and a 68-51 win over Adel
in 1973. He retired in 1987 with the fourth best record in Iowa state basketball history. McLearn and Mediapolis lost to Van Horne High School
, 62-59, in the 1962 state tournament final (Van Horne's Mickey Schallau scored 37 of the teams 62 points).
McLearn was inducted into the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1988, and after dying of cancer in 1999, was posthumously inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000. The high school gymnasium at Mediapolis was named McLearn Court in his honor in 2001.
commercial fishing operation with his wife, Joyce (née
Wehde), whom he married April 17, 1955 in Tipton
.
He is buried at the Montrose Cemetery, a block away from his childhood home.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
high school basketball coach. Most notably the head coach for the Bullettes of Mediapolis High School (Mediapolis, Iowa
Mediapolis, Iowa
Mediapolis is a city in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,644 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Burlington, IA–IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Mediapolis's longitude and latitude coordinates are ....
) girls six-on-six basketball
Six-on-six basketball
Six-on-six basketball or basquette is a largely archaic variant of women's basketball. It is played with the same rules as regular basketball, with the following exceptions:...
team from 1959 to 1987.
Early life
McLearn was born in Montrose, IowaMontrose, Iowa
Montrose is a city in Lee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 957 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the Mississippi River. It is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, to Ed and Mary Cale McLearn. He graduated from Montrose High School in 1951, were he was senior class president, and then from Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College is a private four-year liberal arts college of the United Methodist Church located Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.Iowa Wesleyan is recognized as a pioneer in higher education in America. Founded in 1842, it ranks as the oldest coeducational college located west of the Mississippi River...
in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. The population was 8,668 in the 2010 census, a decline from 8,751 in the 2000 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.- History :...
in 1955, with a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. He served two years in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and did graduate study work at Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
in 1957.
Coaching
He began coaching in 1957 at Oakville High School (Oakville, IowaOakville, Iowa
Oakville is a city in Louisa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 439 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Oakville is located at ....
) and after two seasons became the head coach at Mediapolis High School (1959-1960 season). In 28 seasons he had a career coaching record of 706 wins and 80 loses (an 89.8 winning percentage). During his 26 year tenure at Mediapolis the girls team went 333-8 (97.6 percent) on their home court. This run included consecutive home winning streaks of 97, 84, and 66 games. McLearn's teams qualified for the Iowa state tournament 21 years out of the 28 (including a stretch of 12-straight appearances), with two state championships, a 51-35 victory over South Hamilton (Hamilton
Hamilton, Iowa
Hamilton is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 144 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hamilton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
) in 1967 and a 68-51 win over Adel
Adel, Iowa
Adel is a city along the North Raccoon River in Dallas County in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 3,435 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dallas County and the birthplace of 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick....
in 1973. He retired in 1987 with the fourth best record in Iowa state basketball history. McLearn and Mediapolis lost to Van Horne High School
Van Horne, Iowa
Van Horne is a city in Benton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 716 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Van Horne is located at ....
, 62-59, in the 1962 state tournament final (Van Horne's Mickey Schallau scored 37 of the teams 62 points).
McLearn was inducted into the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1988, and after dying of cancer in 1999, was posthumously inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000. The high school gymnasium at Mediapolis was named McLearn Court in his honor in 2001.
Outside coaching
McLearn taught math at Mediapolis and also had a Mississippi RiverMississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
commercial fishing operation with his wife, Joyce (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Wehde), whom he married April 17, 1955 in Tipton
Tipton, Iowa
Tipton is a city in Cedar County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,155 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cedar County.-Geography:Tipton is located at ....
.
He is buried at the Montrose Cemetery, a block away from his childhood home.