Chadwick will be the next stop in Jim Pendergrass’ highly successful and highly unconventional coaching trail, as he will assume the Lady Cardinals' head coaching job.
Pendegrass will bring an absolutely loaded resume to Chadwick unlike any other coach the Cardinals or Lady Cardinals have ever had.
He started his coaching career at the college level as an assistant in three stints covering seven seasons at Missouri State and four seasons at Michigan.
Pendergrass was the head coach at Kickapoo for 15 seasons that included eight Ozark Conference championships, eight District titles, four Final Four berths and the 2016 Class 5 State championship.
He was the 2016 Class 5 State Coach Of the Year.
He also coached one season apiece at Walnut Grove and Crane.
Pendergrass’ career W-L record as a head coach is 332-105.
His experience at Class 1 Walnut Grove and Class 2 Crane gives him a good idea of the kind of culture he will step into at Chadwick.
“In a small town, the school is the centerpiece of the whole community and I love the passion shown by the students, teachers, staff, administration and school board,” Pendergrass said in a statement released by Chadwick on Facebook. “I’m excited to be part of the strong basketball tradition at Chadwick High School. I look forward to the opportunity to work with this program.”
Pendergrass was an assistant at Nixa this past winter.
Upon resigning from his post at Kickapoo last June, Pendergrass initially took a job as a driver’s education teacher at Nixa. Later, he was added to the Lady Eagles’ staff.
Pendergrass takes over a Lady Cardinals program that is due to welcome back three returning starters and nine freshmen from this past season’s 20-win team that claimed a Class 1 District 2 championship. All-state guard Kerrigan Guerin will not return to Chadwick and will instead play her senior season Link Academy.
Shawn Guerin coached Chadwick's boys and girls the past three seasons. He will continue to coach the Cardinals.
