Track Coach Stancell Retiring

STANCELL
STANCELL

For the past 25 years, the breaking of spring has also seen Bruce Stancell take his position on the track at McDonald County High School as head track coach.

But come next year, spring will come without Stancell as its partner.

The McDonald County Board of Education accepted Stancell's resignation as head track coach and physical education teacher at the board's March 9 meeting. His resignation is effective at the end of this school year.

"It's time for me to retire," Stancell said. "I am eligible for retirement by the Rule of 80 (age plus number of years in retirement plan), and I am ready to retire."

Stancell, who has served as head coach of any sport longer than anyone in the history of McDonald County High School, is known for the relationships he builds with athletes and students. It is those relationships he will miss the most.

"I will miss being around the kids," Stancell said. "The best memories I have are not what people would expect. Those are between me and the kids."

Stancell said he doesn't judge his accomplishments by wins and losses or by top finishes.

"Reaching kids and getting them to be a better person than they were before," Stancell said was his greatest accomplishment.

Some of the top results by McDonald County track athletes during Stancell's tenure include a state championship by Courtnie Smith in the triple jump, multiple state medals by Jackie McDuffey, several relay teams that earned state medals and the long-running success of the school's pole vaulters.

"It was pretty exciting to see Courtnie win on her last jump," Stancell said. "Jackie McDuffey had several great performances at state -- Ethan Hobbs and all the other pole vaulters -- the relays were always an exciting event at state. Kord (Stancell's son) finished second in the discus, and we had several other throwers who earned medals."

Stancell said his retirement will allow him to spend more time taking care of his property in the Pineville area. Plus he will have other things to do that will keep him busy.

"I will work on the farm and do some odd jobs," Stancell said. "I will stay busy. I, hopefully, will play more golf."

Stancell said the first thing he will do upon retirement will be to make it hard for some people to find him.

"The first thing I am going to do is to delete several phone numbers from my phone," Stancell said.

Nick Martin, athletic director, played football under Stancell at MCHS in the late 1990s.

"Bruce relates well with the kids," Martin said. "I would have run through a brick wall for him when I played, and the kids still feel that way today. He is the dean of track coaches in southwest Missouri and will be missed."

Sports on 03/16/2017