HALL OF FAME
NJCAA Region XVI

Fred Pohlman, Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley
Fred Pohlman      Basketball Coach Fred Pohlman, born in Natoma Kansas, graduated from Fort Hays State College in 1950. From there he moved on to the University of Missouri, where he received his master's degree in 1956, interrupted by four years in the United States Navy. Pohlman’s coaching career began in Vandalia, Missouri in September of 1956, where he coached baseball, basketball and track. From Vandalia, he moved to coaching at various high schools in Kansas City Missouri, and in 1967 he was hired to start the Penn Valley Community College basketball program. Thirty-two years later, Pohlman has established an impressive record with over 600 wins and no sign of stopping. When asked about retirement by a Kansas City reporter, Pohlman responded, “Why would I retire? I have the greatest job there is. I get to coach the game I love.” Coach Pohlman’s teams have won 6 Regional titles out of the last seven years, placing 2nd, 3rd and 5th in the nation. After two personal wins over cancer, a 67-year-old Pohlman took his underdog team to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II tournament and won the title in 1996. His team’s have been to the national tournament five out of the last seven years. Although  no longer coaching, his current wins total over 600.  Fred was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.  Additional Profile Information

Special appreciation to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame from which some information was obtained.
Robert Sechrest, Mineral Area College
Bob Sechrest      Robert "Bob" Sechrest’s coaching career began with four years at Van Buren High School and a record of 81-41. After a 26-5 year at Thayer, Sechrest coached at Flat River High School for six years before spending 24 years at Mineral Area College where he compiled a 465-273 record.  Bob was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
     During halftime ceremonies of the January 2002 Mineral Area-Three Rivers basketball game, former MAC basketball coach Bob Sechrest returned to center court to be recognized for his commitment to Mineral Area College.  MAC Trustees' President Chip Peterson honored Bob Sechrest and his family by announcing the MAC Field House would be renamed the Robert Sechrest, Sr. Field House, noting special tribute to Coach Sechrest for his leadership and accomplishments on and off the basketball court.  His list of achievements include seven nationally ranked teams, four NBA players and numerous four-year transfers, three-time NJCAA Region 16 Coach of the Year, Director of Region 16 for 16 years, NCAA Basketball Rules Committee, Player Selection Committee for Pan American Games and Olympics, assistant coach of the U. S. gold medal team in the 1979 Mexico City Games, and named to the NJCAA Hall of Fame.  He also was an assistant basketball coach with the NJCAA all-star team in Brazil and Argentina.
Celeste Knierim, St. Louis Community College - Meramec
Celeste Knierim      At the time of her induction into the NJCAA Region 16 Hall of Fame in 2007, Celeste Knierim was the winningest softball coach in the history of the National Junior College Athletic Association.  She was selected by her coaching peers as Region 16 Coach of the Year 12 times between 1985 and 2004.  Her Meramec teams were Region 16 champions 16 times between 1978 and 2004 and advanced to the NJCAA national tournament on 15 occasions during those years.  Amazingly, her teams were conference champions 25 times between 1978 and 2004.  Coach Knierim produced 45 NJCAA All American student-athletes.  She has held numerous offices in the NJCAA Softball Coaches Association, including the presidency.  She is a member of five Halls of Fame (NJCAA Region 16 Hall of Fame - 2007; St. Louis Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame - 2004; National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame - 2003; St. Louis Community College-Meramec Athletic Department Hall of Fame - 2002; and National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame - 1999).
     Celeste served St. Louis Community College-Meramec as Associate Professor of Physical Education from 1974 until her retirement in 2003.  She established the softball team in 1975 and served as head coach until retirement.  She also served various terms as head volleyball coach, head basketball coach, head field hockey coach, and intramurals director.
     Celeste was recognized in 2004 by Sports Illustrated ("Faces in the Crowd") for 1000 softball victories.  Celeste is an extraordinarily accomplished professional who is known nationally and internationally for her outstanding work. 
L. William "Bill" Miller - St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley
Bill Miller      While at the St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, L. William "Bill" Miller developed the prototype program of Athletics and Physical Education on St. Louis Community College's three campuses that remained intact years following his retirement in 1994.  The program has offered over 18 NJCAA-affiliated sports, 40 Physical Education courses, and enabled more than 2000 student-athletes to transfer to four-year programs.  Bill served as Flo Valley's Head Track & Cross Country Coach (1966-1973) and Director of Athletics (1966-1994), and he assumed chairmanship of the Physical Education department for several years prior to retirement.  Prior to joining the Flo Valley staff, Bill served as Athletics Director, Track & Field coach, swimming coach, and physical education/drivers education teacher at Beaumont and Northwest High Schools in St. Louis.  He led teams to eight Missouri State Championships in Track & Cross Country competition.
     In 1966, at age 38, Bill became the youngest inductee into the Greater St. Louis Coaches Hall of Fame.  In 1974, he became a charter inductee into the Missouri Track and Field Hall of Fame.  He has also been inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame, the National Association of Two Year Colleges Athletic Association Hall of Fame, the NJCAA Track and Field Hall of Fame, and the NJCAA Region 16 Hall of Fame.
     Bill is especially proud of striking a hole-in-one at Prairies of Cahokia Golf Course on June 2, 2007, and the championship he and son Jeff won at the World Amateur "Corey Lemke Father & Son Golf Tournament" in August 2007 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.