Cotton's playing days began at Bowling Green High (Mo.) where he was named All-State at guard as a junior and senior. He then played at Hannibal-LaGrange Junior College (Mo.), averaging 25.5 points in 1952-53 on his way to JUCO All-American honors. He played the next three seasons at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, averaging 13.3 points.  He began his coaching career in 1958 at Moberly Junior College (Mo.). In nine seasons, he amassed a 223-59 (.791) record, including a 31-2 mark in 1966-67. His teams won JUCO titles in 1966 and 1967 and he was named Coach of the Year following each of those seasons. He then moved to Kansas State as an assistant to Fred "Tex" Winter and took over as head coach in 1968. Named Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1970, he led the Wildcats to the Big Eight Championship and into the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals. During his storied 21-year NBA coaching career that began in 1970, Cotton compiled a record of 832-775 (.518), finishing his career sixth on the NBA all-time victory list. A two-time NBA Coach of the Year (1979 with Kansas City and 1989 with Phoenix), Cotton left the sidelines following the 1991-92 season after guiding Phoenix to four straight 50-plus win seasons and two trips to the Western Conference Finals (1989, '90).  He was considered one of the NBA's most respected teachers and colorful personalities.  Cotton was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988, the National Junior College Hall of Fame in 1985, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1981. In 1995 he was named NAIA Alumnus of the Year.  (NJCAA Region 16 Hall of Fame - February 2011)

Jo Ellen Stringer served as head women's volleyball coach at Jefferson College for 33 years.  She followed that legendary career with service as full-time Director of Athletics for two years.  Under her remarkable leadership, Jefferson College developed one of the strongest and most recognized volleyball programs in the nation. With over 1,100 career wins, Jo Ellen Stringer developed a winning tradition that is unparalleled by any other coach, player or team in the history of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Her teams won 27 conference titles and 19 regional championships while having appeared in 21 NJCAA national championships, more than any other team or coach in the entire country, with 13 finishes in the top eight.  In recognition of her leadership and dedication, Stringer was named the 2006 MCCAC Coach of the Year--the 16^th time she was recognized with the coaching honor. She has also been named District 12 Coach of the Year 16 times. In 2000 she received the Robert L. Lindsay Meritorious Service Award from USA Volleyball, was featured in AVCA Coach's Journal, and was selected for HERS/NACWAA Institute for Administrative Advancement.  She is the recipient of additional awards too numerous to count.  Stringer is a lifelong resident of Jefferson County and a graduate of DeSoto High School. She received her associate's degree from Jefferson College and both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Southeast Missouri State University. Jo Ellen and her husband, Bob, reside in Hillsboro.  (NJCAA Region 16 Hall of Fame - February 2011)

A graduate of Francis Howell High School in St. Charles County, MO., Mark Buerhle was named an NJCAA All-American his sophomore season after posting a 7-0 record his freshman year and 8-4 record his sophomore year.

 While playing for Jefferson College Mark was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 38^th round of the draft and was assigned to the Burlington Bees. Mark was then called up to the Chicago White Sox where he pitched for 11 seasons.  He was named to the MLB All-Star team four times.  He pitched a no hitter in 2007 and was awarded the 2009 and 2012 Gold Glove Award for his defensive prowess. Mark won the 2005 World Series with the White Sox along with former Jefferson College pitcher Cliff Politte.  Buehrle signed a four-year deal for $58 million dollars with the Miami Marlins in 2012.

Jeff Karl retired from St. Louis Community College Meramec with the most all-time wins for NJCAA women's junior college soccer in 2010. He posted a 330-139-38 overall record. His Meramec Warriors won the 1991 & 1992 NJCAA National Championships. Coach Karl finished his career with sixteen Region 16 titles and had 38 All-Americans over the span of 28 years.

Karl was twice named NJCAA Coach of the Year in 1991 & 1992. He led the Warriors to nine top 10 finishes in the NJCAA tournament during his tenure.

He posted a string of 22 consecutive winning seasons. During the past 28 years, Karl has led Meramec to 10 national tournaments. Meramec finished fifth in 1985, 1986 and 2002; fourth in 2000; third in 1987, 1996 and 2001; and second in 1998. Karl was named the NJCAA Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1992. He was NSCAA Coach of the Year for the same years. Between 1991 and 1993, Karl led the Magic to 35 straight victories, an NJCAA record. He has coached 33 NJCAA All-Americans and placed 80 players at four-year colleges and universities. Karl's 319 wins currently rank him first among NJCAA coaches. In addition to his coaching duties, Karl teaches language arts to seventh and eighth graders at Assumption Grade School. He holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a minor in English, social studies, philosophy and theology from Rockhurst College. He earned his master's degree in communications from Webster University in 1992.

Randy Albrecht has served as the St. Louis Community College at Meramec coach for 34 years and currently is the combined campus St. Louis Community College coach.  He started his career in 1977 and has amassed a 691- 429 record while at the helm of the Warriors/Magic/Archers. Coach Albrecht was named to the STLCC-Meramec Hall of Fame in 2003, the Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004, and NJCAA Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.  Coach Albrecht was named the Region 16 DII Basketball Coach of the Year eleven times, Missouri Athletic Club Coach of the Year nine times and Midwest Community College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year five times. His teams have made nine trips to the NJCAA National Tournament.

Albrecht led the Warriors to an NJCAA National Runner-Up finish in 1989.  He has coached multiple NJCAA Academic and Athletic All-Americans. He has also placed numerous players at four-year colleges and universities with basketball scholarships.

Maurice John was the men's basketball coach at Moberly from 1946- 1958. During his tenure at the helm of the Greyhounds, Coach John's teams won seven Region 16 Titles and made nine trips to the NJCAA National Tournament.  The Greyhounds captured two National Championships in back to back years 1954 and 1955. The team finished 3^rd in 1956 and had four other top ten finishes at the NJCAA Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. He finished with 280-79-7 record at Moberly.

After his career at Moberly Coach John was hired at Drake University and remained in the position from 1958 to 1971. While coaching the Bulldogs, Coach John's team won the Missouri Valley Conference in 1964, 1969, 1970 and he was named Missouri Valley Coach of the Year in 1964, 1968, 1969 and 1970. He was named the Basketball Writers National Coach of the Year in 1969. After his stint at Drake, Coach John finished his coaching career with three seasons at Iowa State from 1971-1974.

St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley hired a gem, when one legendary coach, Harry Keough left Florissant Valley to take over the men's soccer program at St. Louis University in 1967 and recommended Pete Sorber for the job.  In short time, the Florissant Valley Norsemen became a national power under the tutelage of Coach Sorber. A very laidback, caring individual Sorber, did a fantastic job identifying talent and guiding young men on and off the playing field.

In thirty years at Florissant Valley, Coach Sorber's teams compiled a 415-85-22 record.  The creation of a dynasty was an understatement when came to the most dominant program in NJCAA men's soccer history, the Norsemen won 10 NJCAA National Championships, won eighteen Region 16 titles, finished runners-up twice in the national tournament and Sorber was named NJCAA National Coach of the Year five times. Over the stretch run of Sorber's coaching career, the Norseman had 72 NJCAA All-Americans, many of whom went on to four year college programs and played professionally in the NASL, MISL or NPSL.

 Coach Sorber never had a team or a player he didn't want to help become better as a collective group or individual. Sorber was quoted as saying in an interview with the NJCAA Review, "I can't name just one special player or special team because that would leave out all the others."  This philosophy has proven itself time and time again, as many of his former players have gone on to coach all levels of soccer.

Arguably, the most accomplished professional athlete ever to come out of Region 16, the Dominican born, Kansas City area high school player, Albert Pujols is one of the greatest NJCAA athletes of all time. After graduating early from Fort Osage High School, Albert Pujols played the spring season for the MCC- Maple Woods Monarchs under Coach Marty Kilgore. 

During his season at MCC-Maple Woods Albert was named an NJCAA All-American as his team won the Region 16 Championship. His 1999 statistics were as follows: 56 games played, 193 at bats, .466 batting average, 45 singles, 18 doubles, 5 triples, 22 home runs and 76 RBI. This was only the beginning of a magnificent hitting career as he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13^th round.

As a St. Louis Cardinal, Pujols quickly ascended the ranks and made the big league club after only one season in the minor leagues. Pujols was named 2001 National League Rookie of the Year. Shortly after his rookie season, he started compiling more awards and records. The St. Louis Cardinals won the pennant three times and the World Series in 2006 and 2011 with Pujols in the line-up.  During his tenure with the Cardinals, Pujols was named to the All-Star game nine times, National League Silver Slugger six times and National League MVP 2005, 2008, 2009. He was also named the Major League Baseball Player of the Year and National League Outstanding Player in 2003,2008, 2009. Pujols was the first player in baseball history to boast a batting average above .300, hit 30+ home runs, drive in 100+ RBI and score over 100 runs in each of his first five major league seasons.

Pujols signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels, the season after winning a second World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. He and his family now reside in California.

He started the Pujols Family Foundation in 2005, which is dedicated to the love, care and development of people with Down Syndrome. He also continually reaches out to impoverished families in his native, Dominican Republic.

Growing up in Chicago, Sonny Parker was named to All-City, All-State and All-Public League while playing for Farragut High School. Recruited by Mineral Area College's legendary Coach Bob Sechrest, Sonny blossomed at the NJCAA level for the Cardinals. He was twice named to the NJCAA All-American team while he also garnered honors as Midwest Junior College Athletic Conference and NJCAA Region 16 Player of the year in 1973-74.  Parker is the all-time leading scorer for Mineral Area College and was named the NJCAA Hall of Fame. 

After his tenure at Mineral Area College, Parker continued his collegiate playing career at Texas A & M University. During his career at Texas A&M, Parker was a star, leading the Aggies to two Southwest Conference titles. He was named 1^st Team All-Southwest Conference during the two years and the team reached the NCAA Tournament his junior year.  Parker was the Southwestern Conference Player of the Year in 1975 and the team MVP. He was also inducted into the Texas A & M Athletics Hall of Fame.

Parker was drafted 17^th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 1976. His best season was in 1978-1979 when he hit .519 field goal percentage and averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game with 144 steals and 33 blocks.  He had a six year career in the NBA, with averages of 9.9 points per game, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

Parker and his wife have seven children. Their youngest son, Jabari, just signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Duke University.  Parker started the Sonny Parker Youth Foundation in Chicago to help inner-city students.

If there is anyone in St. Louis who could be given the title, "Mr. College Baseball" it would be Ric Lessmann, who spent 27 years as the skipper of the St. Louis Community College Meramec Warriors.  His teams recorded a 963-318 record while he was at the helm of a very successful program.  Lessmann won the 1974 NJCAA National Championship and was the 1974 NJCAA Coach of the Year. During his tenure at Meramec his teams won fourteen Region 16 Titles and sixteen Midwest Community College Athletic Conference Titles. He has also been named to the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1991.

A number of players from his squad over the years were drafted and made it into Major League Baseball. After leaving Meramec, Lessmann took his craft to one of his alma maters and was the head coach of the Washington University baseball program for 17 years.  He compiled a 396-231-1 record with the Bears and is the all-time winningest coach as well.  The Bears also had success in the post season under Lessmann, as the team made three NCAA tournament appearances from 2005-2007. 

As a collegiate head coach in the NJCAA and NCAA for 45 years, Lessmann compiled a 1,365-556-1 record with a .711 winning percentage.  Lessmann currently is the assistant baseball coach for pitchers at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  He was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.

Coach Bill Barton compiled more than 600 victories during his 35-year tenure at SFCC. He led three teams to the Region XVI Championships and led the Roadrunners to a pair of NJCAA National Tournaments.  The first was during the 1971-72 season. SFCC finished that season with a 22-15 record. He led SFCC back to the National Tournament during the 1975-76 season, finishing with a 31-6 record.  Coach Barton earned Region XVI Coach of the Year honors for both seasons.

Coach Barton coached 39 student-athletes who earned All-Region XVI honors and five student-athletes who earned NJCAA All-American honors during his time at SFCC. Many of the student-athletes Barton coached went on to continue their academic and athletic careers at four year colleges and universities.

Coach Barton was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2010 he was inducted into the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the SFCC Roadrunner Athletics Hall of Fame.