Mellen Gets Hall of Fame Call

Former Southwestern Heights girls basketball coach Barry Mellen will be inducted in the KSHSAA Hall of Fame.
Barry Mellen spent 34 years as a teacher and coach, 29 of those years at Kismet-Southwestern Heights. During his girls basketball coaching career, he acquired a record of 785 wins and 178 losses, a winning percentage of .815. In 1992, his girls’ basketball team had an undefeated season which led to a state championship. His teams won state championship titles twice and were runner ups seven times. Barry was a successful volleyball coach as well, making it to the state tournament seven years and a girls/boys track coach with three state championships. With his years of success came many recognitions such as “Coach of the Year” by numerous news outlets and associations and even a “Coach of the Decade.” At the National Federation State High School Association (NFHS) level, Coach Mellen was awarded the “National Girls Coach of the Year” for District 5 in 2009.

Awards will be presented during 2022 in conjunction with a KSHSAA-sponsored state function/championship, or locally at the inductee’s request. The time and location of each induction ceremony will be announced at a later date at www.kshsaa.org.